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The Euro Preview: Inter Milan, Dortmund, Valencia set sights on league leaders

By Clemente Lisi

09 Simone Zaza (R) of Valencia CF celebrate after scoring the 4-0 goal with his teammate 22 Santi Mina of Valencia CF (L) during spanish La Liga match between Valencia CF vs Malaga CF at Mestalla Stadium on September 19, 2017. (Photo by Jose Miguel Fernandez/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
09 Simone Zaza (R) of Valencia CF celebrate after scoring the 4-0 goal with his teammate 22 Santi Mina of Valencia CF (L) during spanish La Liga match between Valencia CF vs Malaga CF at Mestalla Stadium on September 19, 2017. (Photo by Jose Miguel Fernandez/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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With so much still to play for, watch out for teams that are in second place. Case in point: Valencia, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.

La Liga

While Barcelona hang on to first place and Real Madrid, the defending league champions, have floundered their way to third, it’s Valencia that are screaming for joy. And for good reason. They’re the team getting everyone excited about Spain’s domestic competition this fall, and Barca’s closest rival for the title race now that Real have fallen back eight points. Indeed, Valencia have seemingly come out of nowhere, overachieving on their way to second place.

Part of this surprise Valencia side is Italy striker Simone Zaza. Ridiculed after his missed penalty for Italy in their shootout loss to Germany in the quarterfinals at Euro 2016 (his bizarre run-up to the ball subsequently became an internet meme), Zaza was no longer a starter at Juventus that summer. He had a short and unsuccessful loan spell at West Ham (where he played in just eight games during the 2016-17 season) and signed last January with Valencia. In that time, he’s gone from Premier League flop to Liga leader.

“It was the worst moment of my life, especially for what happened afterwards,” Zaza said last month in an interview with Sky Italia, referring to the social media criticism he suffered after that failed penalty.

Zaza has become an internet sensation for a different reason this season. His nine goals are only bettered only by Lionel Messi’s 12. The 26-year-old striker may even be called back up into the national team for Italy’s upcoming World Cup playoff against Sweden after his recent string of strong performances that have propelled his club to second place in the standings, just four points behind Barcelona’s league-leading 28.

Valencia enter November looking for more wins. They Leganes on Saturday at the Mestalla, while Barcelona have the tougher match that day when they play Sevilla at the Camp Nou.

Bundesliga

The situation seems flipped in Germany. The team that was once struggling, and in second, was Bayern Munich. No more. After changing coaches and a poor run form of late from Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich are again atop the league standings.

The defending league champions have made a comeback to the top of the table, displaying resilience and strength under pressure. Bayern’s 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig is a good omen ahead of Saturday’s match against Dortmund. Bayern have a three-point lead, but a win for the home team would close that gap.

Don’t count Dortmund out just yet, despite their topsy-turvy play both domestically and in the Champions League. They’re a team that always tries to find a way to win. They’ve been inconsistent in attack and feature a defense that has let them down at key moments. After their 4-2 loss last weekend to Hannover, captain Marcel Schmelzer called for calm inside the Dortmund dressing room.

“What is important is that we stay calm in and around the club and not rush into quick-fixes at any cost”, the 29-year-old told ​BVBtotal. “We need to analyse things and keep our cool.”

Next: PL winners and losers: United keep up the pressure

Serie A

While Napoli are in control in the Serie A standings, Inter Milan are just two points behind, and looking strong. But there are plenty of surprises, and title contenders, emerging in Serie A these days.

Inter Milan are the first team that first comes to mind. They have 15 points more than they did at this point last season, part of a transformation brought about by coach Luciano Spalletti. After defeating Hellas Verona 2-1 this past Monday, the Nerazzurri will face Torino on Sunday. It’s a game Inter can win, and they’ll need to if they want to prevent Napoli, who play Chievo on Sunday, taking a bigger lead. At the same time, Juventus host last-place Benevento, another game the defending champions should be able to win.

But Spalletti was correct when he said after the win against Verona that his side have more to accomplish if they want to win the title. With Juventus, Lazio and Roma also in the title hunt, it remains a very competitive season.

“To be a record-breaking side doesn’t have a particular impact. We wrote a line in the history of Inter, but now we’re looking forward,” Spalletti told Italian TV network Mediaset Premium on Monday. “This tunnel will continue until June, and then we will see the light. The team played a great match [against Hellas Verona] in every respect, but every now and then we play slowly and we leave spaces when we do not have to.”

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