Bayern Munich surrendered their Bundesliga leadership to Borussia Dortmund for the first time in five months when they lost 2-1 at former midfield star Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen. Dortmund assumed first slot by a solitary point via a 6-1 evisceration of Cologne.
Edin Terzic’s Black and Yellows are five points clear of Union Berlin, who moved into third place above Freiburg thanks to a 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. Marco Rose’s RB Leipzig meanwhile fell to fifth following a 0-1 defeat at Bochum. Freiburg could only draw 1-1 at Mainz.
Christopher Galtier’s job as Paris Saint Germain boss was cast into further doubt when the Ligue One champions lost their 35-game Ligue One unbeaten run in a humbling 0-2 defeat to Rennes.
The loss saw PSG’s points lead cut to seven points by Olympique Marseille, who outlasted Reims 2-1 to end their hosts’ own 19 match unbeaten run. Racing Lens stayed third by brushing aside bottom placed Angers 3-0 whereas Monaco are fourth following a 2-0 victory at Ajaccio.
Napoli moved within five victories of winning their third ever Serie A title by walloping Torino 4-0 to open up a near impregnable 19 point cushion atop the league standings.
A brace from Capocannonieri chasing Nigerian speed merchant Victor Osimhen helped lift Luciano Spalletti’s Partenopei to 71 points, 19 clear of former boss Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio, who out-dueled Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma 1-0 in the Rome derby. Inter Milan fell one place to third after being ambushed 1-0 at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium by record champions Juventus.
Arsenal took full advantage of Manchester City’s FA Cup engagements to clobber Crystal Palace 4-1 and move eight points ahead of the reigning Premier League champions. Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte blew his fuse when the North Londoners surrendered a two goal cushion with just 15 minutes to full time to draw 3-3 at struggling Southampton.
Two goals from Alexander Isak powered Newcastle United past hard battling Nottingham Forest 2-1. The Magpies moved within two points of fourth placed Spurs but with two games in hand.
Goals at the end of each half from Sergio Roberto and Frank Kessie guided Barcelona to a 2-1 win over eternal enemies Real Madrid in the fourth El Clasico of this season. Victory extended Blaugrana’s Liga Santander lead to 12 points, thereby moving Xavi Hernandez’s side closer to their first League title since 2019.
Atletico Madrid compounded Valencia’s relegation fears by whitewashing the 2002 and 2004 champions 3-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano. Diego Simeone’s side remain third, two points ahead of Imanol Alguacil’s Real Sociedad, 3-0 winners over basement club Elche.
