League leaders go 5 points clear in both Germany and Spain!

BUNDESLIGA

This weekend there was only one game I could kick-off with. Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich. Heading into the game only 2 points separated the pair at the top of the table. This meant Thomas Tuchel’s side had the opportunity to go top if they inflicted a first loss of the season on Leverkusen, although this wouldn’t transpire to be the case. Munich loanee Josip Stanišić opened the scoring versus his parent club, an occasion which would go on to leave Thomas Tuchel livid. The Bayern manager later stating “In England there’s a nice rule where when you loan a player out, they can’t play against you. For me that makes more sense”. Xabi Alonso’s side went on to win the game 3-0 after a tidy finish from Alejandro Grimaldo and a last minute 3 points confirmer from Jeremie Frimpong. When the third hit the back of the net absolute chaos ensued in the BayArena. Now 5 points clear of their rivals, Leverkusen fans, and other fans across not just Germany but the world, will be hoping Leverkusen can win their first title and that they’ll finally see a different Bundesliga winner after 11 years of Bayern dominance!

At the other end of the table Union Berlin picked up an important 3 points to take them 9 points clear of automatic relegation. Danilho Doekhi’s power header proved the difference between the sides in a 1-0 win. Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund both picked up wins while RB Leipzig drew to Augsburg. With only 1 win in their last 5 and now dropping further away from the Champions League qualification places Marco Rose’s side need to improve, and it’s essential that they do it quickly. Before we leave Germany it’s important to mention the protests that featured across many games again this weekend. As fans continue to show their disagreement with potential plans to sell a stake in marketing revenues to a private equity investor for an upfront payment.

LA LIGA

While Leverkusen were triumphing over Bayern, another leader versus challenger game was ongoing. Real Madrid versus Girona. The fact these two thrillers were scheduled for the same time was really a deplorable situation for football lovers. Going into the game Madrid hadn’t lost at home and Girona hadn’t lost while away, but for one of those that was about to change. With only 5 minutes on the clock Vinícius Júnior cut in from the left to unleash a truly spectacular strike to put Los Blancos ahead. Half an hour later Vinícius was starring again, playing Jude Bellingham in with a beautiful trivela pass before Madrid’s number 5 rounded the keeper and slotted it home for 2-0. Madrid made it 4-0 by the hour mark after another from Jude Bellingham and a fourth from Rodrygo, an authoritative win from the home side even with a missed penalty from Joselu in the 90th minute. Now 5 points clear of Girona, Carlo Ancelotti will feel his side are in a very strong position to win the title back from Barcelona. The only negative for Madrid was Bellingham coming off injured early in the second half, although since the game Bellingham has reassured fans by taking to Instagram to tell them he’ll be “back in no time”. Fingers crossed the Brummie boy will be!

Girona’s loss meant if Barcelona won they’d be just 3 points behind them. However, Granada prevented that as they held Xavi’s side to a 3-3 draw. An interesting game which went from 1-1 to a 3-2 Granada lead within 6 minutes in the second half. 16 year-old Lamine Yamal with his second of the game in the 80th minute proving to be Barca’s saving grace. Manchester United loanee Facundo Pelliistri starred as he assisted Ricard Sánchez and scored one himself to help his new side to an important point as they aim to stay up. The most surprising result of the weekend however has to be Sevilla’s 1-0 win over 4th placed Atletico Madrid, the home side have been performing well below par this season but look to be picking up form as they try to steer away from the relegation zone.

SERIE A

Inter Milan are on a run of 9 games unbeaten, this including their 4-2 victory over AS Roma this weekend. Despite going 2-1 down just before half-time Inter pulled it back thanks to goals from Marucs Thuram, Alessandro Bastoni, and an own goal from Angeliño. Increasing that gap between them and Juventus to 7 points after Juventus’ surprise loss to Udinese on Monday night. The only worry Simone Inzaghi may have about his side is whether a potential run in the Champions League could be detrimental to their league form, they face Atletico Madrid this week for the first leg of the Round of 16.

AC Milan were the ones occupying the San Siro this weekend. Hosting Napoli in a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Theo Hernández in the 25th minute, his 4th goal from left-back this season. This loss for Napoli means Walter Mazzarri’s side are falling away from the Champions League qualification spots. Now 7 points behind Atalanta, with 4 teams between them and the qualification spot, it’s going to be a tough task to qualify ahead of the teams above them currently, nearly all are in better form than Napoli too. One of those sides is Fiorentina who were victorious this weekend in a 5-1 win over Frosinone, an impressive performance from Vincenzo Italiiono’s side after only one win in their last five. 

Empoli picked up an important three points at the bottom of the table, helping them to move out of the relegation zone and jump up to 15th place. It could’ve certainly been a different ending though, with the two sides drawing until the 88th minute when M’Baye Niang slotted home a penalty for the away side, this followed by Matteo Cancellieri scoring in the 96th minute to take it to 3-1. Rubbing salt in the wounds of 20th placed Salernitana who at this stage look destined for relegation to Serie B.

LIGUE 1

With 13 games left of the season in Ligue 1, I would say we are starting to see how it could look come May. Paris Saint-Germain are now 11 points clear of Nice in 2nd place, with a goal difference of +25 more, it’s going to take something big to happen for anyone but Luis Enrique’s side to win the league. PSG won 3-1 this weekend vs Lille despite going behind early on to a goal from Yusuf Yazıcı. They did this without Kylian Mbappé even featuring, he was rested ahead of their Champions League tie with Real Sociedad.

The two sides who look most likely to achieve automatic Champions League qualification are Nice and Monaco. The two faced each other on Sunday night as Monaco triumphed over the home side in a 3-2 victory. A surprising double from midfielder Denis Zakaria and a red card early in the second half for Nice defender Dante certainly helped Adolf Hütter’s side find the win. This result meant if Brest had won earlier that day they would have gone 2nd, unfortunately for them they were held by bottom side Clermont. An opportunity missed for Brest but an important point for Clermont who are now only 3 points away from potential safety.

ELSEWHERE

The league leaders in Portugal dropped points this weekend, Benfica scoring in the 90th minute to draw level with a 10-man Vitória side. It finished 2-2 meaning Benfica dropped to 2nd place after Sporting Lisbon’s 5-0 win over Braga. A statement victory for the Green and Whites, who also have a game in hand on Benfica meaning they could go top by 3 points, not just goal difference.

PSV Eindhoven won 5-1 versus Volendam and remained unbeaten in the league despite not keeping their 100% win record alive in recent weeks. Both Ismael Saibari and Jordan Teze combined to assist one another’s goals, Teze had a great game despite scoring an own goal in the 1st minute! Ajax lost in a surprise 3-2 victory for Heerenveen, trailing 3-0 at half-time, it would’ve been a surprise if Ajax had come back from it. With 13 games left and 9 points between Ajax and Champions League qualification play-offs it’ll be interesting to see if they can make it ahead of FC Twente and AZ Alkmaar.