25/04 - 20:00
We're shaking things up this week, by checking up on how things are going in Europe's top five leagues. We found plenty of surprises from the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1, and the Bundesliga... and there's not a Real Madrid or PSG in sight in the Playmaker Power Rankings!
Don't worry, regular service will be resumed next week.
Last 5 (league): WDWDW
Spurs are still undefeated in the league since the arrival of Antonio Conte in November, although it took 96 minutes for them to break the deadlock away to Watford on New Year’s Day. For the majority of Sunday’s game at home to Morecambe, Tottenham looked like they might be on the receiving end of a shocking upset until Harry Winks equalised in the 74th minute and the floodgates opened.
Last 5 (league): DWWDW
Last year’s shock Ligue 1 champions can already forget about retaining their crown but they haven’t lost a game since October 29th, making them difficult to beat. Still, a poor start to campaign sees them sitting in 10th place in the league.
Chelsea’s future Champions League opponents didn’t have a great start to 2022, being knocked out by Lens on penalties in the French Cup.
Last 5 (league): DWWDW
What a crazy game it was between Juventus and Roma at the Stadio Olimpico yesterday. José Mourinho’s team were 3-1 up until the 70th minute. By the 78th minute, it was 4-3 to the visitors, a remarkable turnaround for Massimiliano Allegri’s team.
Slowly but surely, Juventus are improving but they face a tough test on Wednesday when they take on Inter in the Supercoppa.
ᴡɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴡᴀʀʀɪᴏʀ 💪
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) January 10, 2022
A 2️⃣5️⃣0️⃣th league win, and 3️⃣5️⃣0️⃣th victory across all competitions, in ⚪️⚫️ for @chiellini 🙌
Congrats, captain! 👏#RomaJuve pic.twitter.com/syU5aDQ3mi
Last 5 (league): WWWWL
Despite two negative results to start off 2022, Arsenal were in excellent form at the end of last year. While losing to Manchester City was understandable with ten men, the performance against Nottingham Forest was reminiscent of the Arsenal of old.
Mikel Arteta can prove how much progress his Gunners have made in the next three games when Arsenal face Liverpool over two legs in the Carabao Cup and travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the North London derby.
Last 5 (league): WWWWL
Borussia Mönchengladbach really are Bayern Munich’s bogey team. Gladbach had lost four of their last five games and were leaking goals until they travelled to Bavaria and beat Julian Nagelsmann’s team 2-1.
However, that’s surely just a blip on the road to yet another Bundesliga title for Bayern – they’re still seven points clear at the top of the table.
🗣️ @esmuellert_: "Luck wasn't on our side today. There was more to be had in the game."
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) January 8, 2022
🗞️ Full #FCBBMG reaction: https://t.co/J5wv0ilew4#FCBayern pic.twitter.com/vfDjWhUJ11
Last 5 (league): LWWWW
It’s a decade since Montpellier were shock champions of Ligue 1 and although they’ve never looked likely to repeat that feat, they’re still a solid outfit. But Olivier Dall'Oglio’s team are in good form right now, having won their last six games in league and cup competition.
While La Paillade are a long way off the top three of Paris Saint-Germain, Nice, and Marseille, they’re making a good case for being ‘the best of the rest’ in France.
Last 5 (league): WWWWD
Unai Emery was no doubt disappointed seeing his team knocked out of the Copa del Rey by second-tier Sporting Gijón but in the league, the Yellow Submarine have been in superb form.
Yesterday’s 2-2 draw at home with Atlético Madrid was the first time Villarreal haven’t won a league game since the beginning of December. While they currently sit in 8th position they’ll feel that another good run can see them move up into the top four.
You deserve it, @18albertomp 👏!#VillarrealAtleti pic.twitter.com/3VYUROmKOH
— Villarreal CF English (@VillarrealCFen) January 10, 2022
Last 5 (league): WWDWW
Back at the start of November, Playmaker wrote an article asking whether Sevilla can La Liga, it was a little optimistic at the time but Julen Lopetegui’s team are still Real Madrid’s main threat.
Although Sevilla are five points behind Real they do have a game in hand – win that and then we’re really in for a title race. Even if they don’t do the unthinkable, this is still an excellent season for the Andalusian club, who have only lost two league games all season.
Los Nervionenses have a very intriguing game coming up next in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey facing city rivals Real Betis away from home.
Last 5 (league): WWWWW
Serie A has been fantastic to watch this season and we get to enjoy a fight between the two Milan clubs at the top of the table has been a real throwback.
The only team to have defeated Inter so far this season has been Lazio early in the season, so no doubt it was a great feeling for the former I Biancocelesti manager to avenge that defeat yesterday in a 2-1 win.
However, the next month is going to be crucial for Internazionale, with games coming up against Juventus in the Supercoppa, Liverpool in the Champions League, and a Milan derby – it could define their season.
✈️ | TAKE-OFF
— Inter 🏆🇮🇹 (@Inter_en) January 10, 2022
Skriniar clinches the win!#ForzaInter #InterLazio pic.twitter.com/yjmmBv7Hh9
Last 5 (league): WWWWW
Manchester City beating Swindon Town in the FA Cup will have shocked absolutely no one but it means that Pep Guardiola’s team have won 14 of their last 15 games in all competition – a truly absurd record.
But what’s more disconcerting for the rest of Europe is that this form doesn’t look like it’s stopping any time soon. Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea are the next team to try and stop the City juggernaut when the two sides meet in the Premier League on Saturday morning.
🧤 Most clean sheets in Europe in 2021 (#UEFA's 'Top 5' leagues):
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) December 31, 2021
23⛔️: 🛡️EDERSON🛡️
20⛔️: Samir Handanovic
18⛔️: Edouard Mendy, Mike Maignan, Thibaut Courtois Yassine Bono
15⛔️: Alisson, Koen Casteels, Robert Sanchéz#ManCity #MCFC pic.twitter.com/MzBfJN1pUm
