The Euro Roundup: Barca smash Real, Bayern close the gap

All you need to know from around Europe on the weekend that Barcelona hammered what is likely to be the final nail in Julen Lopetegui’s coffin.

The outstanding result of the weekend was undoubtedly in Spain, where Luis Suarez stepped up in the absence of Lionel Messi to guide Barcelona to El Clasico victory, but there were also wins for Bayern Munich, Juventus and PSG.

While the lead at the top of Ligue 1 just keeps extending, in Germany, Bayern Munich are on their way back after a difficult opening few matches of the season.

Lopetegui on the brink

Barcelona demolished Real Madrid 5-1 in El Clasico through a hat-trick from Luis Suarez and a goal a piece from Philippe Coutinho and Arturo Vidal.

Julen Lopetegui is another step closer to losing his job at Real just a couple of months after he started the role, but Florentino Perez is unlikely to accept a start that has seen them lose as many league matches as they have won.

Real have lost five of their last seven games in all competitions and languish in ninth place in La Liga, and they have only scored four times in their last seven games.

Barcelona, despite their hefty victory, are top by just a point, with Alaves chasing them down every step of the way so far. They beat Villarreal 2-1 to maintain their excellent start, with Sevilla, who beat Huesca by the same scoreline, just a point behind them.

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-0 with Felipe Luis and Diego Godin both scoring, Celta Vigo won 4-0 against Eibar and Athletic Bilbao drew 0-0 with Valencia.

Juve extend lead

Juventus got back to winning ways after last week’s Serie A draw by narrowly overcoming Empoli 2-1. They fell behind early on before a Cristiano Ronaldo brace sealed the three points.

Their closest chasers, Napoli, were glad to pick up a point when Dries Mertens equalised for them in the last minute against Roma.

It looked like Roma were going to pick up all three points on their travels thanks to Stephan El Shaarawy’s strike, assisted by Cengiz Under, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side fought back. The gap to Juventus, though, is now six points again.

AC Milan bounced back from defeat in the derby to beat Sampdoria 3-2 at the San Siro; they led early on before falling behind, but then goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Suso turned the match on its head again and they emerged victorious.

The final game of the matchweek sees Lazio host Inter Milan on Monday evening in what should be a tantalising battle.

Super-sub Mbappe

The gap between first and second in Ligue 1 has now stretched to 12 points after PSG made it 11 wins in a row by beating Marseille 0-2.

Kylian Mbappe and Julian Draxler were the difference makers, with the former only coming on with around half an hour to go, but still being named Man of the Match.

Lyon won 2-1 at Angers with Memphis Depay’s goal decisive, while Thierry Henry’s Monaco could only draw 2-2 at home with Dijon – Kamil Glik rescued a point late on in that one for the hosts.

Nimes drew 1-1 with Saint-Etienne, Nice won 1-0 at Bordeaux and Lille beat Caen 1-0.

Normal service to resume?

Bayern Munich are back within two points of the top of the table after they beat Mainz 1-2 and Borussia Dortmund could only draw 2-2 with Hertha Berlin.

Thiago Alcantara got the winner for Bayern after Leon Goretzka scored the opener, while Jadon Sancho got both for Dortmund.

Borussia Monchengladbach sit third, four points behind Dortmund, having lost 3-1 to Freiburg. They missed the chance to go second, and just a point off the top spot after Dortmund slipped up, and will be rueing the missed opportunity.

Hoffenheim beat Stuttgart 4-0, Bayer Leverkusen won 6-2 at Werder Bremen, and RB Leipzig against Schalke finished goalless.