This Weekend in Europe

LA LIGA

The Spanish league kicked off this weekend on Friday night when Las Palmas hosted Getafe in a 2-0 win for the home side, keeping their position in the top half of the table. Girona featured on Saturday afternoon, coming from a goal behind to win 2-1 thanks to a double from Cristhian Stuani in the last ten minutes. Real Madrid also won this weekend versus Granada, meaning despite Girona’s win they remained second in the table on goal difference. 

The most anticipated game ahead of the weekend was Barcelona versus Atletico. The game on Sunday night was an important one for both sides, Barcelona coming out on top in a 1-0 win thanks to João Félix’s first half finish. The game was a feisty one with ten cards between the two teams, including one for Xavi! This result means that if Atletico win their game in hand they’ll only be joint on points with Barcelona, rather than ahead of them. 

LIGUE 1

We got lots of action this week in France. Five red cards across the weekend, Nice losing their first game of the season, and Lyon drifting further away from the pack. The weekend began with Will Still’s Stade Reims side beating Strasbourg 2-1. Followed by Lyon losing 3-2 to Lens despite going 1-0 up in the first half. The only positive for Lyon currently is their centre-back Jake O’Brien. He scored two this weekend, adding to his goal earlier in the season, it would seem the Irishman has decided to take it upon himself to get the goals if his attacking teammates can’t!

At the top of the table PSG won again this weekend. Despite losing keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, after he was sent off for a last man challenge, the Parisians didn’t let that stop them as goals from Kylian Mbappé and Vitinha sealed the win. Luis Enrique’s side are now unbeaten in nine games in Ligue 1, they’re also top by four points after Nice’s loss to Nantes this weekend, their first loss of the season. 

SERIE A

Over in Italy the big game of the weekend was on Sunday, when Inter Milan travelled to Naples to face Walter Mazzarri’s side. The Nerazzurri were convincing winners as they went on to win 3-0, Nicoló Barella starred as he provided a goal, an assist, and an excellent performance for his team. Every other side in the top six was victorious too as Juventus, Milan, Fiorentina, and Roma won over the weekend. This’ll change next week though as Napoli travel to Turin and Fiorentina face Roma. 

Hellas Verona managed to salvage a point in their game away to Udinese. The home side led twice, both 2-0 and 3-2 but failed to secure the win due to Thomas Henry scoring in the ninety-seventh minute for the away side! This draw will have felt like a loss to Udinese. On Monday night Nikola Vlašić and Duván Zapata combined twice to help Torino to a 3-0 victory versus an Atlanta side who are performing below expectations this season.

BUNDESLIGA

One thing we are guaranteed in the Bundesliga nearly every week is a Harry Kane goal, unfortunately his side’s game vs Union Berlin was postponed due to heavy snowfall. Union Berlin probably weren’t too disappointed about this looking at both teams current form! With Bayern not playing Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side had the opportunity to go five points ahead at the top of the table. Julian Ryerson had different ideas though, scoring five minutes into Leverkusen’s game versus Borussia Dortmund. Edin Terzić’s side managed to hold the league leaders to a 1-1 draw, in a game where statistically they were very much outplayed.

At the other end of the table a single goal from Davie Selke was enough for Kӧln to beat Darmstadt 1-0 in a game which was really a six-pointer. This result took Kӧln out of the relegation play-off place and sent Darmstadt into it. Both LoÏs Openda and Serhou Guirassy scored again this weekend as their sides picked up three points. Guirassy now has sixteen goals in eleven games, you won’t hear about this but he actually has the same goals per game ratio as Harry Kane! 

ELSEWHERE

PSV faced Feyenoord and defeated them 2-1 to keep their 100% win rate in the league. They’re now ten points clear of Feyenoord in second place. Ajax picked up another win vs NEC to take them to eighth in the table. The Portuguese league saw Sporting go top after their win vs Gil Vicente on Monday night after Benfica had drawn to Moreirense the day before. Only three points separate Sporting in first place and Porto in third after this weekend.