TALKING points from the weekend in European soccer leagues:
SPAIN
GIRONA KEEP IMPRESSING IN BELLINGHAM’S LALIGA
Real Madrid’s England midfielder Jude Bellingham has dominated headlines again after another magnificent performance, scoring twice to secure a 2-1 win at Barcelona on Saturday.
But Real do not have LaLiga’s title race all their own way as Girona are level on 28 points with the Spanish giants after beating Celta Vigo 1-0 on Friday, their ninth win in 11 games.
The surprise package of the season so far, Girona’s 3-0 defeat at home to Real in late September are the only points dropped since starting with a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad.
After Michel led Rayo Vallecano and Huesca back to the top flight in previous seasons, the Girona manager is now impressing in LaLiga with an attacking style that makes the most of talents like Savinho, Yann Couto and Aleix Garcia who are breaking out.
GERMANY
SETBACK FOR LEIPZIG AS OLMO INJURED AGAIN
RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Dani Olmo is out for several weeks after suffering a shoulder injury shortly after coming on in their 6-0 win over Cologne on Saturday days after returning from a knee injury that had kept him out since September.
Spain international Olmo, who kicked off the season with a hat-trick in a 3-0 Super Cup win over Bayern Munich in August, will have further tests to determine the extent of the injury.
“He is not in extreme pain but it is clear that something is damaged there. We have to expect a lengthy absence,” said Leipzig coach Marco Rose. “To lose the lad again after we were without him for some weeks is really bitter.
“It would have been fantastic to have this player for the next weeks.”
Leipzig are fifth in the Bundesliga, five points off the pace, and second in Champions League Group G, three points behind Manchester City.
FRANCE
PSG’S ZAIRE-EMERY HEADED FOR THE TOP
Paris St Germain’s 17-year-old midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery is starting to gain recognition after scoring a spectacular goal against Brest on Sunday.
He has been part of Luis Enrique’s starting team this season and has already notched three assists in the Champions League, including two in a 3-0 victory over AC Milan on Wednesday.
Appearing at ease in top European competitions, the French media are now speculating that the teenager might earn a spot in the next France squad.
NETHERLANDS
DISMAL AJAX PROP UP EREDIVISIE AFTER PSV DEFEAT
Ajax Amsterdam’s dismal Eredivisie season sunk to new depths as they twice gave up the lead in a 5-2 defeat by leaders and rivals PSV Eindhoven on Sunday to lose five league games in a row for the first time in the club’s illustrious history.
The famous Dutch side are bottom of the league with no end in sight for their poor form. They sacked coach Maurice Steijn this week, but it appears to have made no difference.
The latest loss at PSV will sting as they led 2-1 at halftime but, as has been the case so often in this campaign, once they start to concede goals they cannot stop. They have now shipped 21 in their eight league games.
Hirving Lozano netted a hat-trick for hosts PSV who have won all 10 of their matches so far this season.
