Barcelona, Dortmund, Arsenal: Who are the leaders of the top European leagues

Barcelona, Dortmund, Arsenal: Who are the leaders of the top European leagues

Faruq Ibrahim 16:15 - 21.03.2023

Here are the current leaders of the top five leagues and the margins of their leads.

The top European leagues are currently on hold as the FIFA International Break is on. This gives us an opportunity to take a snapshot of the current state of the top five leagues before the final nonstop run until the end of the season. 

In certain leagues, the leaders have created margins wide enough that it would require a monumental collapse for them to fail to win the title; in others, the margins are so close that it could take the last day of the season for a winner to emerge. 

Here are the current leaders of the top five leagues and the margins of their leads:

LaLiga: Barcelona (12 points)

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Barcelona's win against Real Madrid—who are their closest rivals in LaLiga—helped them open a 12-point lead at the top of the table.

Barcelona beat Real Madrid in the El Clasico
Barcelona beat Real Madrid in the El Clasico

With only 12 games to go and a favourable run in, it will take a huge drop off from their current form, and a near-perfect run by Real Madrid for them to fail to lift the title.  

Eredivisie: Feyenoord (6 points)

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Ajax have won the last four Eredivisie titles, with Feyenoord coming in third on each occasion. However, Feyenoord have returned to the summit and are set to win their 16th league title.

Ajax have struggled to replicate their dominance this season as they lost Erik ten Hag. PSV have also fallen off, as they have been affected by Cody Gakpo's move to Liverpool.

Premier League: Arsenal (8 points)

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Arsenal are the current leader of the Premier League and are eight points ahead of the next-best team in the league, Manchester City.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and ace winger Bukayo Saka
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and ace winger Bukayo Saka

However, they have played one more game (28) than the Cityzens (27), who were not involved in the Premier League last weekend as they had FA Cup commitments.

The Premier League is one of the leagues still open, and a win in City's outstanding game could reduce Arsenal's lead to five points. And with both teams still set to play at the Etihad, it could be further cut down to two. 

Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund (1 point)

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The Bundesliga has one of the most tightly contested title races this season, with Dortmund ahead by only one point and with only nine games remaining. 

Serie A: Napoli (19 points)

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Napoli are the runaway leaders of Serie A, leading with a mammoth 19 points, the biggest margin in the top seven European leagues. 

Guardiola says Napoli are the best team in Europe
Guardiola says Napoli are the best team in Europe

They have won the most games, scored the most goals, conceded the least goals, and are shoo-ins to win the Serie A, their first since the 1989/90 season. 

Liga Portugal: Benfica (10 points)

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Benfica replicated their form in the Champions League in the Portuguese league, and they have opened a 10-point lead.

Benfica have only lost one game this season and drawn two. They have also been unassailable, as they are currently on a nine-game winning streak.  

Roger Schmidt's team are the most likely to win the league barring unforeseen circumstances.

Ligue 1: Paris Saint-Germain (7 points)

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Paris Saint-Germain are the unsurprising leaders of Ligue 1, and although they are ahead with seven points, they have shown that they are beatable, having lost four games in the league already. 

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They are still overwhelming favourites to lift the title, but losing out to second-place Marseille, or Lens at third would not be shocking.  

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