Fast rising Belgian striker Lois Openda became the first Ligue One player in three quarters of a century to notch a five minute hat-trick as Racing Lens dispatched Clermont Foot 4-0 to move into second position behind Paris Saint Germain, who boss the standings by 13 points, courtesy of a 2-1 win at Stade Brest. Olympique Marseille dropped to third after they were held to a 2-2 draw at Stade Velodrome. France’s best supported club conceded two goals in the dying embers of their match against Strasbourg. Monaco stayed fourth despite succumbing to a 0-1 home loss to Stade Reims.
Napoli took full advantage of Inter Milan’s unexpected 2-1 defeat at Spezia to reopen an 18 points cushion atop Serie A by dismissing Atalanta Bergamo 2-0 in a game that will be remembered for the stardust sprinkled by Georgian wing wizard Kvicha Kvaratchkelia. Former boss Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio are third following their goalless draw at Bologna while Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma stayed fourth regardless of their 3-4 reverse at to to Sassuolo for whom Armand Lauriente was unplayable.
Arsenal are on course to end a 19-year Premier League title drought thanks to a straight forward 3-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. A hat trick of first half assists from January signing Leandro Trossard saw Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard find the net as Mikel Arteta’s Gunners restored a five point cushion over champions Manchester City, who laboured to a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace a day earlier. The Gunners have accumulated 66 points, more than they had done at the same stage of their Invincibles 2003/4 season.
Manchester United had midfield terrier Casemiro sent off in a goalless home stalemate with Southampton but the Carabao Cup winners are still third, one point above Tottenham Hotspur, 3-1 winners over Nottingham Forest. Eric Ten Haag’s Red Devils have stuttered in recent weeks but have one foot in the Europa League quarter finals and host Fulham in an FA Cup last eight tie next weekend. Newcastle United moved above Liverpool into fifth courtesy of a battling 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Jurgen Klopp’s 19-time champions were ambushed 0-1 at Bournemouth.
In Spain, Barcelona retained a nine point advantage over sworn rivals Real Madrid by subduing hard fighting Athletic Bilbao 1-0 at San Mames via a Raphinha strike. Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos had on Saturday cut Blaugrana’s lead to six points by taming Espanyol 3-1. Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are still third ahead of Monday night’s trip to Girona as fourth placed Real Sociedad could only draw 1-1 at Real Mallorca. Valencia moved out of the bottom three by outlasting Osasuna 1-0 while Sevilla’s 2-1 victory over Almeria has eased the pressure on boss Jorge Sampaoli.
Bayern Munich opened up a two point wriggle room atop the Bundesliga by bludgeoning Augsburg 5-3 in an Allianz Arena thriller. Borussia Dortmund fell off title pace when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Schalke in the Revierderby. RB Leipzig moved above Union Berlin into third place by wiping the floor with Gladbach 3-0 while Urs Fischer’s Berliners could only draw 1-1 at Wolfsburg. Leipzig and Union Berlin were joined on 45 points by Christian Steich’s Freiburg after the team from Germany’s Forest Country bettered Hoffenheim 2-1.
