The 2024/25 season is entering its second half, and there is plenty to play for right across the continent. In both Germany and France, it’s currently business as usual. Bayern Munich have retaken their spot on the Bundesliga throne after being surprisingly routed by Bayer Leverkusen last term. Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, are the clear frontrunners in Ligue 1, sitting some seven points clear of Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille.
However, all three of the continent’s three other elite leagues have surprising league leaders. The question is, can they see the job through to the title at the end of the season, or will they be reeled in by their more illustrious rivals? Let’s take a look.
Liverpool
Liverpool was expected to struggle somewhat this season, especially after the departure of iconic boss Jurgen Klopp became front-page news. Not only that, but their recent rivals Manchester City have romped to the last four titles in a row, and their dominance has become something that the English game had never seen before. In fact, the popular Bodog news and sports betting site named the 2023 treble-winning Blues side the greatest of all time, and knocking them off their perch was by no means an easy feat.
Arne Slot was the man who was tasked with keeping Liverpool relevant, and his job was made harder after his new club made just one signing in the summer, an injury-prone and out-of-sorts Federico Chiesa. But despite that, the former Feyenoord man has hit the ground running. He has led the Reds to 14 wins and just one defeat in their first 19 games in charge, putting them some six points clear of second-place Arsenal and prompting that same Bodog news betting site to install them as a huge -425 favourite for the title.
Liverpool’s resurgence has been all the more impressive because three of the club’s greatest-ever players – namely Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold – are all out of contract in the summer. There has been so much speculation over each of them potentially leaving the club that it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see them take their foot off the gas somewhat. Instead, they have each been playing out of their skin, but can they keep it up?
With Manchester City seemingly out of the race 12 points behind and Arsenal six points adrift, it would certainly be a disaster if they didn’t get over the line from here. But with that being said, consistency will be vital. They have found themselves in similar positions before but only once – back in 2020 – managed to get over the line. This year, they must do the same again.
Atlético Madrid
Despite entering the season overshadowed by cross-city rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona, it is Atletico Madrid that shockingly currently leads La Liga. Their nemesis from across the Spanish capital headed into the current season as the reigning European champions, and adding a certain Kylian Mbappe to their ranks was supposed to bolster their credentials. But Los Blancos have stuttered throughout the first half of the season, while the Blaugrana’s blistering start consisting of seven straight wins has since fallen off.
Diego Simeone’s men, meanwhile, have been as consistent as it gets, losing just once in their opening 19 matches. Their success has been a team effort, but summer signing Julián Álvarez has lit up the league with 13 goals across all competitions, swiftly becoming the club’s most important attacking threat. Alongside him, Antoine Griezmann has proven indispensable once more, despite his advancing years, and his creativity has been crucial to unlocking compact defences week after week.
Simeone’s Los Rojiblancos have traditionally been at their top when they are resolute, and this term has seen them return to their impenetrable best. They have conceded just 12 goals so far this turn, and their ability to grind out results in clashes against the division’s perceived lower teams has been crucial. They have won a league-high eight games by just one goal this season, and their 2-1 victory away at Barcelona was the very definition of a smash-and-grab.
Holding out for the rest of the campaign is now the task at hand. Real Madrid are breathing down their necks, just one point behind their rivals with far superior firepower. And with Atleti still yet to visit the Bernabeu, sealing the title could prove a step too far.
Napoli
Back in 2023, Napoli managed to surprisingly win Serie A for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona. This season, Antonio Conte has managed to take a new look side back to top spot in the Italian top flight. However, they too have a firepower breathing down their necks in the form of Inter Milan.
The Nerazzurri are four points behind the current table toppers with two games in hand, and victory in those two clashes will see them assume the top spot. But with plenty of experience right across the pitch, Napoli will certainly be up for the challenge. Both Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku have proven to be inspired signings, while dynamic playmaker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s creative flair and dribbling have been a constant menace on the wings.
Holding off the stiff competition from the reigning champions, however, will be a difficult task. Inter are by far and away Italy’s finest and they are on the odds on favourites to win the Scudetto. Napoli’s fate may come down to their ability to secure results against direct rivals like them and Atalanta in the coming weeks, and failure to do that could leave them out of the title race before it really gets going.
