Perhaps it’s hyperbolic to declare the Ligue 1 title race over in December, when the three teams on top of the table are tied on the same number of points, but it felt like there was only one team worthy of lifting the title on Sunday night in Paris. Olympique Lyonnais, who have enjoyed a resurgence this season after a down year, looked hopeless against Paris Saint-Germain. The gap in class between the two teams was obvious, and PSG walked away with an easy win.
Across the Atlantic: So much for the Ligue 1 title race
The top three teams in Ligue 1 are tied on 35 points apiece, but following this weekend’s result in Paris, the race might as well be over.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos
In other action across Europe, the Eredivisie continues to be insane, while weather screwed up other leagues. Perhaps Russia and Ukraine have the right idea? They’ve been on break for a couple of weeks.
Thanks for playing, Lyon
Lyon never really looked like scoring against Paris Saint-Germain, and it’s possible that they didn’t intend to in the early part of their game. They actually did a good job of holding off PSG in the first half, before a stoppage time counter undid their gameplan. Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit a cross towards Blaise Matuidi on a counter, it deflected perfectly into his path, and he nodded into the back of the net to change the game before halftime. Carlo Ancelotti’s side had no problem holding onto that lead, and they coasted to a 1-0 win to go joint top of the table.
Marseille was victorious as well, grabbing an impressive road win away to Toulouse to stay level with PSG and Lyon. Lorient continued their surprising run with their fourth straight win, surging to fourth with an away victory over previously impressive, but now sinking Saint-Etienne. Montpellier were impressive as well, downing Bastia 4-0 to surge into the top half.
The Eredivisie is awesome
Holland’s Eredivisie continues to be Europe’s most unpredictable big league, and their title race will almost certainly go down to the wire. It also might include five teams. After Feyenoord won this weekend while PSV Eindhoven dropped points, there are now five teams within three points of each other at the top of the table.
PSV’s away draw to top-half NEC was disappointing, but understandable. Twente bounced back from last week’s loss by defeating Heracles, while Ajax won their fifth straight match by downing Willem II away. Vitesse slipped up, dropping points for the second straight week with a home draw against RKC Waalwijk.
Weather postpones Porto match
The two-team Portuguese Liga only had one of their teams in action this weekend. FC Porto were unable to play Vitoria Setubal due to adverse weather conditions. That allowed Benfica to open up a three-point lead at the top of the table with a 4-1 win over Maritimo.
Braga comfortably beat Estoril 3-0, and continues to sit in the purgatory that is third place without the potential of challenging for a title. Sporting Lisbon drew Nacional 1-1 because they are a sad thing.
Your regular reminder that the SPL is a thing
Celtic beat St. Mirren to stay four points clear of Motherwell at the top of the SPL table. Good job, Celtic!
Galatasaray takes a stranglehold on Turkish Super Lig top spot
Fenerbahce had a chance to go joint top in Turkey with a win over their hated rivals this weekend. Instead, their defense struggled in the first half against Galatasaray, and they weren’t able to find a way back into the match as the home side held out for a 2-1 win. You can find a full recap of that game right here.
In other action, Besiktas drew for the second straight week, and now also sit five points behind Galatasaray. Fringe contenders Antalyaspor did the same, and also sit on 27 points with Fener and Besiktas.
Belgium in a holding pattern
Anderlecht didn’t build their lead at all in Belgium, but as the weeks go on, it becomes more and more obvious that they’re the best team in the league and that a worthy challenger probably doesn’t exist. They won, along with the other top four teams in the league, and now sit six points ahead of Zulte-Waregem. They’re 11 points ahead of more realistic title contenders Standard Liege and Club Brugge, and their goal differential is twice as good as both sides.
Stuff we covered in depth over the weekend
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