New champions were crowned in two of Europe’s top seven leagues when Barcelona and Feyenoord crossed the finish line with games to spare. Pichichi chasing striker Robert Lewandowski bagged a brace in Barca’s 4-2 demolition of city rivals Espanyol to power Xavi Hernandez’s rebuilt Blaugrana to their first Liga Santander crown since 2019. Arne Slot’s Feyenoord brushed aside Go Ahead Eagles 3-0 to dethrone Ajax Amsterdam as Dutch Eredivisie champions.
A football equivalent of a Tsunami torpedoed Atletico Madrid when they were ambushed 1-0 at already relegated Elche. The loss witnessed Diego Simeone’s side surrender second place to Real Madrid as Carlo Ancelotti’s ousted champions overcame hard battling Getafe 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Imanol Iguacil’s Real Sociedad retained fourth spot despite being held to a pulsating 2-2 draw by Girona.
In England, Manchester City moved closer to winning their fifth title in six years by dismantling Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park. Premier League leading scorer Erling Braut Haaland netted goal number 52 of a stellar season and skipper Ilkan Gundogan chipped in with a brace to guide Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues to a four point cushion over Arsenal. The treble chasing Etihad Stadium based outfit also have a game in hand on the Gunners, who were stunned 3-0 by Roberto di Zerbi’s effusive Brighton.
Manchester United took charge of their Champions League qualification destiny courtesy of a 2-0 dismissal of spirited Wolverhampton Wanderers. Strikes from Anthony Martial and Alejandro Garnach propelled the record champions to 66 points, the same tally as third placed Newcastle United because the Magpies could only draw 2-2 with Sam Allardyce’s relegation threatened Leeds United. Liverpool are a point behind before Monday night’s game at Leicester City.
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There were no fresh twists in the cut throat race for this season’s Bundesliga crown. Leaders Bayern Munich wiped the floor with Schalke 6-0 to retain a one point cushion over Borussia Dortmund, who blasted Gladbach to smithereens 5-2. Third placed RB Leipzig retained a solitary point advantage over Union Berlin by fighting back to subdue determined Werder Bremen 2-1. Urs Fischer’s Berliners whipped Christian Steich’s Freiburg to take sole possession of fourth place.
Paris Saint Germain kept safe distance from the chasing pack by obliterating Ajaccio 5-0 thanks to two goals from Kylian Mbappe Lottin, who is now the outright leader of the chase for this season’s Ligue One Golden Boot with 26 goals. 1998 French champions Racing Lens are six points off title pace, their 2-1 triumph over Reims on Friday night notwithstanding. Olympique Marseille’s 3-1 win at home to already relegated Angers extended the 1993 European champions’ advantage over fourth placed Monaco to eight points as the principality club were held to a goalless draw by visiting Lille Metropole.
