Haaland brace, City drama & Premier League chaos live on a wild Sunday

Erling Haaland goes goal-crazy again as Man City edge a thriller – but did a late VAR twist change everything in the title race?

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-22, the pitch is on fire... You could not have scripted a crazier day of soccer games across Europe. From Manchester to Madrid, the stars turned up, the nets ripped, and VAR decided it wanted the spotlight again.

In England, the headline act was at the Etihad: Manchester City vs Arsenal in a Premier League showdown that felt every bit like a title decider. Erling Haaland, under constant debate all week about his form, just ripped that script to shreds with a ruthless brace. On the continent, Jude Bellingham dragged Real Madrid through a nerve-shredder, and Kylian Mbappé kept the Champions League narrative buzzing with another cold-blooded finish in league play.

Man City vs Arsenal – Haaland the hammer, VAR the villain

This one had everything. Manchester City beat Arsenal in a 3-2 thriller that swung like a pendulum. The scoring opened when Kevin De Bruyne slid a filthy through-ball into space and Erling Haaland powered home the first goal with a low, near-post rocket. One touch to set, second touch to destroy. Arsenal hit back when Bukayo Saka cut inside and curled a gorgeous equaliser into the far corner – classic Saka, far post, keeper rooted.

City went 2-1 up after the break when Phil Foden smashed in from the edge of the box, finishing off a slick move started again by De Bruyne. But Arsenal refused to fold. A slick one-two saw Gabriel Jesus ghost into the box and slot calmly past the keeper for 2-2, and suddenly the Emirates faithful watching from home believed again.

Then, in trademark City fashion, Haaland stole it. On 86 minutes, a De Bruyne corner bounced in the area, Arsenal switched off for a split second, and Haaland pounced, stabbing in his second from close range for 3-2. Absolute predator stuff.

The drama wasn't done. Deep into stoppage time, Arsenal thought they had stolen a 3-3 equaliser when Martin Ødegaard rifled the ball into the top corner. Wild celebrations, Arteta sprinting, players piling in. But VAR stepped in, ruling that Jesus had strayed marginally offside in the build-up. Lines drawn, goal chalked off, fury everywhere. That call is exactly what fans are tearing apart online right now.

In terms of big names, Haaland was the obvious hero – two goals, constant menace, bullying defenders. De Bruyne was pure class with two assists, pulling strings like a puppet-master. For Arsenal, Saka and Ødegaard were the heartbeat, but in the decisive moments the defending simply wasn't at title-winning level.

La Liga buzz – Bellingham refuses to blink

Over in Spain, Real Madrid kept their title drive humming with a hard-fought 2-1 win over tricky opposition. Jude Bellingham was once again the man of the moment. Real went ahead through Vinícius Júnior, who finished off a quick counter with a calm left-footed strike into the bottom corner. The visitors equalised from a set piece, with a thumping header by their centre-back that left the keeper stranded.

Enter Bellingham. With the game looking like it might drift into a frustrating draw, he popped up late, timing a run from midfield to perfection. A low cross fizzed in from the right, and Bellingham arrived like a train to side-foot into the roof of the net for 2-1. Another clutch winner for a guy who seems addicted to pressure. His all-round performance – dropping deep, linking play, driving forward – screamed world-class again.

Ligue 1 – Mbappé keeps the spotlight

In France, Paris Saint-Germain rolled to a 3-0 victory, with Kylian Mbappé once more at the centre of everything. Mbappé opened the scoring with a trademark burst in behind, taking one perfect touch before dinking the ball over the keeper – pure composure. The second goal came via Ousmane Dembélé, who cut inside and found the bottom corner with his weaker foot, and the third was a late tap-in by Gonçalo Ramos after Mbappé unselfishly squared across the box.

Mbappé's night was more than just the goal – he dragged defenders all over the place, created Ramos's strike, and forced a big save or two that could easily have turned into a hat-trick. The Paris crowd knew it; every time he touched the ball, you could feel that extra buzz.

What this all means for the title races

City's win tightens the Premier League title race in a big way and puts serious pressure on both Arsenal and Liverpool, while Real Madrid and PSG stay firmly in charge of their own stories. With every round now, every point feels double.

What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings

That live table shows just how razor-thin the margins are. City's three points could be the swing that decides the Premier League, and you can literally see the gap shrink and stretch in real time. Keep that page open while you follow the next wave of fixtures.

Premier League live storylines & top scorers today

On a day like this, the top scorers today list looks like a Ballon d'Or shortlist: Haaland's brace, Mbappé on the scoresheet again, Bellingham deciding matches in La Liga. When you scan the football league table and the player stats, it's these names that shape the whole season narrative.

Social Media Spotlight – the web has lost its mind

That late VAR decision in Manchester is the internet's favourite punching bag right now. Clips are being slowed down frame-by-frame, screenshots of the offside lines are everywhere, and fans of every club are weighing in as if it was their own team.

Reporter's take – bold calls and big pressure

Here's the honest take: City looked like champions when it mattered most. In my opinion, Haaland answered every critic in 90 minutes – this is exactly why you build a team around him. De Bruyne remains the league's best playmaker when fit, and the way he repeatedly sliced Arsenal open has to be terrifying for everyone else in the Premier League.

For Arsenal, this is brutal. Performance-wise, they were brave and creative, but elite title-winning teams don't concede three like that in such a huge game. The defending for Haaland's second was a total blackout, and if they miss the title by a point or two, they'll replay that corner in their heads all summer. The rage over VAR is understandable, but you can't leave the season hanging on a tight offside call.

Across Europe, Bellingham continues to feel inevitable – when Real Madrid need someone to step up, he does it with zero fuss. Mbappé, meanwhile, is playing like a guy who knows the whole world is watching his every move and still chooses violence every time he gets the ball.

Closing whistle – this season is going to be chaos

The mix of late winners, VAR controversies, and superstar performances today is exactly why you can't look away from this game right now. Every match feels like a mini-final, and the league tables are flipping week after week.

If you're trying to make sense of all this madness – who's on top, who's chasing, who's suddenly right back in the race – you need the live context.

Check full stats & standings now

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