Impressive performances from African players played a pivotal role in securing crucial results for their respective clubs.
England
Ismaila Sarr was on target as Crystal Palace stunned Premier League leader Liverpool 2-1 at Selhurst Park.
The Senegal international gave the Eagles an early ninth-minute lead, finishing after the Reds failed to clear a corner, while Federico Chiesa’s 87th-minute equaliser seemed to rescue a point for the champions.
However, Eddie Nketiah struck in the seventh minute of added time, capping an enthralling contest and securing a deserved Palace victory.
With that, the Londoners stretched their unbeaten run to 18 games, matching a club record, as Dean Henderson’s heroics kept Liverpool at bay despite late pressure.
At Elland Road, Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring for Bournemouth as they played out a 2-2 draw with Leeds United.
The Ghana international opened the floodgates of goals with a brilliant free-kick, his fourth goal of the season, giving the visitors an early lead.
Nevertheless, the hosts responded quickly, with Joe Rodon heading in Sean Longstaff’s corner to level before the break.
Nine minutes after the halftime break, Longstaff turned scorer, striking from the edge of the box to put the home side ahead for the first time.
Daniel Farke’s men held firm until stoppage time, when Eli Kroupi’s expertly taken volley rescued a point for the Cherries.
The result ensures Bournemouth are sixth in the Premier League table, while Leeds sit in 12th position.
Spain
Abde Ezzalzouli opened the scoring for Real Betis after a clever assist from Cucho Hernandez in their 2-0 win over Osasuna at the Estadio de La Cartuja.
Pablo Fornals won possession inside the box, feeding Hernandez, whose pass found the Moroccan to slot home past Sergio Herrera.
The visitors struggled to respond, with only a late Ante Budimir header threatening. Betis doubled their lead seven minutes before halftime after Hernandez converted another Fornals interception.
The victory keeps Betis unbeaten in this fixture for five straight seasons, while Osasuna remain winless on the road.
Akor Adams scored his first Sevilla goal, netting the only shot on target as they claimed a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, extending their unbeaten head-to-head run to six matches.
Both sides had shown caution early, but chances gradually favoured the visitors, with Odysseas Vlachodimos making key saves.
Sevilla’s breakthrough came in the second half when Jose Angel Carmona’s precise cross from Alexis Sanchez found the Nigerian, who slotted home.
Italy
Lassana Coulibaly put Lecce ahead in the 13th minute, tapping in after Lukasz Skorupski parried Santiago Pierotti’s header, as Lecce rescued a 2-2 draw against Bologna at Stadio Via del Mare.
Bologna had equalised late in the first half when Riccardo Orsolini converted a penalty after Owen Kouassi fouled Thijs Dallinga.
Jens Odgaard then gave the visitors the lead in the 68th minute, only for Francesco Camarda to score a 94th-minute header to secure a point for the hosts to extend Bologna’s winless away run to seven Serie A games.
In another Italian fixture, Kamaldeen Sulemana stole the spotlight as Atalanta claimed a 1-1 Serie A draw at Juventus.
The Ghanaian scored a brilliant left-footed goal in stoppage time of the first half against the run of play.
Unbeaten in five consecutive league games for the first time since 2007, Atalanta weathered a relentless Juve attack in the opening half, with defenders Berat Djimsiti and Honest Ahanor standing out.
In the second half, Juan Cabal rescued a point for the Old Lady shortly after coming on, and Marten de Roon’s red card shifted momentum further. Despite late chances, including Weston McKennie’s effort, the match ended in a deserved draw.
Germany
Edmond Tapsoba fired Bayer Leverkusen into the lead after pouncing on a defensive error, setting the stage for a record-breaking 2–1 win over St. Pauli.
The Burkina Faso international’s opener came after Hauke Wahl failed to clear a routine free-kick, though the defender quickly redeemed himself by equalising seven minutes later.
With the game finely balanced, substitute Ernest Poku struck with his first touch to restore the visitors’ advantage.
Despite late pressure from the hosts, Leverkusen held firm to secure their 36th consecutive unbeaten Bundesliga away match, surpassing the previous record and climbing into fourth place.
France
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sparked Olympique de Marseille’s dramatic late comeback as they beat Strasbourg 2-1 at the Stade de la Meinau.
The hosts had taken the lead early in the second half through Abdoul Ouattara, with VAR overturning an initial offside call against Emanuel Emegha.
Marseille pressed relentlessly, and the former Arsenal captain pounced in the 82nd minute, firing home on the rebound after his first effort was saved.
The winner arrived in stoppage time when Michael Murillo smashed in after Emerson Palmieri’s header was pushed onto the bar.
