For some time now, few football fans in Spain were expecting anything but a two horse race for this seasons La Liga title. But with Barcelona now four points clear at the halfway stage of the campaign, they may not even get that. And in truth, the new gap may ultimately be down to Real’s new coach Jose Mourinho.
With the League One fixture list sliced in half, thanks to a healthy showing in the FA Cup, this left the opportunity for a number of teams to seize their opportunity and leap up the table.
When Napoli lost 3-1 to Inter Milan in mid week many saw the result as the clearest indication yet that the resurgent Sky blues were not quite ready to challenge for the Serie A title. But just days later the Naples based outfit appear to have taken full advantage of mistakes from those around them.
In recent years quite a few teams have shocked and surprised English football by making their mark on the Premier League no sooner than they have set foot in it, Burnley's win over Manchester United and turning Turfmoor into a fortress, Wigan and Reading's battles for Europe in their maiden seasons and Stoke cementing themselves as a top flight club in no time at all to name but a few. However none of these triumphs have turned as many heads as Ian Holloway's Blackpool have managed to do this season.
PSV took full advantage of being one of only two sides in the top five, along with FC Groningen, to have a game this past weekend in the Eredivisie, comfortably beating 6th placed Roda JC 3-1 and opening the gap between them and defending champions FC Twente to four points.