Man, what a day for the underdogs. If you had money on the big names in Europe this Sunday, January 18, 2026, you're probably staring at a very empty wallet right now. It was one of those days where the script got shredded about ten minutes into the first half across half a dozen countries.
Basically, the "giant-killers" decided to show up all at once. From Birmingham to San Sebastián, the league tables just got a serious shake-up.
The Premier League Shock: Villa’s Vibe Check
Honestly, everyone expected Aston Villa to just roll over Everton. Villa had been on this insane tear at home—11 straight wins at Villa Park. They were breathing down the necks of Manchester City and Arsenal. But football is cruel.
The match turned on a massive blunder in the 59th minute. Pau Torres, usually so reliable, gave the ball away in a dangerous spot. Emi Martinez fumbled a shot he’d normally catch in his sleep, and Thierno Barry was right there to poke it home. Everton walked away with a 1-0 win.
Unai Emery was pretty blunt afterward. He told reporters that while they’re sitting high in the table, they aren't "true" title contenders yet because they lack the depth of the top three. It’s a tough pill for Villa fans to swallow, especially since a win would have put them second.
Other English Results
- Wolves vs. Newcastle: This was a grinding 0-0 draw. Wolves are still rooted to the bottom of the table, but they’ve gone five games unbeaten now. Newcastle missed a chance to jump into the top five.
- Liverpool vs. Burnley: This happened earlier, but Liverpool failing to beat second-to-last Burnley (1-1) really set the tone for the "Weekend of Draws and Disappointments."
Real Sociedad Ends Barcelona's Streak
If the Villa result was a surprise, what happened in La Liga was a straight-up heist. Barcelona went into the Reale Arena on an 11-game winning streak. They looked untouchable.
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Then Gonçalo Guedes happened.
Real Sociedad put on a masterclass in counter-attacking football, winning 2-1 and blowing the Spanish title race wide open again. Barca dominated possession—as they always do—but they looked toothless in the final third. It’s the first time in months that Hansi Flick’s side has looked genuinely vulnerable.
AC Milan Grinds It Out in Italy
Over in Serie A, things were a bit more "predictable," if you can call a 1-0 nail-biter predictable. AC Milan hosted Lecce at the San Siro. For about 80 minutes, it looked like a frustrating draw was on the cards.
Niclas Füllkrug finally broke the deadlock. He came off the bench and met a cross from Alexis Saelemaekers to grab his first-ever goal for the Rossoneri. It wasn't pretty, but it consolidated their second-place spot. Massimiliano Allegri’s tactics are often criticized for being "boring," but hey, three points are three points.
Senegal Takes the AFCON Crown
We can't talk about who won in today soccer game without mentioning the absolute chaos at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. Senegal beat Morocco to claim their second title, but the scoreline doesn't tell the whole story.
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The game ended in extra time after a walk-off protest and a highly controversial penalty. It was pure drama. Senegal eventually triumphed, sparking scenes of total jubilation in Dakar. Morocco will feel hard done by, but Senegal's defensive resilience throughout the tournament made them worthy champions in the end.
Quick Hits: Other Global Scores
Sometimes you just want the numbers. Here’s a rundown of the other significant action from today:
German Bundesliga
Stuttgart and Union Berlin played out a 1-1 draw. Woo-yeong Jeong scored late against his former club to rescue a point for Union. Meanwhile, Augsburg and Freiburg shared the spoils in a 2-2 thriller after Freiburg climbed back from two goals down.
Ligue 1 (France)
Lyon managed to hang on for a 2-1 win against a 10-man Brest side. It was a messy game, but it moves Lyon into the top four. Gary O’Neil also saw his Strasbourg side beat Metz 2-1 in what was a solid debut for him.
Liga MX
Pumas and León finished 1-1. Diber Cambindo scored early for León, but Juninho equalized for Pumas in the 75th minute. It was a classic "game of two halves" where neither side really deserved to lose.
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Portuguese League
Porto snatched a 1-0 win away at Vitória. Alan Varela tucked away a penalty in the 40th minute, and they managed to park the bus for the rest of the game despite a late red card for Telmo Arcanjo.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Results
You’ll see the headlines tomorrow saying "Villa Collapses" or "Barca in Crisis." Honestly, that’s just sensationalism.
The reality is that the European schedule in 2026 is becoming a meat grinder. These top teams are playing every three days. When a team like Everton or Real Sociedad has a full week to prepare a specific tactical trap, the "big guys" get caught out.
Villa didn't suddenly become a bad team; they just ran out of gas against a physical Everton side that played the "low block" perfectly. Similarly, Barcelona's high line was always going to get punished eventually by a player with Guedes’ pace.
Why Today Soccer Results Matter for Your Picks
If you're looking at the upcoming mid-week fixtures, take note of the fatigue.
- Watch the Bench: As we saw with Füllkrug for Milan, depth is winning games right now, not just the starting XI.
- The "New Manager" Bounce: Gary O’Neil’s impact at Strasbourg was immediate. Keep an eye on teams that have recently switched leadership.
- Home Field is Not a Guarantee: Today proved that the "fortress" status of stadiums like Villa Park can vanish in an instant if the energy levels aren't there.
To stay ahead of the curve, focus on injury reports over the next 48 hours. Many of the players who struggled today looked like they were carrying knocks. Monitoring the recovery sessions of teams like Liverpool and Barcelona will be key before the next round of fixtures begins.