Harry Kane laid on both goals in Bayern Munich’s 2-1 win at Mainz, a result that keeps them top of the Bundesliga. Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 at the Metropolitano to open a five-point lead in LaLiga, and Paris Saint-Germain extended their winning run to 11 matches in all competitions.
Bundesliga: Kane is the assist king
Harry Kane has gone four games without scoring, a drought that has only happened once before in his Bayern Munich career. The England captain has more than made up for it with his passing. His square ball set up Joshua Kimmich for the first goal at Mainz, and his lay-off gave Lennart Karl the simplest of finishes for the second. It followed a lofted assist for Konrad Laimer against Atletico Madrid in midweek.
Kane now has eight assists, more than anyone else in the Bundesliga. Only Lamine Yamal matches that across Europe’s major leagues this season. He has already equalled his best-ever Bundesliga season for assists, and his presence alone creates space for team-mates. That growing creative side to his game explains why Bayern were confident enough to give him a long-term deal.
Borussia Dortmund kept pace with Bayern at the top with a 2-1 win over Elversberg. Without top scorer Serhou Guirassy, who was absent for the first time in the Bundesliga this season, Felix Nmecha scored twice in the second half. At RB Leipzig, Brajan Gruda provided two assists in a 5-2 win over Augsburg. Niclas Fullkrug‘s eight-game scoring streak ended at Stuttgart, but Patrik Schick was on target again with Leverkusen’s winner in the Cologne derby.
LaLiga: Big moment in the title race
Atletico Madrid were heading to the top of the table when Julian Alvarez set up Giuliano Simeone for the opening goal against leaders Barcelona. Two goals from Fermin Lopez turned the game around and secured a big win for the visitors. It was a typically competitive start from Diego Simeone‘s side, but Barcelona’s control in seeing the game out was significant. Their winner was well worked, set up by Lamine Yamal.
The result also answers questions about Hansi Flick‘s side, who had lost back-to-back games against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Instead of Atletico overtaking them, Barcelona now sit five points clear.
Real Madrid moved up to second and went back ahead of their city rivals with a 3-0 win away to Valencia. Kylian Mbappe scored again despite being booed by the home fans, but Arda Guler impressed most. He scored one goal and assisted Mbappe’s, and his cutting inside from the wing has brought real balance to the attack while Vinicius Junior is out. Fede Valverde also scored one of his trademark long-range strikes, this time from right-back, which offers promising signs for Jose Mourinho.
Newly promoted Racing Santander won 2-1 at Malaga and might be the most fun side in LaLiga. They have conceded more goals than anyone else, yet remain in the top half for possession, and crucially for points too.
Serie A: Inter close the gap on Lazio
Lazio’s run of six consecutive Serie A wins came to an end in a 1-1 draw away to Napoli. Gennaro Gattuso’s side remain surprise leaders, and Kevin De Bruyne came closest to winning it for the hosts.
Inter, the reigning champions, moved to within one point of Lazio with a 2-0 win over Como at San Siro. Cesc Fabregas‘ side enjoyed plenty of possession but lacked the cutting edge that Inter showed, scoring twice early to control the match.
Roma also closed the gap, extending their lead as Italy’s top scorers and staying unbeaten with a 3-0 win over Sassuolo. Rodrigo Mora, who was substituted with Roma two goals up at Old Trafford on Tuesday, was involved in all three goals in this game, scoring the last himself. “Inter are best placed to win,” said coach Gian Piero Gasperini afterwards. “For the rest, all of us are in the mix, us included.”
Milan picked up three points at Genoa to put their alarming European defeat to Ferencvaros behind them. Juventus came from behind twice to draw 2-2 at Fiorentina but remain six points adrift of the top four.
Ligue 1: Eleven in a row for PSG
Paris Saint-Germain followed up their six-goal demolition of Villarreal in the Champions League with a less convincing 1-0 home win over Troyes. Their run continues, and Luis Enrique‘s side have now won 11 games in a row in all competitions. The European champions stay two points clear at the top because Lille and Paris FC both won away from home.
Lassine Sinayoko scored the only goal at Auxerre, where Paris FC won 1-0, taking his Ligue 1 tally for the season to nine, two clear of anyone else. Monaco dropped points late on at Le Mans, while Lyon lost at Brest. Lyon are between coaches, with Carlos Vicens set to replace Paulo Fonseca. Those results have allowed Marseille to climb to fourth.
Marseille, who beat Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, saw off Lens 2-1 to make it five consecutive domestic wins for Bruno Genesio‘s side. Lens conceded a goal after 90 seconds through a defensive mix-up and then lost late on, having been beaten 9-1 by Como in midweek under Yannick Cahuzac. Marseille have improved considerably since the transfer window closed.
Elsewhere: Weghorst denies Ajax
It was a strange Sunday in the Eredivisie, as the big three all had different results away from home and each spent time at the top of the table. In the end, reigning champions PSV, who started the day in third, finished back on top after beating Cambuur 5-2.
Feyenoord led 2-0 at Heerenveen but lost 5-3, handing Ajax the chance to move top and confirm their improvement under Michel. Instead, Twente came back from two goals down to snatch a point, with Wout Weghorst scoring a 95th-minute penalty to level. Weghorst left Ajax in the summer, and his replacement Tolu Arokodare, who opened the scoring for Twente, has nine goals in 12 games.
In Portugal, Benfica also scored in the 95th minute through Vangelis Pavlidis, but Marco Silva‘s side remain five points behind an unbeaten Porto. Porto won late again to make it 11 wins from 11.