Nottingham Forest’s nine-match unbeaten Premier League streak at home ended with a 1-2 defeat to Newcastle United, who relied heavily on striker Alexander Isak to bail them out late on Friday. The Swedish striker scored a brace, which included a dramatic last-gasp winner from the penalty spot. The defeat ended Nottingham’s streak at the City Ground, where they had not lost since September.
Thanks to the win, Eddie Howe’s side find themselves in fifth spot with 47 points, just one behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have played one game more.
While Emmanuel Dennis had given Forest the lead in the 26th minute, Isak ensured that both teams went into half-time level on scores. It was Joe Willock who created the goal for Isak with a cross that the Swede volleyed off his shin.
In the second half, Newcastle saw a goal from Elliot Anderson disallowed following a VAR review due to a player being offside in the build-up. And just as it looked like Nottingham’s streak would survive, Isak converted a penalty to help his side take home all three points.
Athletic brush aside Real Valladolid
Elsewhere in Spain, a freekick from Iñigo Martínez helped Athletic Bilbao beat Valladolid 3-1 in the Spanish LaLiga on a day the defender got a call-up to Spain’s national team. The veteran had thumped his free kick past the wall for Athletic’s opener on the half-hour mark.
The center back was heartbreakingly dropped from the Spanish national team by former national team coach Luis Enrique ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Soon, Athletic were 3-0 up thanks to goals from Gorka Guruzeta in the 57th and Mikel Vesga’s penalty in the 78th.
Cyle Larin scored for Valladolid in the 74th minute, but it was little more than a consolation goal.
Lyon held to draw by Nantes
In the French Ligue 1, Lyon came from behind against Nantes at home to earn a point. The side is rooted in 10th spot in the standings. Lyon fell back in the third-minute after goalkeeper Rémy Riou saved a shot from Mostafa Mohamed. But the ball hit central defender Castello Lukeba and crept in.
The side needed Alexandre Lacazette to rescue them. The former Arsenal striker scored his 150th goal for the club.
The forward levelled in the 24th minute when he held off defender Nicolas Pallois to score his 21st goal in 28 games overall this season. He’s now second on Lyon’s all-time scoring list since rejoining the club.