Across the Pond - Your Weekly European Soccer Update

     A very entertaining weekend of soccer in Europe was highlighted by El Clasico, which is the name given to a match between Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. A Lionel Messi hat trick saw Barcelona come from behind to win in Madrid 4-3. The win puts Barcelona right back in the title race. Real Madrid and crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid both have 70 points and Barcelona are just a point back with nine games left in the season. The win also ends a 31 match unbeaten streak in all competitions for Real Madrid. The two teams will next play each other in the Copa del Rey (Spanish League Cup) semi-finals in April.

Lionel Messi celebrates scoring during his club’s 4-3 win over Real Madrid and a dejected Cristiano Ronaldo. 

           In England, Chelsea spoiled Arsene Wenger’s 1000^th match in charge by thrashing Arsenal 6-0. The result gives Chelsea a 4 point lead at the top of the table and leaves Arsenal in 4^th place, 7 points off the lead. Second place Liverpool kept up the pace with a 6-3 win in Wales against Cardiff City. Luis Suarez scored a hat trick and tied the club record for goals in a single season with 28. The achievement is even more impressive given there are still 8 games left and Suarez was suspended for the first six. Liverpool are the biggest surprise of this Premier League season, and they are very legitimate title contenders. All season long critics have been saying there’s no way Liverpool can mount a title challenge, but their offensive brand of soccer is shredding Premier League defenses. Part of Liverpool’s success is playing fewer games. Liverpool is the only team in the top 4 that wasn’t playing in any European cups, meaning their players are less fatigued. Regardless, it’s a great story for a team that has been struggling for the last 5 seasons. 

Messi wasn’t the only one who was celebrating; Luis Suarez netted a hat trick for Liverpool to keep them in the Premier League title chase.

            Elsewhere in Europe, Bayern Munich continues its tear in Germany. The Bavarian club hasn’t lost a league game since October of 2012, a stretch of 51 games. With a win next weekend, Bayern will clinch the Bundesliga title with 7 games remaining in the season, which would be yet another record. Oh, and the club is still in the league cup and Champions League competitions. If Bayern wins all three competitions (known as winning the treble) they will be the first team in Europe to achieve the feat in back to back seasons. This streak that Bayern built is something you would expect to see in a video game. There are no words to describe it, but it is amazing to watch a team play so well so consistently. My advice: if you’ve never watched soccer and want to give it a chance, watch Bayern Munich play, they may just change your mind.

Bastian Schweinsteiger of Bayern Munich scores the first goal in his team’s 2-0 defeat of Mainz. The club is unbeaten in 51 straight league games.