Al-Midan Al-Riyadi presents to its dear readers the schedule of matches for Sunday, December 21, 2025, which is a very busy day for football, as the eyes of football fans turn towards African, European and Saudi stadiums to follow a set of anticipated matches.
Africa Cup of Nations: The Atlas Lions in the spotlight
Today's matches take on special significance as the Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Morocco, kicks off with intense competition. All eyes are on the Moroccan national team, fourth-place finishers at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, who are looking to capitalize on home advantage and a supportive crowd to make a strong start towards the continental title that has eluded them for many years. Today's match against Comoros is not just another group stage game; it's a test of the Atlas Lions' readiness to handle the pressure of being the host nation, especially given Comoros' remarkable improvement in recent tournaments and their status as a much-improved opponent.
The battle for the top spot in the major European leagues
On the European front, the season enters its decisive winter phase, with the English Premier League heating up. Aston Villa hosts Manchester United in a classic encounter at Villa Park. This period is crucial for the top teams' standings before the pressure of Boxing Day fixtures. In Spain, Barcelona faces a tough away match against Villarreal in what always promises to be a high-scoring affair, while Atlético Madrid looks to impose its style of play against a resilient Girona side.
Below is the complete list of today's match times and broadcast channels, according to Mecca time:
Africa Cup of Nations
- Morocco vs. Comoros – 10:00 PM.
English Premier League
- Aston Villa vs Manchester United – 7:30 PM.
Spanish League (La Liga)
- Girona vs Atletico Madrid – 4:00 PM.
- Villarreal vs Barcelona – 6:15 PM.
Italian League
- Fiorentina vs Udinese – 8:00 PM.
- Genoa vs Atalanta – 10:45 PM.
German League (Bundesliga)
- Mainz vs St. Pauli – 5:30 PM.
- Heidenheim vs. Bayern Munich – 7:30 PM.
Yellow League (Saudi First Division)
Local excitement is not absent from the scene, as the Yellow League witnesses a fierce struggle to secure promotion spots to the Roshan Professional League:
- Al-Oruba vs. Al-Raed – 3:25 PM.
- Al-Ula vs. Al-Jandal – 3:40 PM.
- Jeddah vs. Abha – 6:25 PM.
- Al-Diriyah vs. Al-Zulfi – 7:30 PM.
