The Euro Preview: PSG running away with Ligue 1 title, Barca look to do the same

PSG are running away with the Ligue 1 title as they prepare to focus on the Champions League, while Barcelona look to take a bigger lead in La Liga.

Ligue 1

It looks to be another season where PSG dominate domestically, while preparing to make a go at it in the Champions League. If the former has been a lot easier to accomplish compared to the latter, it may be a sign that France’s top flight isn’t competitive enough when compared to Europe’s other domestic tournaments.

PSG play on Saturday away at Amiens in matchday 20, another game they’re expected to win easily. Despite a 2-1 defeat to Guingcamp in the Coupe de la Ligue, PSG are sure favorites to take the league at the halfway mark after opening up a 13-point lead over Lille in the standings.

“I do not know if it’s deserved; we had a lot of chances,” PSG manager Thomas Tuchel told reporters after the match. “We played honestly with too much confidence. It’s hard to lose this match with three penalties. It’s a bit weird. The second seems questionable. There was nothing [there], it is a [normal] contact between the two players.”

Whether any of these games can really prepare Neymar and his teammates for the knockout round of the Champions League (it hasn’t in the recent past) is harder to say. The pattern of winning at home and losing in Europe needs to change, the players acknowledge, and the next few weeks will be key to the club’s trophy prospects come spring.

Neymar, who started the season injured, said of his current form: “I think it was a tough start to the season, but it was very important and the work we did was excellent … It was tough to adapt to my return to competition and playing matches after my injury and the operation. But now I feel really good.”

PSG face a rejuvenated Manchester United next month in the Champions League round of 16.

In other games worth keeping an eye on in France this weekend: Lyon are home Friday against Stade Reims, while Lille play at Caen the same day.

La Liga

Barcelona have had a tougher go at it in Spain, but recently opened up some breathing room in the shape of a five-point gap atop the table. All this while Barca’s rivals, Real Madrid, continue to sputter. While both will compete in Europe, there’s little doubt that Barcelona remain the team to beat in La Liga.

Matchday 19 is highlighted by Barcelona’s home game at the Camp Nou on Sunday against Eibar. It certainly will be a type of game where Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez can score some spectacular goals, like they have for much of this season.

Second-place Atletico Madrid also play Sunday, at home against Levante. Third-place Sevilla play on the same day on the road against relegation-candidate Athletic Bilbao. Real Madrid, stuck in fifth place and 10 points off the pace, are on the road Sunday against Real Betis.

In what may be the craziest stat of all: Messi and Suarez have scored more goals between them (28) in the league than all of Real Madrid (26).

Despite Barca’s dominance, manager Ernesto Valverde said: “I think about what [games] we have in front of us and never rule out the teams in Madrid or the rest.”

Primeira Liga

Portugal’s top flight resumes with matchday 17 with league leaders Porto taking on fourth-place Sporting in Lisbon on Saturday in what may very well be the biggest rivalry in the country.

The rivalry dates back to 1922, the year of the country’s first-ever championship, won by Porto. The latest installment of this north-south rivalry is highlighted by Porto’s undefeated season with a 14-0-2 record, sparking debate on where this club ranks compared to past Porto sides.

Sporting are led by the league’s second-best scorer, Dutch striker Bas Dost, with 10 goals.

Benfica, meanwhile, sacked their manager Rui Vitoria last week after finishing runners-up last season. The club, currently third in the table, play on the road Friday against Santa Clara.