International break: Snapshot of the current state of major leagues around the world
The season has got off to a bang and then… we get the lovely (not really) International break. I just feel like it interferes with the momentum, but it is what it is- people need find an easy way to add to their 10,000 career goals- I joke!
However, this break allows us (yes this also benefits me) to keep up to date with all major leagues around the globe.
So, that being said, let’s get into it…
English Premier League
| Top of the summit | Man City |
| Challengers | Liverpool | Brighton | Arsenal |
| Surprise package | Brighton |
| Relegation scrapers | Wolves | Southampton | Everton |
| Top scorer | Erling Haaland (7 goals in 3 games) |
| Player to watch | Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) |
- City continue their quest to retain their premier league title for the 5th consecutive season with 100 % record so far this season. Arne Slot’s men have matched the blues so far with identical record including the same goal difference.
- Brighton are looking impressive under Hurzeler (Premier leagues youngest ever manager at 31) with brilliant wins over Man Utd, Everton and an impressive draw at the Emirates.
- Haaland’s scary form continues, scoring a remarkable 78% of City’s goals already this season and does not look like he’ll be slowing down
Spanish La Liga
| Top of the summit | Barcelona |
| Challengers | Real Madrid | Atletico | Villareal |
| Surprise package | Alaves |
| Relegation scrapers | Las Palmas| Sevilla | Valencia |
| Top scorer | Robert Lewandowski (4 goals in 4 games) |
| Player to watch | Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) |
- Barcelona remain the only team with 100% record in the league, including a 7-0 battering of Real Valladolid. Hansi Flick’s men sit at the summit; opening up a 4point gap, and this will be vital if they want to close the 10-point gap Real Madrid won the league by last season.
- Alaves impressed at the end of season last season, going unbeaten in 6 of their last 7 games, including 5 wins. They’ve maintained an unbeaten start so far in the first 4 games, so they’ll be ones to keep an eye on.
- Uncle Robert Lewandowski continues to defy the age debate. At the ripe age of 36, he has 4 in 4. Could he deliver the league title for Barcelona this year?
Italian Serie A
| Top of the summit | Inter Milan | Juventus |
| Challengers | Juve | Torino| Udinese |
| Surprise package | Hellas Verona |
| Relegation scrapers | Las Palmas| Sevilla | Valencia |
| Top scorer | Marcus Thuram (4 goals in 3 games) |
| Player to watch |
- Serie A season has started with 4 teams at the top all on 7 points. Whilst Torino and Udinese are keeping pace, Juventus’ clean sheet record has been impressive, not conceding in the 3 games they have played
- Verona finished mid table last season with only 9 wins all season. With 2 wins already could they finish higher than the 13th they finished last season?
- With Lautaro still returning to full fitness after his Copa America exploits, Marcus Thuram, seems to have taken the momentary mantle, hitting braces against Genoa and Atalanta. With 4 goals already, He looks on course to eclipsing his 13-goal returning from the previous season
German Bundesliga
| Top of the summit | 1 FC Heidenheim |
| Challengers | Bayern | Leipzig| Dortmund |
| Surprise package | 1 FC Heidenheim |
| Relegation scrapers | Holstein Kiel| FC St Pauli | VfL Bochum |
| Top scorer | Andrej Kramaric (4 goals in 2 games) |
- Only 2 games in of the season but Heidenheim have impressed with 100% record so far, on their quest to better their 8th place finish from last season, in only their second season in the top league. The rest of the top 4 is occupied buy usual suspects (Bayern, Leipzig and Dortmund) bar last seasons runaway and unbeaten champions Bayer Leverkusen, who lost 3-2 at home to RB Leipzig
- Kramaric boasts 4 goals in the 2 games played, including his hat-trick against Holstein Kiel. Can he get more than his 15 goals last season?
French Ligue 1
| Top of the summit | Paris St Germain |
| Challengers | Marseille | Nantes |
| Surprise package | Nantes |
| Relegation scrapers | Angers| St Etienne |
| Top scorer | Mason Greenwood (5 goals in 3 games) |
| Player to watch | Mason Greenwood |
Turkish Süper Lig
| Top of the summit | Fenerbache |
| Challengers | Galatasaray | Besiktas |
| Surprise package | Eyupspor |
| Relegation scrapers | Alanyaspor| Kayserispor | Hatayspor | Demirspor |
| Top scorer | Edin Dzeko/Piatek (4 goals in 3 games) |
- Jose sits at the top of the Super Lig table, with his side unbeaten with 3 wins and a draw. The yellow canaries (Galatasaray) aim to regain the title they list last season against Galatasaray; of whom are 100% (3 wins in 3 games) alongside Besiktas. Can Jose add another league title to his already well decorated cabinet?
- Last season’s Division 1 champions, Eyupspor, have adapted into the top league well- also currently unbeaten in 4 games (2 wins and 2 draws). A big test beckons as they take on Besiktas after the international break.
- Dzeko and Piatek lead the goal scoring ranks with 4 goals each so far. They will have stern competition from the array of seasoned, striking talent on display in the Super Lig including the likes of Immobile, Icardi and big Vic Osimhen
Saudi Pro League Table
| Top of the summit | Al Hilal | Al Qadsiah |
| Challengers | Al-Qadsiah | Al Ittihad | Al Ettifaq |
| Surprise package | Al-Qadsiah |
| Relegation scrapers | Al Kholood | Fayha | Okhdood |
| Top scorer | Aleksandar Mitrovic (4 goals in 2 games) |
My friends would hate me if I didn’t do an update on the Ronaldo…. I mean Saudi pro league.
- Al-Hillal aim to win a record 20th title this season and have started the league on fire, scoring over 6 goals in the 2 games they’ve played. 3 other teams (Al-Qadsiah, Al Ittihad, Al Ettifaq) have 100% records.
- Mitrovic stands alone as top scorer with 4 goals scored already this season. The Serbian talisman scored 28 goals in the league last season, pipped to the golden boot by the one and only CR7. The former Newcastle man would be keen to go one step further and gain the golden boot, alongside the league title
- Al-Qadsiah were promoted as champions from the first division league and have started the league on fire so far. They do have some so noticeable names in their ranks, including European championship champion winning captain, Nacho and former Arsenal bagsman, Aubemeyang.
