Brazil took another step towards recovering their once famous invincibility when Paulinho scored with a late header to seal a 2-1 win over Uruguay and take the hosts into the Confederations Cup final.
Frank Lampard's loan spell at Manchester City is due to end in January but the Premier League champions might want to delay his departure across the Atlantic to enhance their chances of fighting his old club for the title.
Arsenal claimed the final Champions League spot at the expense of their arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur on the last day of the Premier League season on Sunday with a 1-0 win at Newcastle United.
Jose Mourinho's side have been the most impressive of any of the title contenders.
An Aaron Ramsey strike and a Kalidou Koulibaly own goal gave Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Napoli in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final, while Chelsea beat a stubborn Slavia Prague 1-0.
Leicester City were give a Premier League reality check when the unlikely leaders lost 1-0 at Liverpool on Saturday after Manchester United slumped to a third consecutive league defeat to pile more pressure on manager Louis van Gaal.
The reigning champions have won 53 and drawn 11 of those 64 games, scoring 169 goals and conceding 42 for a total of 170 points.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Jose Mourinho hailed Marcus Rashford's late contribution against Hull City on Saturday and hinted that the 18-year-old has a big role to play for Manchester United this season.
Arsenal's Olivier Giroud produced a piece of New Year's Day magic to keep Arsenal in sight of Premier League leaders Chelsea while Harry Kane's double bolstered Tottenham Hotspur's ambitions as London's triple assault on the title continues.
The victory saw Spain finish top of League A4 with 11 points after six games, joining France in the final four tournament, which will take place in October 2021.
A round-up off all transpired on and off the football pitch
Anthony Martial introduced himself to Manchester United fans with a superb goal to complete a 3-1 win over bitter rivals Liverpool and cap a much-improved performance from Louis van Gaal's side on Saturday.
Cristiano Ronaldo's late header prevented the twice European champions' going down to their worst league defeat this century.
Third-tier Oldham Athletic stunned seven-times FA Cup winners Liverpool with a shock 3-2 fourth-round win on Sunday and Leeds United caused another big upset by knocking out Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Elland Road.
Manchester United's Champions League qualification hopes suffered a blow after an equaliser deep in stoppage time from Michael Obafemi earned Southampton a 2-2 draw in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Monday.
'It's like now with Lamela or Vertonghen, how you sit in the chair and cry because you miss someone... But the competition does not allow you to cry. You have to move on quick. It's a bit cruel, but you have to move on and try to win the next game'
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart generated some more negative headlines after a last minute mix-up with Matija Nastasic allowed Chelsea's Fernando Torres to score a late winner in a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial struck late goals as Manchester United claimed a scrappy 2-0 victory over Everton at a bitterly cold Goodison Park,
Cesc Fabregas was "pissed off" with Spain teammate Sergio Ramos for raising doubts about his commitment to the national team but said the pair had buried the hatchet.
Brief reports of English Premier League matches on Saturday:
Images from the Champions League matches played across Europe on Tuesday
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Klopp impressed with Mourinho turning Spurs into 'results machine'
The Dutch striker scored twice in a 3-2 triumph at Fulham.
Premier League champions Leicester City beat Everton 3-1 at the King Power Stadium on Saturday as a Jamie Vardy double completed a perfect coronation for Claudio Ranieri's miracle men.
Defeats at Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion had left Arsenal down in 11th place but their victory on the south coast lifted them to ninth with 43 points from 31 games -- eight behind fourth-placed Chelsea who were playing City later.
Goals from Didier Drogba and Joe Cole gave EPL leaders Chelsea a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion
PSG make winning start as Messi arrival looms
A controversial late winner by William Gallas earned Arsenal a 2-1 victory over Hull City in their FA Cup quarter-final on Tuesday and set up a last four showdown with Chelsea at Wembley. The other semi-final will be between Manchester United and Everton.
Manchester United were held 1-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers and missed out on taking top spot in the English Premier League.
"They are a great team with a great manager," Hernan Crespo added.
If you are a football fan, particularly of the English Premier League, you are bound to 'follow' your favourite club on Twitter.
A stunning late strike from red-hot Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale lifted the Londoners to a 3-2 win over West Ham United on Monday that took them up to third in the Premier League table.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Belgium finished five points clear at the top of League A Group 2 and will meet world champions France and former World Cup winners Italy and Spain in the final four next October.
Out-battled for an hour by their modest south coast opponents, Arsenal belatedly sparked into life and Olivier Giroud's glancing header two minutes into stoppage time completed their remarkable recovery from 3-0 down.
Liverpool striker Andy Carroll headed an 87th minute winner to secure a 2-1 victory over Merseyside rivals Everton in an error-strewn FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
United finished second last term, their best placing since the 2013 title win in Alex Ferguson's last season in charge, but the Red Devils were a massive 19 points behind champions Manchester City and never truly in contention.
Arsenal beat Liverpool 5-4 on penalties on Saturday to lift the FA Community Shield, the curtain-raiser for the English domestic season, after the two sides played out a 1-1 draw on a chilly afternoon at Wembley.
