PSG, Chelsea, Real Madrid… how are the big European clubs sailing a month after the World Cup?

A month ago, Argentina destroyed the French team’s dream of displaying a third star on their shirt. Lionel Messi and his band eliminated Kylian Mbappé and his partners after a legendary final (3-3, 4 to 2 in pens).

Since then, the recovery has been made gradually in the five major European championships. The Premier League, Ligue 1 and La Liga resume in the last week of December. Serie A returned in early January. The Bundesliga continues this weekend with an intriguing Leipzig-Bayern. Overview of the biggest European clubs.

They maintain a cruising speed: Arsenal, Naples

Surprisingly leaders of the Premier League before this international break, Arsenal left on the same bases. From the resumption, the Gunners remained four games unbeaten in the league, including three wins, and an easy qualification for the knockout stages of the FA Cup. “We have a job where we are really privileged, we make a lot of people happy, savors Mikel Arteta, manager of the Gunners. Celebrating a win with the fans is a great feeling and it really hurts when you experience moments like this.Beware of overconfidence for the Londoners who host Manchester United this weekend before challenging Manchester City in the Cup. A busy schedule as the Londoners meet the Citizens in mid-February in the league. However, with an eight-point lead over both these SkyBlues, Martin Ødegaard’s teammates will see it coming.

Two draws and just one defeat in 18 Serie A games: the tone is set for Naples. SSC Napoli did not waver during the recovery period. Inter Milan lost for the first time this season, the Neapolitan club recovered by defeating Sampdoria (0-2) and losing to Juventus Turin (5-1). The only black spot on the board: the elimination in the round of 16 of the Italian Cup by the mediocre club from Cremonese. At least Luciano Spalletti’s team can focus on the championship – leader with an eight-point lead – but also on the Champions League. See you on February 21 against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Also readSerie A: After 30 years, Naples has all the qualities of a champion

The horizon is clear: Manchester United, Barcelona, ​​​​Juventus

This is a club without Cristiano Ronaldo stepping up for the second half of the season, and this is a team that is doing better. Manchester United remain on a five-game winning streak and a draw (in the last game of the 7th on Wednesday night at Crystal Palace) in the league and can now boast of climbing to third place in the Premier League, a point just behind Manchester. city. The Red Devils also hold on to a 2-1 victory over the neighbours, and are still competing in the top four table. Beware all the same as the Mancunians travel three times in the next four league games, not to mention a doubleheader against FC Barcelona in the Europa League.

Barça are doing well – or better, depending. Two victories in three league games, including a huge victory over Atletico Madrid (1-0). Above all, a demonstration against Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final, the first trophy of the Xavi era. “This title will give us peace, we will be able to work more quietly, admitted the Catalan coach. It’s a title, against Real Madrid, reigning Spanish and European champions… so yes, it’s a source of pride, and a relief. Since Leo left (Messi in the summer of 2021, editor’s note), we’ve had some tough times, but now we’ve built a team. And hopefully this will be the first title of a long series.»

Before its defeat in the field of Napoli (5-1), Juventus Turin remained on a seven-game winning streak in the league. An ideal series that allowed the best defense in Serie A (12 goals conceded in 18 games) to return to the Serie A podium. However, the Old Lady will have to recover from this heavy defeat before taking on Monza this Thursday in the round of 16 final of the Italian Cup and hosting Atalanta Bergamo in the league.

Also readSerie A: in Lecce, the French live in “Dolce Vita”

The boat pitches: Real Madrid, Manchester City, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain

We leave Real Madrid with mixed results: just one victory in the last three league games. And for the reigning European champion, the recovery has not been good. Sluggish victories over Valladolid (2-0) in the league and Cacereño (1-0), a fourth division club, in the King’s Cup. “This is not a critical defeat, it is a complex part of our time, it is happening, recognized Carlo Ancelotti. We will fix that. The dynamic is not good at the moment, it’s true, but the team has the resources to recover, we will play on all fronts until the end.“And even Real is not”never stop winning“As revealed by the Italian tactician, the “Casa Blanca” must recover quickly. Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad and Valencia went to the Meringues.

A more sluggish recovery for the reigning English champions. A convincing victory in the field of Leeds (1-3) then a draw at home against Everton (1-1). If Manchester City sweeps Chelsea (4-0) in the FA Cup, the SkyBlues will remain on two consecutive defeats. Nothing to worry about Pep Guardiola. “I would say the inconsistency is in terms of results but not performance. Overall, we were consistent in our matches.The Citizens have no time to procrastinate as they face Arsenal and Tottenham twice in the next five games. Erling Haaland’s team-mates, who are eight points behind the Gunners at the top of the Premier League, should take advantage.

With two consecutive draws since the resumption of the league, AC Milan have dropped a vital point in the title race and left Naples alone at the top of the championship. reigning champions, Rossoneri are now eight points behind the Serie A leaders and there is no time to lose.

“The World Cup is over“warned Christophe Galtier. Since the resumption, Paris Saint-Germain has been progressing slowly. Two defeats in Ligue 1 in the last two weeks and PSG sees Lens dangerously close to the top of the standings.”I will not talk about concern, but need to be aware“, assured the French technician. PSG has less than a month to get back on track before hosting Bayern Munich on February 14 in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Also readPSG: commercial and diplomatic tour of the Gulf

They’re about to sink: Chelsea, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid

“The reason I accepted this position was because I was given the opportunity to build a club that was in a major transition phase.So says Graham Potter again, in post at Chelsea since the start of September. But the former Brighton coach has not found the magic formula. Two wins in six games since the resumption for the Blues, who then tried to solve their problems by swinging millions. Almost 135 million euros were spent in the month of January, including 70 (+30 bonus!) for Mykhaylo Mudryk alone. Only tenth in the Premier League after 19 league days, Chelsea can try to save their season thanks to the Champions League. See you against Borussia Dortmund in February.

Vice-champion of Europe in the title, Liverpool completely sunk this season. Only eight league wins and ninth place, level on points with Chelsea. “Whether we change the position of the coach, or many things need to be changed, hurt Jürgen Klopp. As far as I’m concerned, unless someone asks me, I won’t leave, explained who extended his contract until 2026. So that means we have to change other things.“Relegated to the league, Liverpool need to eliminate Real Madrid to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Big Ears Cup.

Fourth in La Liga, Atletico Madrid are just two points clear in ninth but eleven behind the Catalan leaders. And the recovery didn’t help matters. Four points have been taken out of a possible nine in the league and… three players have been sent off in the last three games. The crisis is brewing at Atletico, who parted ways with Joao Felix this winter. Eliminated from all European cups, the Colchoneros will have to fight to the end to compete in the Champions League next season.

The Bundesliga is back

Last of the five major championships to resume, the Bundesliga returns this weekend with an enticing Leipzig – Bayern Munich clash this Friday night. Shortly before the international break, the Bavarian team resumed their usual leadership role, closely followed by the surprising team from Fribourg. RedBull Leipzig is third behind Eintracht Frankfurt and Union Berlin, the long leaders of this championship. Borussia Dortmund is only in sixth position.