Global diary

Stories from the four corners of the football world

Friday January 1

ENGLAND: Manchester United go level on points with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win against Aston Villa. Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink returns to Burton Albion as manager. JAPAN: Kawasaki Frontale begin 2021 by beating Gamba Osaka 1-0 to lift the Emperor’s Cup at the Tokyo National Stadium. CHINA: Shanghai SIPG name Croatian Ivan Leko as head coach.

Saturday January 2

SCOTLAND: Rangers move 19 points clear of Celtic with a 1-0 win. SPAIN: Real Madrid go top of La Liga by beating Celta Vigo 2-0.

Sunday January 3

SPAIN: Kieran Trippier’s suspension for gambling breaches is paused while Atletico Madrid appeal. The club regain top spot with a 2-1 win at Alaves, thanks to a 90th-minute winner by Luis Suarez. ENGLAND: Fulham’s fixture with Burnley is postponed by COVID. Elsewhere, Chelsea lose 3-1 to Manchester City, who go fifth. GERMANY: In a seven-goal thriller, Bayern Munich recover from going two goals down to beat Mainz 5-2.

Monday January 4

SPAIN: Athletic Bilbao confirm Marcelino as their new head coach. PORTUGAL: Third-tier Olhanense appoint Edgar Davids as coach. FRANCE: Toulouse terminate the contract of forward Adil Taoui. JAPAN: FC Tokyo win the J.League Cup, beating Kashiwa Reysol 2-1.

Tuesday January 5

ENGLAND: Tottenham reach the Carabao Cup final with a 2-0 win over Championship side Brentford. AUSTRALIA: Former Cardiff City midfielder Jordon Mutch joins Western Sydney Wanderers. JORDAN: Al Wehdat defeat Al Jazeera 1-0 to win their 17th Jordanian Pro League title.

Wednesday January 6

SPAIN: Third-tier Cornella stun Atletico Madrid with a 1-0 win in the Copa del Rey. Meanwhile,