EUROPEAN NEWSPAPER REVIEW - Real Madrid “Without Direction”, Gary Neville happy with “positive result” and “merciless” PSG annihilate Lyon

Andy Mitten rounds up what the European newspapers are reporting, including pressure mounting on Rafael Benitez at Real Madrid.

La Liga has heard criticisms about two teams dominating the league before and it’s true again this season. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are five clear of the rest after another Real Madrid defeat.

“Without Direction,” opined the headline of Marca after Rafael Benitez’s side were defeated 1-0 at Villarreal. ‘Madrid lose ground on Barça and Atleti’ offered the editorial in AS.

They do, though Barça went from 2-0 up against Deportivo La Coruna to draw 2-2 – the second time the Galicians have taken a point at Camp Nou in 2015.

Madrid’s defeat leaves them five points behind Barca and Atletico. Madrid have six points from their last 15 matches, but Atletico have 15.

“Madrid switched off last night during the first-half and it cost them the match,” offered Alfredo Relano in AS. “In the second period they made a massive effort, playing with energy, vitality and penetration but just lacked sharpness in front of goal.”

Credit was widely given to Villarreal across the Spanish media, as it was to Atletico’s form.

“They may not have Messi, Neymar or Cristiano, but they do have Griezmann, who seems to improve with each passing month,” wrote AS’s Relano. “He’s a player who has clearly been stamped with Cholo’s (Diego Simeone’s) desire to battle for everything on the pitch.”

In Eibar, ten men Valencia came from a goal down to draw 1-1.

“The team of Neville did not surrender despite being harmed by a clear error from the referee,” stated Super Deporte of Orban’s 63rd minute sending off which shouldn’t have been. “From 1-0 down and with ten men, a draw is a positive result,” said Gary Neville. “Valencianistas can have pride at the fight in their team.”

In Germany, Bayern Munich are the Bundesliga‘s “autumn champions” for the fifth season in a row after a 2-0 win over Ingolstadt. “Lewandowski saves tired Bayern” said Die Welt. “Lewandowski + Lahm = autumn champs!” screamed BILD after two second half goals sealed victory.

But the attention of the press was all on a curious slip of paper passed to captain Philip Lahm by coach Pep Guardiola early in the second-half. A struggling Bayern quickly changed formation to attack Ingolstadt down both flanks and soon reaped the rewards. ”So that was what was on Guardiola’s secret slip!” said Die Welt. “Guardiola’s note changes the tide!” said Spiegel.

But the win also highlighted lingering doubts over the future of some key figures in Munich. “Is Lewandowski shooting himself to Real Madrid?”, pondered SPORTBILD, whilst Die Welt reported on the German champions’ “plan B” for life after Pep, naming Guus Hiddink, Lucien Favre and Matthias Sammer as “three serious contenders” to succeed the Catalan.

FOCUS and Sport1 reported on ESPN’s claims that Manchester United are stepping up plans to tempt Guardiola away from Bayern, suggesting also however that the Old Trafford club are concerned they may have left it too late.

Borussia Dortmund “cemented their place as Germany’s second footballing power” (SPORTBILD) with a 4-1 thumping of Eintracht Frankfurt. “Dortmund blitz Eintracht” said Kicker, “Pre-Christmas party in Dortmund” said the Rheinische Post as BVB won their final home game before the winter break to remain five points behind Bayern.

Borussia Mönchengadbach’s unbeaten run came to an end as they crashed to a 5-0 defeat against a “furious” (Sportschau) Bayer Leverkusen. “Gladbach humiliated by Bayer” said the Rheinische Post as a brace from Stefan Kiessling and a hat-trick from Javier Hernandez condemned André Schubert to his first defeat as Gladbach manager.

“5-0! Kiessling and Chicharito steamroller Gladbach” said Kicker. The Mexican was deemed surplus to requirements by Louis van Gaal and the irony was not lost on Kicker, who referred to Manchester United’s continuing offensive travails saying “Chicharito strikes: Football is not chess.”

Elsewhere, there was relief as the Nationalmannschaft avoided bogey-side Italy in the draw for Euro 2016. SPORTBILD called Germany’s group alongside Poland, Ukraine and Northern Ireland “doable” whilst t-online.de highlighted that the world champions have been drawn in the statistically easiest group.

Tagesspiegel took a more poignant angle, pointing out that Germany have “an easy group but one very difficult match” as they return to the Stade de France, the scene of last month’s terrorist attacks, to face Poland. BILD is already looking past the group stage: “Achtung! Italy could be waiting in the quarters!”

In Ligue 1, a “laborious but victorious” (maxifoot) Monaco are up to third after beating St-Étienne 1-0. They’re now level on points with surprise package Angers who could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Bordeaux.

Fellow early challengers Caen were also held to a draw by a “seductive” Rennes side (La Croix). Lille’s upturn in form under new boss Frédéric Antonetti continued with a 3-0 win at home to Lorient. “There’s no stopping Lille” said L’Équipe as the northerners recorded their third win in a row to climb away from the relegation zone.

Marseille meanwhile are still struggling to find form as they drew 1-1 with Ajaccio. “Marseille still ill” said Onze Mondial, “Marseille still can’t win at home” agreed sports.fr, whilst Le Figaro dubbed them “stagnant.”

L’Équipe hailed “merciless” PSG as the “despotic Ligue 1 leaders annihilated Lyon” 5-1 on Sunday night to extend their lead to 17 points, despite a Kevin Trapp howler allowing the visitors back into the game at 2-1.

In Italy, Monday’s La Gazzetta dello Sport leads with an image of Juventus players celebrating during their 3-1 home win against long term foes (and second placed) Fiorentina.

“Juve Strong. Inter You Are Warned,” says the headline. “Cuadrado, Mandzukic and Dybala overturn Fiorentina. The Bianconeri (Juventus), with their sixth win in a row, are in the fight for the Scudetto. But the Nerazzurri smile for the 0-0 between Napoli and Roma and are at +4.”

Inter are four clear, but unlike Roma and Juventus they’re not in the draw for the Champions League. “Try and avoid the big teams from Spain and Pep” warned Gazzetta, which shows how English teams are perceived.

If Italian teams do well, their UEFA co-efficient could overtake the Premier League meaning they’ll get four teams in the Champions League from 2017 – and the Premier League will lose one.