Spanning the Globe: Soul Searching Serie A, Real Really Bad, A New Boss in the Bundesliga

By: Bob | February 5th, 2007

Chances are you probably don’t have the time to follow every football league in the world closely. Never fear. We are here to help. Here’s a quick, dirty and somewhat random rundown of the highlights and lowlights from the weekend that was.

Italy – Stadiums throughout Italy were empty this weekend following the suspension of play after a police officer was killed during a riot following the Catania-Palermo match on Friday. There is a lot of soul searching going on in Italy today as officials struggle to come up with a reasonable approach to dealing with fan violence. It seems like we have been down this road before, but let’s hope that this time the call for sanity is heeded and the scourge of violence that affects the Beautiful Game all over the world is finally defeated. Some excellent thoughts about all this from Martha on the Italy Offside.

Spain – Real Madrid played their 1000th match in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and approximately 9,999 of the previous ones were more enjoyable for their fans to watch. Real lost 1-0 to lowly Levante, leaving the Real fans to chant for the heads of both club president Ramon Calderon and manager Fabio Capello. Valencia was the big winner in Spain this weekend, defeating Atletico Madrid 3-1 to pass Real and to gain points on Barcelona and Sevilla who both could merely muster draws.

Top 4: Barcelona 43pts, Sevilla 42, Valencia 39, Real Madrid 38

Germany – In a battle between the top two teams in the Bundesliga, Schalke 04 put on an impressive display in beating Werder Bremen 2-0. Meanwhile, Mario Gomez continues to be a stud for Stuttgart. He scored his 11th goal of the season to lift Stuttgart past Borussia Dortmund 1-0 and to help his club further solidify the third Champions League slot. Bayern Munich on the other hand, not so good. The fallen giants were crushed 3-0 by Nuremberg.

Top 4: Schalke 04 45pts, Werder Bremen 42, Stuttgart 38, Bayern Munich 34

Mexico – An injury time goal by Luis Angel Landin was the winner as Pachuca beat titleholders Chivas 1-0 on the road in the Mexican Clasura. Club America also bit the bullet by losing at home 1-0 to an Atlas team that is tied with Necaxa atop the Group 1 Standings.

Group Leaders: Atlas/Necaxa, Pachua/U.A. de G., Morelia

Scotland – It was a Scottish Cup weekend with spots in the quarterfinals at stake. Second division St Johnstone was a surprise winning, knocking off SPL side Falkirk 3-0. Holders Hearts also bowed out of the competition, losing 1-0 Dunfermline thanks to a stoppage time goal from Scott Wilson. Celtic, Patrick, Hibs, Inverness, Motherwall and Queen of South all advanced.

France – The new team in second place is none other than Lens thanks to their 3-1 win at Valenciennes. They have passed by Lille, who were held o a 0-0 draw against struggling Nantes. Speaking of struggling, Lyon lost for their 75th game a row but they still are a million points clear at the top of the table. Sam at the France Offside with the complete weekend wrap.

Top 4: Lyon 51pts, Lens 40, Lille 39, Marseille 37

England – If the Championship season ended today Derby and Preston would be promoted to the Premiership. Derby maintained its six point lead by beating Southampton 1-0. Preston leapfrogged Birmingham with a 3-1 win at Southampton, while Birmingham slipped to fourth place with a draw at Colchester.

Top 4: Derby 62pts, Preston 56, West Brom 55, Birmingham 54