New leaders, old rivals.
The season in the top leagues is entering the phase where we can already talk about the emerging trends of the leagues. Given that it’s a close match in England with City in an unexpected pursuit role, Napoli are quickly gaining an advantage. Let’s see how things stand in the championships that make up the big five.
Bayern not so dominant
In the eighth round of the Bundesliga, Munich did not suddenly find themselves even in the Champions League zone: in the following rounds it was necessary to regain five points behind the Union, which had risen to the top. But the Berliners only spend the fourth season in the German football elite and their budget is many times smaller.
Nobody was happy with the situation. Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann said after losing to Augsburg:
It can’t go on like this. We must certainly add. I need to seriously think and analyze everything. Everyone must assume their responsibilities: me, the management, the players. We all have a responsibility to correct the situation.
Since October, Nagelsmann’s wards have not suffered a single defeat and Eric Chupo-Moting has also awakened the instinct for goals: 5 goals in five games of the German championship.
In the 15th round, the Munich team are again leading the Bundesliga and already have a 4-point lead over the Union. But in the following positions the maximum density is between the second and the sixth team of the championship, the difference is only 2 points. Now in the top 3, in addition to Monaco and Union, there is Freiburg, who finished the previous Bundesliga season in sixth row. The Eintracht, which was previously 11th, is now fourth.
But the usual German top – Borussia Dortmund – is still behind. The detachment from Werder does not allow to go below the sixth line, but it is absolutely not possible to enter the top 5.
In the next weekend there is only one fundamental appointment: “Union” and “Freiburg” with an equal number of points will play a second intermediate place between them.
Pursuit in Man City
This is not how I imagined the first part of the English Premier League season. Lots of unbelievable. Liverpool, as it seemed, are progressively changing and will continue to fight for the championship with the “citizens”. The Merseysiders, in fact, have failed on all fronts, broken midfield and offensive defeats (1: 2 against Leeds, 0: 1 against Nottingham, the last team of the league). The results of the club compared to the first rounds have improved significantly, but the leaders of the Premier League have managed to increase the advantage. Also the current owners of Liverpool thinking of selling.
And at the head of these leaders is not Manchester City, but Arsenal. Can it be said that the student has surpassed the teacher? The Londoners do not lose points where it is not necessary, they win comparisons in principle with Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham, Martinelli and Saka at high speed are among the best of the team for goals and points. Man City simply gave the opponent points 1 more time – they tied twice. Hence the slight gap and the long nature of the race. None of the teams are in a hurry to stumble.
And even so, the “Gunners” dominance is more like a temporary phenomenon. Mikel Arteta’s project has undergone far fewer tests and does not live as much as Josep Guardiola’s creation. In these races, stability puts everything in its place.
Barcelona mini win
Typical situation of the Spanish league: Barça and Real Madrid compete for first place, the others fight for the top three with a margin of advantage. when there were rumors of Xavi’s imminent resignationthe Catalans were hanging by a thread in the Champions League, and in La Liga they made the “creamy” take the lead.
But “Real” is also not free from sins: Real Madrid have lost points twice in a row, which “Blaugrana” took advantage of. A situation very similar to the photo in Premier Leagueonly Barça is not a daring young project, but an old one of crisis.
“Sociedad” and “Athletic” push “Atletico” with Diego Simeone on the fifth line and loosen the chair under the “mattress” coach – Real have already failed Champions League and they can’t stop.
The worst thing is at Sevilla. The alliance with Lopetegui has broken, the team is in the relegation zone, the new mentor cannot start the series in points.
The management of Napoli named after Kvaratskelia
This is what can be done with the club through consistent management. Last year it was THEwrong starts with Spartak, down after a long lead in Serie A. After the summer transfers, the Neapolitans are already on the field Champions League rejected Liverpool, conquer the first place in the group with Merseysiders, Ajax and Rangers, and the 8-point handicap cannot be lost so quickly.
For a long time Atalanta and Milan were on par with Napoli, but the leaders consistently faced both. The Rossoneri are third with 30 points, the same as Lazio second. The Bergamo players have completely fallen in the queue of the Champions Cup area, even if they can quickly return to the top 3.
PSG and other
As for Ligue 1, we can say that without taking into account the first place of the Parisians, the championship is many times more interesting and tense. Monaco are once again far from the top three, but unlike the general crisis of 2018, they have the strength to stop a series of failures. Alexander Golovin follows a good performance program: he has already collected 5 points (3 goals + 2 assists), getting enough playing time. The Monegasques themselves can move up to third place in the next round.
“Lens”, “Rennes”, “Marseille” – the usual composition of the table top. Once in the lead, Lyon dropped to eighth place, not far from Lille and Nice.
BUT PSG, while occupying the first place, it continues to change its appearance. There are many times less devastating victories, the team over and over again has enough 2-3 goals for the necessary result. In the club thinking about strengthening, but the Christophe Galtier brand still manages to keep up with what it is. The main interim result for France is that we won’t see a new champion here.
