A title race for the ages is developing in England. Liverpool’s 4-0 demolition of Bournemouth on Sunday confirmed their credentials as Jurgen Klopp’s Kop stamped Andoni Iraola’s Cherries without hamstrung top scorer Mo Salah and talismanic deputy skipper Trent Alexander Arnold. Victory courtesy of a brace apiece from Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez extended Liverpool’s advantage over Manchester City to five points though the champions have a game in hand.
Arsenal stayed in close pursuit thanks to a 5-0 pummelling of Crystal Palace a day earlier. Gabriel Magalhaes set the Gunners on their way before two late strikes from compatriot Gabriel Martinelli rubber stamped the three points. The north Londoners first Premier League victory since mid December lifted the gloom that had enveloped the Emirates Stadium and moved Mikel Arteta’s side to 43 points, just five off title pace.
An equally fascinating battle is brewing in Spain’s Liga Santander where ambitious upstarts Girona responded to Real controversial 3-2 victory over Almeria that briefly catapulted them to the apex of the standings by wiping the floor with Sevilla 5-1 thanks to a hat trick from Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk. Girona’s already exceptional season can get even better if they can successfully negotiate a Copa del Rey quarter final tie at Mallorca on Wednesday.
Reigning champions Barcelona stayed seven points behind the leaders by whipping Real Betis 4-2 thanks to a hat trick from Ferran Torres and a Joao Felix strike. Pressure has been building on Blaugrana boss Xavi Hernandez but he will get further respite if he can guide the Catalan giants past Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Cup in the next 72 hours.
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In Germany, Bayer Leverkusen moved seven points clear of eleven time defending titlists Bayern Munich after the Bavarians failed to respond to the leaders’ last gasp 3-2 victory at RB Leipzig. Thomas Tuchel’s champions were lackluster in falling 0-1 to Werder Bremen but they can cut the gap back to four points if they overcome Union Berlin on Wednesday. Borussia Dortmund continued their upward trajectory by eviscerating Cologne 4-0 to move into joint fourth, level on 33 points with Leipzig.
Across the Alps, Juventus seized leadership of the standings by taming Lecce 3-0 thanks to Dusan Vlahovic’s second consecutive brace. Long time leaders Inter Milan were not in action because they were still recuperating from their Coppa Italia exertions. Neighbours AC Milan overcame hard battling Udinese 3-2 via a late Noah Okafor goal to remain in touch with the leaders while Daniele de Rossi guided AS Roma to a 2-1 victory over Hellas Verona on his debut.
