Welcome to the Gurgler’s European Football Weekly. A bit slack we know, as all of the major season in Spain’s La Liga, Serie A in Italy, Bundesliga in Germany and Ligue 1 in France are well and truly underway. But we’ll abide in the better late than never, so take that.
Like our UK football Weekly we’ll give them briefest of information on the top European leagues, enough for you to be able to pass yourself off as sporting trendy at any social engagement and stroke your imaginery goatee as you discuss which of the Milan clubs you like best. Anyone more serious more serious than that has gone elswhere to begin with. And who could blame them with the preview we have below.
LA LIGA – SPAIN
What happening?
5 teams all won their first game, Barcelona was one, Real Madrid was not. The title can now be delcared officially over. Maybe not yet, but any advantage that either of these giant clubs get early is gold.
8 teams drew in week 1 with 4 x 0-0 draws giving the punters what they really want. Ties? You bet.
Who’s new?
Las Palmas are the most interesting addition as they are from the Canary Islands. Sporting Gijon are back for the first time since 2012, and Real Betis rebound straight away and now there’s a Seville derby to be had.
This Week’s Highlight?
SEVILLA v ATLETICO MADRID
BUNDESLIGA – GERMANY
What happening?
The BayernMunichLiga aka the Bundesliga has been up and running for 2 weeks now, and there would be no surprise that the title holders are top again. But they have company in the shape of Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund on 2 wins from 2. Dortmund getting off to a much better start than last year when they looked busted arse and in the bottom three. This may provide opposition to Bayern which can only be a good thing.
Who’s new?
Darmstadt return after 33 years out of the top flight, and the big story is Ingolstadt who have climbed from Bavarian regional leagues recently to the big time.
This Week’s Highlight?
BAYERN MUNICH v BAYER LEVERKUSEN
WOLFSBURG V SCHALKE
SERIE A – ITALY
What’s happening?
Just one game has been played and just the one draw from Round 1. So not too much to report on yet.
Although there’s soon to be plenty to report on as Mario Balotelli returns home to unite with AC Milan, and despite clauses written into his loan contract people will be waiting for the next edition of the naughty Mario.
Who’s new?
Bologna return to Serie A, but are the least interesting story of the newcomers. Carpi and Frosinone Calcio arrive in the Serie A for the first time. and both have interesting stories, which are best described as ever by Wikipedia.
Wikipedia presents: Carpi
Wikipedia present: Frosinone
This Week’s Highlight?
ROMA v JUVENTUS
LIGUE 1 – FRANCE
What’s happening?
3 games in and moneybags PSG top the league with 3 wins. No surprise given their spending ways. Other teams’ only chance is PSG getting distracted by Champions League.
Although those teams able to challenge are continually picked off for the talents by the cash rich clubs in England and Spain, and a cycle of never-ending PSG wins continues.
Who’s new?
Troyes return after 5 years, Angers after 23 years, and there’s new comers GFCO Ajaccio from the island of Corsica. Ignorance of lower division French football explains why I didn’t know there were two teams in Ajaccio. Now you know too.
This Week’s Highlight?
MONACO v PSG
THE GURGLER EURO SUPER MULTI
$1 pays $84
BORUSSIA DORTMUND to beat (Hertha Berlin)
OVER 2.5 GOALS – B Munich v B Leverkusen
REAL MADRID to beat Real Betis
REAL SOCIEDAD to beat Sporting Gijon
BARCELONA to beat Malaga
VALENCIA to beat Deportivo
SEVILLA/DRAW v At Madrid
DRAW – Roma v Juventus
DRAW – Monaco v PSG
