Bundesliga, Serie A, LaLiga and Ligue 1 – The state of play ahead of the run-in

As the curtain closes on a dramatic week of international football, attention now returns to domestic action as the season reaches crunch time.

While the Premier League seems to be blessed with a title race, a top four battle and a relegation run-in for the ages, there is likely to be similar anguish, elation and excitement across Europe. 

With 12 games to play in LaLiga, 11 left in Serie A, 10 in Ligue 1 and nine in the Bundesliga, there is plenty up for grabs across the top leagues on the continent. 

Although titles do look to be sewn up in Italy and Spain, with Napoli and Barcelona respectively holding large leads, the battle for Champions League football remains up in the air, while we are set for an intense title fight in the Bundesliga.

In light of that, Sportsmail takes a look at the state of play in Italy, Spain, Germany and France ahead of domestic football returning. 

Italy

It seems only the largest of disasters would now prevent Luciano Spalletti’s side from winning their first Scudetto in 33 years since a Diego Maradona-inspired Napoli allowed fans to dream in 1990.

In truth, they have been a breath of fresh air this season with Victor Osimhen rightfully gaining many of the plaudits with 21 goals in 23 league games, but other stars like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Piotr Zielinski and Giovanni Di Lorenzo are among those to shine.

With a 19-point lead over second place Lazio and 11 games to go, it is pretty much certain supporters will be partying in the streets of Naples come the end of the campaign.

The top four battle is what’s really intriguing however, with six fearsome teams competing for the other three places to qualify for the Champions League.

Lazio have been in superb form under Maurizio Sarri and hold the advantage in second place after building on last season’s fifth place finish. 

Elsewhere, Inter and AC Milan occupy third and fourth but – despite reaching the Champions League quarter-finals – both teams have struggled for consistency, with Stefano Pioli’s side badly floundering in their attempts to replicate last year’s superb Scudetto triumph.

On their tails are Jose Mourinho’s Roma – who can never be written off – and Atalanta, reinvigorated under the evergreen Gian Piero Gasperini after missing out on European football last year.

Meanwhile, you shouldn’t rule out Juventus with Max Allegri’s side in fine form since they were deducted 15 points for alleged financial misdealings in past transfers and now only seven behind AC.

The Old Lady have picked up 19 points in nine games since the charges – which they are appealing – meaning they would be comfortably in second place and eight points clear of fifth place without the penalty.

The race for Champions League football promises to go down to the wire.  

Spain 

Franck Kessie’s last minute winner in El Classico prior to the international break all but ended the chances of a title race in LaLiga, with Barcelona heading a mammoth 12 points clear as a result.

While they remain primed for another Champions League triumph, Real Madrid have struggled for consistency domestically over recent months, suffering costly defeats to Mallorca and Villarreal. 

They look comfortable in second in LaLiga though, with Atletico Madrid in third – much-improved after a disappointing first half of the season that saw them finish bottom of their Champions League group. 

Diego Simeone’s side are three points clear of Real Sociedad and six clear of Real Betis – who both showed their qualities in the Europa League this season.

Betis – under the tutelage of Manuel Pellegrini – have been powered by Borja Iglesias’s 12 LaLiga goals with the forward the top-scoring Spaniard in the league, as they aim to reach the Champions League for the first time since 2005-06. 

Meanwhile, Sociedad have picked up just 10 points from their last eight games and also have the threat of last season’s Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal in their rear view.

Quique Setien’s side are seven adrift of Sociedad but look to be back to their best after losing four successive games between January and February.

Germany

Having won 10 consecutive Bundesliga titles, you would be forgiven for assuming Bayern Munich are about to win another one at a canter.

However, Germany can lay claim to having the most exciting title race this year, with Bayern currently in second with just nine games to go – a predicament that led to Thomas Tuchel replacing Julian Nagelsmann in the managerial hotseat last week.

In what couldn’t be a more mouth-watering prospect, Tuchel’s first game sees him return to his former club Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker – with Edin Terzic’s side one point clear of their rivals.

Dortmund were the last team to prevent Bayern from winning the league title – back in 2011-12 under Jurgen Klopp – and look the best-placed side to do so this year after the fairytale form of Union Berlin has tailed off.

Nevertheless, Union are still in a remarkable position in third given they were only promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time ever in 2019.

They may face a battle to finish in the top four though as they sit two points clear of fourth place Freiburg – who are another surprise package – and three clear of RB Leipzig in fifth. 

Eintracht Frankfurt are also in the running, led by the dangerous Randal Kolo Muani who has 11 goals and 10 assists in just 24 appearances.

Wolfsburg and a rejuvenated Bayer Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso probably can’t ruled out, meaning the run-in in Germany promises to provide much drama in the race for the title and top four.

And no game will be bigger than Saturday evening’s clash at the Allianz Arena. 

France

Only the top three Ligue 1 teams qualify for the Champions League, making the race even tighter over in France.

While it looks like PSG will win their ninth league title in 11 seasons under Qatari ownership, it has been far from plane sailing for Christophe Galtier’s side.

They have struggled for form since the World Cup, crashing out of the Champions League in meek fashion, while they have lost four league games – the same amount they lost in the whole of last season – and there is significant unhappiness and discontent surrounding the club.

Marseille – powered by a team of Premier League misfits such as Matteo Guendouzi, Alexis Sanchez, Eric Bailly, Sead Kolašinac and Nuno Tavares – have run PSG close and even beat them in the French Cup.

However, they are unlikely to rein in the seven-point deficit, but look well-placed to qualify for the Champions League.

Igor Tudor’s side are five clear of fourth placed AS Monaco, with the Principality side three behind Lens.

Further back, Lille are driven by the goals of Ligue 1 joint-top scorer Jonathan David with 19, but remain eight points off Lens, while Rennes are seven behind.

Will Still and Folarin Balogun’s Reims meanwhile are down in ninth, but given their superb form they remain in the running for the Europa Conference League as they sit seven points behind Rennes who are fifth.