The Euro Preview: Real Madrid and Barcelona continue to fight for La Liga lead

Real Madrid will try to extend their lead in La Liga while Barcelona deal with Lionel Messi drama. Bayern Munich and Juventus are in complete in control.

The Euro Preview is back after the international break. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up this weekend across the continent.

La Liga

Lionel Messi had an interesting international break. First, authorities in Peru confiscated $85 million worth of Messi-branded cocaine. Like I’ve always said, if you’re going to smuggle and sell gigantic quantities of illegal drugs, use the likeness of one of the best athletes in the world on your packaging. People will flock to you! Sometimes it’s the cops, though, so be careful.

Then, Leo was suspended for Argentina’s next four games games for saying not nice things to an assistant referee last Thursday. He joined literally every other athlete and fan of every sport ever in being guilty of insulting a referee. Argentina didn’t cope well in their first game without him as they lost to Bolivia 2-0 on Tuesday.

Anyway, Barcelona are standing by their man, and echoing everyone else on Earth, in saying that the penalty was unjust and really, really stupid. Barca are two points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid, but have the pleasure of traveling to 19th-place Granada on Sunday.

Real, who still possess a game in hand, also play on Sunday as they host 10th-place Alaves. The leaders are undefeated in their last five league matches, winning four.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a productive international break. Portugal dispatched Hungary 3-0 on Saturday behind a brace from the superstar. He also had an entire gosh dang airport named after him. Ronaldo must have felt pretty great about …

Oh no. Oh god no. If you’re the artist responsible this monstrosity, wouldn’t you just destroy it as soon as it was completed and give Madeira and Ronaldo a rain check? Start from scratch, my dude. Or maybe go into another line of work.

Bundesliga

Unless RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund or Hoffenheim win out, or maybe even if they do, the Bundesliga title is all but wrapped up. Leaders Bayern Munich hold a 13-point lead over second-place Leipzig, who have lost their last two league matches, as the clubs return from the international break. Bayern also posses a cartoonish goal difference: plus-48. It’s over.

Bayern Munich will host 14th-place Augsburg while Leipzig take on 13th-place Werder Bremen on Saturday. Dortmund, who currently sit only three points behind Leipzig, also play on Saturday as they travel to ninth-place Schalke.

BVB’s Christian Pulisic lived up to the mountain-sized hype during the international break as the U.S. did what they needed to do to get back on track for World Cup qualification. Over the two games against Honduras and Panama, the 18-year-old scored a goal and assisted on three more. He may already be the best attacking player the USA have ever produced. Expect him to continue to see a lot of playing time for Dortmund.

Serie A

Juventus will come back from the break in complete control of Serie A. The leaders have an eight-point lead at the top of the table and have won five of their last six league matches. Second-place Roma and third-place Napoli have also won five of their last six in an effort to keep Juventus’ lead respectable.

On Saturday, Napoli will have a golden chance to cut into Juve’s lead as they play host to the leaders in the biggest Serie A match of the weekend. Roma will be expecting three more points on Friday as they host 17th-place Empoli. Poor Empoli have lost their last six league matches in a row. Woof.

Related Story: 25 best club soccer teams of all time

Bonus Goal

There were some ridiculous goals scored during the international break, but Neymar’s field-traversing run and finish against Paraguay is in a league of its own. (I know he plays for Brazil, and Brazil is not in Europe, but he also plays for Barcelona, which is in Spain, and Spain is in Europe. So there.)

https://twitter.com/foulthrownet/status/847036013159559173

Enjoy the games, everyone.