On Friday we looked ahead to the weekend’s matches and wondered what may lay in store in the Big Five leagues.
IN SPAIN
We asked: can Sevilla end Real Madrid’s unbeaten start to the season?
After a dreadful start to the season which saw them languishing in the relegation zone, Sevilla have looked much more like their old selves in recent weeks. Last month’s victory over champions Barcelona showed that Unai Emery’s side were finally adapting to the twin demands of domestic and Champions League football, and Sunday’s 3-2 win over previously unbeaten Real Madrid, cemented the feeling that better times lie ahead.
IN GERMANY
We asked: who will be the pride of the Ruhr?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s 14th goal of the season gave Borussia Dortmund a 3-2 win over Schalke in a thrilling Ruhr derby on Sunday, That result keeps Thomas Tuchel’s side five points behind Bayern Munich in second, while Schalke drop a place to fifth.
IN FRANCE
We asked: are Paris Saint-Germain invincible?
Many observers are convinced that the French title race is already a foregone conclusion and PSG’s 5-0 win over Toulouse only served to reinforce this belief. With the lead over second placed Lyon now a chasmic ten points, the primary interest now is how long Laurent Blanc’s side can keep their unbeaten run going.
IN ITALY
A fan boycott by Roma and Lazio fans created a surreal atmosphere for what is usually one of the most vibrant derby matches.
We asked: will the Rome derby have national significance?
Edin Dzeko won and converted a controversial penalty against Lazio, and Gervinho doubled the tally midway through the second half to keep Roma’s title aspirations on track. Events on the pitch were overshadowed by those off it, as a boycott by fans of both clubs, unhappy with security measures being introduced, resulted in a reduced attendance of 35,263. Roma stay in 3rd spot in a thrillingly tight Serie A title race that sees just two points separating the top four.
IN ENGLAND
We asked: can Jamie Vardy keep his scoring run going?
The Leicester City striker’s phenonemonal campaign continued with a goal from the penalty sport in his side’s 2-1 win over Watford. That’s nine successive matches in which the England striker has netted. Only Ruud Van Nistelrooy with ten has scored in more consecutive games. Next up is a trip to Newcastle United.
