A look ahead to the week’s biggest matches in Europe as Real Madrid try to hold onto their slim lead, Christian Pulisic signs a new deal and the Chinese Super League continues to splash the cash.
La Liga
Real Madrid have seen their lead at the top of the La Liga table shrink to a single point, though they still have a game in hand over most of the league. Sevilla are the latest club to make a run at breaking up the stranglehold Real and Barcelona have on the division. They sit in second, one point above Barca, thanks to a five-match winning streak. More impressively, in successive matches earlier this month Sevilla drew with Real in the Copa del Rey and then beat them in La Liga. They travel to 9th-place Espanyol on Sunday.
The top three all play on Sunday this week. Real Madrid host also-royal Real Sociedad, who have won four of their last five league matches and are tied on points with fourth-place Atletico Madrid. Their measly goal difference of plus-six leaves them on the outside of the top four. Real are dealing with a pair of fresh injuries as Marcelo looks to be out a least a month while Luka Modric will be a game-time decision after missing out on Real’s midweek cup tie.
Barcelona travel to 13th-place Real Betis under a cloud of doubt regarding manager Luis Enrique. Some believe he’s prepared to walk away from the coveted position when his contract ends this summer. Lionel Messi and company will need to focus on the task at hand: retaking second place from Sevilla and challenging for the La Liga title.
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich, winners of their last six league matches, currently enjoy a three point lead at the top of the table over RB Leipzig, who, after an incredible season, have lost two of their last four Bundesliga matches. Bayern visit Werder Bremen on Saturday, and will do so without Arturo Vidal after the midfielder had to be subbed off in last week’s win over Freiburg with a rib injury.
In what is by far the biggest Bundesliga match of the weekend, the aforementioned RB Leipzig play host to the only remaining unbeaten team in Europe, third-place Hoffenheim. Eight points separate the two clubs, but the match is a giant opportunity for Hoffenheim to make up some ground.
Fourth-place Borussia Dortmund have been busy during the January transfer window, signing another promising youngster in Swedish striker Alexander Isak. Although, oddly, it appears Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel wasn’t even consulted about the move. BVB also sent out defender Neven Subotic on loan to fellow Bundesliga side Cologne. Finally, American Christian Pulisic has been rewarded for his fine play with a contract extension through 2020. It surely includes a much deserved raise and should help to quiet the transfer rumors, at least until the end of the season.
Dortmund will be confident of a result as they travel to 11th-place Mainz on Sunday. A slip up by Hoffenheim could see BVB jump into third place.
Serie A
Leaders Juventus have seen their lead shrink to one point over second-place Roma. After losing away to Fiorentina on Jan. 15, Juve returned to their winning ways last week at home against Lazio. They will expect to collect three more points as they travel to 14th-place Sassuolo on Sunday.
Roma have kept pressure on the leaders by winning five of their last six league matches, including a current four-game winning streak. On Sunday, they travel to struggling Sampdoria, who are currently 16th in the Serie A table and winless in their last six league matches.
Third-place Napoli are headed to the Coppa Italia semifinals after their 1-0 win over Fiorentina on Tuesday. They’re showing similar mettle in league play, fighting to stay within striking distance of Roma and Juventus. Napoli are unbeaten in their last six Serie A matches, winning five. They host lowly Palermo (19th place, 10 points) on Sunday.
Who did a Chinese Super League club try to grossly overpay this week?
It’s Dani Alves!
Shanghai SIPG have already lured Brazilians Hulk and, more recently, Oscar to China. The latter is reportedly making over $600,000 a week. A WEEK. They have now set their sights on Alves, offering a relatively measly $200,000 a week.
Next: Wayne Rooney, hated, great
This trend has been ramping up over the last few years, and hit what hopefully is a high-water mark recently when fellow Shanghai club, Shenhua, signed Carlos Tevez from Boca Juniors, awarding him a weekly pay rate of more than $760,000. This made the former Manchester United star the highest paid player in the world (Diego Costa has been offered a similarly sized contact). Tevez is 32 years old. Sigh.