It was an unusual weekend across Europe's top football leagues, with many of the continent's elite clubs stumbling. In the Premier League, signs of burnout were evident among the top teams, while Germany's giants faltered in surprising fashion. Meanwhile, Barcelona's match was postponed due to the tragic death of the club's doctor.
The Premier League's leading clubs showed serious signs of fatigue as the season enters its final stretch. Liverpool struggled against bottom-placed Southampton, leading manager Arne Slot to visibly express his disgust with the first-half performance. Chelsea narrowly defeated relegation-threatened Leicester City 1-0, with star midfielder Cole Palmer missing from the penalty spot—ending his perfect 12-for-12 record in the Premier League. Arsenal quickly ran out of ideas at Old Trafford, their players' faces telling the story of their frustration.
This apparent burnout comes as no surprise given the ongoing fixture congestion crisis in elite football. With European competitions resuming this week, there will be no respite for these exhausted squads. As Sam Tighe, Alex Kirkland, and Constantin Eckner noted in their weekend review, March typically reveals the physical toll of the season's demanding schedule.
In Spain, Barcelona's match against Osasuna was postponed just 20 minutes before kickoff following the death of team doctor Carles Miñarro. The 53-year-old, who had been with the club for eight years and joined the first-team setup last summer, was found dead at the team hotel. Club president Joan Laporta described Miñarro as "a man who was much-loved by everyone" and "a great professional, a great doctor," adding that the squad was "in a state of shock."
Players expressed their grief on social media, with defender Ronald Araújo saying, "I still can't believe it. Rest in peace, Doc," while goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen added, "I don't have the words. We'll miss you."
With Barcelona idle, Atlético Madrid missed a golden opportunity in the title race, suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to Getafe. Despite taking the lead through Alexander Sørloth's penalty, Atlético collapsed late in the match after Ángel Correa was sent off. Mauro Arambarri scored twice for Getafe, including the winner in added time, securing the club's first victory over Atlético in 14 years.
Real Madrid capitalized on their rivals' stumbles, earning a nervy 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabéu. Goals from Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior gave Madrid a comfortable 2-0 lead before Pedro Díaz's spectacular strike for Rayo—which bounced twice off the crossbar before crossing the line—ensured a tense second half.
In Germany, both Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen suffered surprising defeats ahead of their crucial Champions League clash. Bayern lost 3-2 to relegation-threatened Bochum after João Palhinha's red card changed the course of the match. Meanwhile, Leverkusen fell to Werder Bremen and suffered a potentially significant blow when Florian Wirtz left the stadium on crutches after being introduced at halftime.
Borussia Dortmund also experienced a setback, losing 1-0 at home to Augsburg. "The outing was horrible," Dortmund captain Emre Can said afterward. "I can't explain it. It hurts so much. We are not a top team." Fans voiced their displeasure with thunderous whistles as the players left the pitch.
In Italy, AC Milan mounted an impressive comeback against Lecce, overturning a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2. American star Christian Pulisic was the hero, scoring twice—including the winner following an assist from substitute Rafael Leão. The victory provides some respite for manager Sérgio Conceição, whose future at the club remains uncertain amid rumors he could be replaced at season's end.
Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembélé continued his remarkable 2025 form, scoring twice in stoppage time against Stade Rennais to reach 20 goals since the year began. His incredible run has generated whispers about a potential Ballon d'Or candidacy, which could gain further momentum if he helps PSG overcome their 1-0 deficit against Liverpool in Tuesday's Champions League clash.
As European football enters its decisive phase, the coming weeks will reveal which clubs have the depth and resilience to overcome the physical and mental toll of a demanding season.
