Euro review - Inter Milan's revival begins!
Everything went right for Inter Milan this weekend in Italy, Borussia Dortmund continue to dominate in Italy, Espanyol are surprising everyone in Spain and PSV slipped up in Holland. We look at how the events of the last few days have impacted on the betting markets across the continent...
Italy
It wasn't just the Premier League hit by goal fever, as Serie A averaged over three a game, with only bore drawers Brescia and Genoa failing to net. Inter Milan ([4.0]) were the weekend's big winners after a wild 5-2 win over Parma in which they fired three times in six first-half minutes to transform a tie the visitors were controlling, Dejan Stankovic ending up with a hat-trick. The five teams above the Nerazzurri all failed to triumph - leaders AC Milan ([2.04]) being held by Sampdoria, Juventus and Lazio at home by Fiorentina and Catania, and Napoli and Roma losing 3-1 at Udinese and Palermo.
Germany
It's going to take a Herculean effort for Bayern Munich ([5.3]) to overhaul Borussia Dortmund's 14-point lead over them, not least because the table-toppers are showing no sign of slowing down, coming from behind to beat Borussia Monchengladbach 4-1 this time out, however the prospect of failing to qualify for the Champions League is at least dwindling after a 4-1 romp past Frankfurt saw them to a post-August high of fifth, three points shy of third-placed Bayer Leverkusen, who drew in Hoffenheim. Dortmund's closest challengers, Mainz, beat Nurnberg 3-0 but are seven points adrift.
Spain
La Liga viewing figures are sure to have dropped at the weekend with no Barcelona or Real Madrid in action, but it gave the side who live in Barca's shadow, Espanyol, the chance to shine in matchday 13's first Madrid versus Catalonia clash, as they won 3-2 at Atletico to stay in fourth place. They are [11.0] to be the best of the rest yet still trail Villarreal ([2.4]) - 3-0 victors at Real Zaragoza - by two points. Valencia ([2.02]) are a point behind the Catalan overachievers after their 2-1 success against Almeria, while Sevilla ([5.2]) drifted off the pace after a 3-1 home defeat to Getafe.
France
There are still only two points separating the top eight but there are new pacesetters in France as the top four all failed to win. Champions Marseille ([2.14]) reached the summit for the first time with a 4-0 stroll past Montpellier who were joint-top, with former leaders Lille ([5.7]) joining them after a 1-1 draw at Bordeaux ([12.0]). Two other teams widely expected to sustain long-term challenges, Lyon ([3.8]) and PSG ([6.6]) shared the spoils 2-2 in their meeting at the Stade Gerland, while Rennes lost to Lorient and Brest drew with Lens.
Holland
PSV's ([1.94]) goal difference has kept them top despite them suffering their first away loss of the campaign away to brilliant hosts NAC Breda 4-2 on Friday night, with FC Twente ([4.6]) tied with them on 34 points having been 4-2 winners at NEC Nijmegen. PSV's slip was great news for Ajax ([3.35]) too, as the capital club who had drifted off the pace following a three-match winless streak bounced back by beating VVV Venlo 2-0 on the road, the result being that they are now three points shy of the top two.
Catch any games? Tell us what you made of the weekend's action below...
Published: 29 Nov 2010
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