European Newspaper Review: Not the stuff of champions from Bayern, Zidane suffers his first setback and Gary Neville doesn’t celebrate draws

Andy Mitten rounds up what is being reported by Europe’s leading newspapers with the focus on Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Gary Neville’s Valencia.

Pep Guardiola’s farewell tour got off to a bumpy start away at Hamburg on Friday night as the Bundesliga returned from its winter break. “Definitely not the stuff of champions” said BILD of Bayern’s unconvincing 2-1 win. “Bayern still stretching their muscles” said Süddeutsche Zeitung.

One player who stretched too far was Jerome Boateng who suffered a groin tear, with Sportbild confirming on Saturday that the central defender is likely to be out for up to three months.

In contrast to Bayern’s stuttering re-start, second placed Borussia Dortmund sent out a clear message for 2016 with a commanding win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. “BVB on top form! Can they mount an assault on Bayern?” asked Sportbild.

Die Welt followed a similar line, saying, “This BVB reminds you of Klopp’s title winners – can they make for a more exciting league than in the past 4 years?”

Kicker heaped praise on Dortmund’s key performers, saying “Reus, Gündogan and Mkhitaryan decide the battle of the Borussias.”

Marco Reus was particularly impressive, giving Dortmund the lead just before half-time with a stunning low drive after latching onto a sublime through ball from the imperious Ilkay Gündogan. Spiegel called Reus “a star”, adding, “He’s never won a trophy, but that should change in 2016.”

Last season’s top scorer Alexander Meier stole the headlines on Sunday with a hat-trick to help his Eintracht Frankfurt side to a 3-2 win over Wolfsburg.

“Meier puts everyone else in the shade” said Kicker. “Where would Frankfurt be without Meier?” asked the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, with Focus adding “Fußball-Gott Meier gives Frankfurt breathing space”, as Eintracht went two points clear of the relegation zone.

Also in danger of the drop following a horrendous first-half of the season, VfB Stuttgart gave their fans reason to hope with a convincing 3-1 victory away at FC Köln.

Kicker praised the Swabians’ “compact system and fighting spirit” in a “brave display”. “A header and a kiss to rain on Cologne’s carnival”, said BILD, referring to striker Timo Werner’s kissing celebration after his cushioned header gave the visitors the lead against their hosts who took to the field in fancy carnival kits.

Off the pitch, Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday that the FBI are now investigating the awarding of the 2006 World Cup – the festival of football known in Germany as the “summer fairy tale”, or Sommermärchen.

The investigation revolves around a payment of 10 million Swiss francs from the German World Cup organising committee to FIFA in 2002.

In Spain, Zinedine Zidane dropped points for the first time as Real Madrid boss when his side were held 1-1 at struggling Real Betis. “A Spirited Madrid Collides With Adan,” was Monday’s Marca headline – Adan being the Betis goalkeeper who was previously with Real Madrid.

Under the headline “Zidane suffers his first setback”, AS’s editorial reported: “With Atlético and Sevilla also drawing in a tense 0-0 at the Calderon, it was a great weekend for the Catalan club (Barcelona) who using the calculation system of the legendary Vujadin Boskov, picked up seven points: their three for the win in Malaga along with two and two that both Madrid sides failed to secure. In the modern game, at the top of La Liga, a draw is perceived as a defeat and as a result it was Real Madrid who left Heliopolis with a bitter taste.”

Alvaro Negredo snatched a last minute equaliser for Gary Neville’s Valencia, who played well in parts at Deportivo La Coruna. Neville has drawn five of his ten games in charge and was reported by SuperDeporte as saying: “I’ve told the players that we don’t celebrate a draw.”

Laurent Blanc had criticised the atmosphere at the Parc des Princes after boos rang out with PSG trailing 1-0 in the Coupe de France, leading Le Parisien to query, “Are PSG fans too demanding?”

They were certainly entertained on Saturday as the French champions thumped third placed Angers 5-1, the victory featuring two impressive finishes from Angel Di Maria.

“Di Maria quite simply stunning” said Le Parisien, although Le Figaro was less ecstatic, claiming that “it’s no longer sport, it’s just spectacle” and lamenting that “it’s not a question of whether PSG will win, but how”.

Monaco remained the best of the rest in second – incredibly actually closer to the relegation zone than to PSG – with a 4-0 win over Toulouse. “Monaco will qualify for the Champions League playing like this” stated France Football.

On Sunday evening, Lyon welcomed Marseille to the brand new Parc OL for l’Olympico – the clash of France’s two Olympiques. “Marseille can say merci to Mandanda” said France Football, after the Phocéens’ goalkeeper kept the score at 1-1 in an “intense” encounter which ultimately did neither side much good.

In Italy, Juventus beat Roma, with Paulo Dybala again their star. “Dybalissmo!” – which roughly translates as “Incredible Dybala!” is the headline on the front of Monday’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. “The Scudetto for two (Naples and Juve) Bianconero with their 11th win in a row.”

Juventus stay second, two points behind Napoli who enjoyed a fine 4-2 win at Sampdoria.

Inter were third, but slipped a place after being held at home by tiny Carpi, though Mauricio Icardi missed a sitter. “Furious Mancini: ‘I would have scored’”, is La Gazetta’s headline as “Lasagne stops Inter with a goal that seals a 1-1 for Carpi. The coach Mancini said to Icardi and company: ‘I would have scored that goal even at 50.’ Given how good Mancini was as a player, he’s probably not exaggerating.”

Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester sitting three points clear at the top of the Premier League also makes the cover of the pink paper.

Fiorentina leapfrogged Inter by winning 2-0 at home to Torino. “New formations and new faces. The Viola take flight again,” commented La Gazzetta about what’s still been a very good season for La Viola.

With a six point gap to fourth place Roma, the top four is starting to emerge more clearly. There’s only one problem – Italy still only has three Champions League places.