SOCCER
Who is top of the league in LaLiga, Premier League and Serie A?
With the European leagues on a two-week international break, we take a look at the teams who have made the best starts to the 2023/24 season.
European club soccer will be put on hold for the next two weeks for the FIFA international break. The best players in the world will be returning to their home nations to compete for World Cup and European Championships qualification.
In Europe teams are already two months into the new season and we are starting to get a sense of the teams to watch in the Big Five leagues (England, Spain, Italy, France, Germany). In recent years the Premier League, Bundesliga and Ligue Un have been dominated by one team, but the early signs suggest there could be upsets on the cards this season.
Across the Big Five leagues none of the reigning champions are top of the league. We take a look at a fascinating start to 2023/24 across Europe...
Who is top of the Premier League?
One of the biggest surprises anywhere in Europe has been the incredible form of Tottenham Hotspur. Despite losing talisman and record goal-scoring Harry Kane over the summer Spurs have improved dramatically under new manager Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs are narrowly ahead of North London rivals Arsenal at the top of the table. The Gunners beat Manchester City on Sunday to ensure that the English and European champions go into the international break in third place.
Who is top of LaLiga?
After nine rounds of fixtures in the Spanish top flight Real Madrid lead the way. They have won eight of their nine matches and boast one of the form players in world soccer, 20-year-old Jude Bellingham. The Englishman has scored ten goals in ten matches in all competitions since joining Madrid.
Reigning champions Barcelona are in third place, one point behind surprise package Girona. The Gironistes finished tenth last year but have begun 2023/24 at a blistering pace under highly-rated head coach Míchel.
Who is top of Serie A?
It has not been a perfect start for AC Milan, but the Rossoneri go into the international break top of the Italian top flight. On Saturday their secured their seventh victory in eight matches, courtesy of a winning goal from USMNT captain Christian Pulisic.
That impressive start to the season was marred by a chastening 5-1 loss to rivals Inter Milan. They are also yet to score in two Champions League outings. Reigning champions Napoli have had an underwhelming start to 2023/23, with just four wins from eight Serie A fixtures.
Who is top of the Bundesliga?
Bayer Leverkusen, managed by former Real Madrid star Xabi Alonso, are currently leading the way. Alonso’s team play a fluid possession-based system and have won six of their seven matches so far, scoring 23 goals in the process. Behind them, Stuttgart are on a five-game winning streak.
Bayern Munich had to rely on a late Borussia Dortmund collapse to secure the German league title last season and they are already a little off the pace this year.
Who is top of Ligue Un?
This year was heralded as a new beginning for Paris Saint-Germain, who shipped out the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Marco Verratti over the summer. But it has not been a smooth transition under Luis Enrique and the Parisians find themselves in third place, having won just four of their eight league fixtures.
Leading the way are Monaco, who secured a 3-1 win over Reims on Saturday with a goal from Folarin Balogun. The USMNT star scored 21 goals for Reims last year in a break-through season for the young striker.