Domestic Round-up: Where the Leagues Stand After a Thrilling Weekend - 3/2/2014

Brilliant games around the world this week as most leaders continued their dominance, increasing their margins over their nearest rivals. Spain was a notable exception to this case as Real Madrid were only able to keep a one point cushion after Atletico Madrid - who sit in third with 61 points - were able to tie with their cross-town rivals 2-2. One point behind Real, in second place, are Barcelona who have 63 points after a 4-1 victory over Almeria this weekend. Besides these three though, the league title appears to be out of the reach of fourth position Athletic Club who have 50 points. Villarreal occupy fifth position with 44 points while Real Sociedad are hot on their heels and seventh position Sevilla have 38 to their name. Over to Portugal where, after many years of dominance by the northern side Porto, Benfica have claimed the top spot with 52 points. Their rivals Sporting Lisbon sit second with 47 while the dragons of Porto hold third with 43. Estoril is still in the title race with 39 points in fourth while it is a slightly longer shot that CD Nacional or Vitoria - in fifth and sixth respectively with 34 and 30 points - could challenge. North now to France where Paris Saint-Germain are eight points clear at the top of the table with 64 points to the good. Monaco are in second with 56 points while LOSC Lille are in third with a lot on their plate: Saint Etienne are in fourth with 48 while Marseille and Lyon have 43 and 42 respectively. Stade de Reims are in seventh with 42 meaning the next round or two of games will go a long way to determining who ends up having a chance at taking a swing at either PSG or Monaco. East now, in Germany, Bayern Munich are twenty points clear at the top of the Bundesliga. Dortmund are the side in second with 45 while Bayer Leverkusen are in third with 43. Schalke meanwhile, who have played a style of football that can only be described as abominable, somehow sit in fourth with Wolfsburg and Mainz particularly close to overtaking them. Down in Italy, Juventus are the side that are looking most likely to win Serie A this time around. While Bayern are without a doubt the team with the largest cushion, Juve have amassed an eleven point gap between themselves and closest pursuers Roma, who have 58 points. Napoli sit third with 52 while Fiorentina, Inter Milan, and Parma sit in the forties. Finally, to the north where England has seen Chelsea cement their position with 63 points. Both Liverpool and Arsenal have 59 while Manchester City have 57 and Spurs hold 53. United are in the top seven though, right under sixth place Everton who have 48 points from 27 matches played. Finally, and I know you are all concerned about this one, Celtic of Scotland have collected a grand total of 75 points from 28 games, losing just once and drawing thrice. Aberdeen and Motherwell are their closest competition - in second and third - though the bhoys should feel secure in their position. Dundee United and Inverness round out the top five with 44 each. Keep following and I hope you got to catch some of the games!

Women's World Cup Qualifying! 2/13/2014

Alright then! The qualifying campaign for the showcase event in Canada 2015 has begun with the usual suspects making the rounds and looking like solid contenders for qualification. In Europe, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Scotland, Norway, England, and France have put themselves at the top of their respective groups with some mouth-watering performances (Not one of the top sides has any less than 12 points to their name). The Germans are undefeated in 5 matches with a positive 40 goal difference while Switzerland have struck 17 without reply in 4 games. England are the other side to have notched plenty of goals while maintaining a clean-sheet with 20 to the good in 4 matches played. The second place teams of the respective groups are the Republic of Ireland with 7 points from 3 games; Italy are 2nd in Group 2 with two victories and a loss in 3 games. Israel meanwhile are 4 points off of the mark in Group 3 with the same performance as that of the Italians although Sweden in Group 4 are just 3 points away from Scotland with a game in hand. Arguably one of the tightest groups is that of Group 5 where both Belgium and the Netherlands have 10 points from 5 games - meaning Norway with 12 at the top actually have a game in hand - 4 more than Portugal in 4th position. Over in Group 6, Ukraine and Wales are the sides picking up the scraps left by England with 6 points each. Onwards to our last group for today: Group 7! Finland are the side directly in the shadow of France with a perfect record from 3 games. Hungary also have the opportunity to move up the ladder effectively as they are currently tied for 3rd with Austria though with a game in hand.