European Paper Review: A load of old Red Bull, Juve stunned, Barca blues

RB Leipzig continue to stun Germany, Genoa do the same to Juventus. Barça are not themselves ahead of the clasico, while Nice slip in France.

“RB Leipzig continue to rock the Bundesliga!” declared Germany’s Kicker after the controversial Bundesliga leaders continued their record-breaking start to the season with a 4-1 win away at Freiburg – their seventh in a row. “Lightning quick dream goal and a Timo Werner double – RB are on the march!” said SportBILD.

“The Bundesliga is even easier than Bundesliga 2!” added the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

In Leipzig, the Leipziger Volkszeitung headlined with: “RB still on their Bundesliga throne” whilst, for SportBILD, this is just the beginning for the Red Bull-backed club. “Titles, talent and transfers - this is what RB Leipzig are planning,” they claimed, reporting on sporting director Ralf Rangnick’s intention to lift the club’s current internal wage cap within the next couple of years.

After two straight defeats to Dortmund and Rostov, Bayern Munich got themselves back on track with a hard fought 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen. “Hummels heads Bayern closer to Leipzig,” said Kicker after the centre-back’s second half header – his first Bundesliga goal for the club – proved the difference between the two sides. But it could have been different had the referee spotted a blatant handball from Javi Martinez which denied Kevin Volland a late equaliser. “Fluke! Martinez’ hand rescues Bayern victory!” exclaimed BILD.

In attendance at the Allianz Arena was Uli Hoeneß, who was re-elected Bayern president on Friday following his conviction for tax evasion. He gave SportBILD his opinion on Bastian Schweinsteiger’s current predicament: “I would let them [Manchester United] keep paying me until 30^th June 2018 and just play golf and watch Ana [Ivanovic] play tennis every month. That would be perfect for that club after how they have treated him”.

While Bayern remained three points behind Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund fell further behind the leaders following a 1-2 defeat away at Eintracht Frankfurt – a result which left manager Thomas Tuchel fuming. “Tuchel’s tirade after the defeat was so icy cold that the press room frosted over,” reported the SZ, after Tuchel lambasted the “technical, tactical and mental” shortcomings of his team. “The entire performance was deficient,” he raged, “and it has been all week! You won’t win any away game playing like that!”

Not everyone thought the criticism was justified. “The players don’t decide on the tactics among themselves just before the game; they are determined by the manager alone,” commented Dortmund-based RevierSport, adding: “Tuchel’s formation, with Adrian Ramos on the right instead of Ousmane Dembélé, raised doubts.”

Across the Ruhr Valley, Schalke are finding form after a dismal start to the season. “Victory over Darmstadt closes gap on BVB,” headlined local paper WAZ, as the Royal Blues moved to within four points of their arch rivals with a 3-1 win. “Are Schalke on the march again?” asked Kicker. “[Next week’s] trip to Leipzig will be the acid test,” answered WAZ.

In France, PSG and Monaco closed the gap on Nice to a single point after the Ligue 1 leaders “tripped up at home to Bastia” (Nice Matin). Mario Balotelli sat out the 1-1 draw with a calf strain and L’Équipe said his presence was missed: “With 67% possession, Lucien Favre’s men recycled the ball like a handball team but lacked penetration.”

Ahead of Lyon vs PSG, Le Parisien thought it was “an ideal game for PSG to send a message” and that’s what Unai Emery’s men did with a 2-1 win thanks to an Edinson Cavani brace. France Football called it a “precious victory” after Lyon dominated much of the second half. “Paris have Cavani to thank,” summarised Le Point, who also said: “Monaco send Marseille back to the drawing board” after the Monégasques hammered the Phocéens 4-0.

In Spain, Barcelona were outplayed by La Liga’s form team Real Sociedad – and coach Luis Enrique admitted it was the first time they’d been outclassed in his time at the club.

The Catalans were fortunate to get a draw at a ground where they usually perform badly, but the result, according to leading opinions in Spain, reveals a deeper malaise. Under the headline ‘Barça don’t just have an attitude problem, but a footballing one too’ AS’s main man Alfredo Relano wrote: “Piqué, at the end of the game, demanded better attitude, especially in the first half. He was possibly right, but attitude requires faith in what you are doing, and the faith in what you do comes from the order of play. Attitude problems are difficult to separate from footballing ones, and it seems to me that Barça have both.” Their next game is against Real Madrid, who Pique admitted are the best team in the league. Madrid could go nine clear of Barçaif they win. They’re already nine clear of Atletico.

In Italy, Juventus slipped to a rare defeat - 3-1 at Genoa .  “Superbi,” is the headline of the Turin based Tutto Sport. “The Rossoblu honour the nickname of the city (La Superba) thanks to a show from Simeone.” That’s Giovanni Simeone, the 21-year-old son of Diego. “Juve hurt themselves,” adds Corriere dello Sport. “After Dybala, Barzagli, Pjaca and Chiellini, now Dani Alves and Bonucci injured too.”

“Juve are crushed by Simeone,” said Monday’s Gazzetta dello Sport, quoting Juventus coach Allegri as saying: “Everyone is to blame” for the defeat. They stay top, four points ahead of the back which now includes Atalanta.

The Bergamo side won for a sixth successive game promoting a ‘Ita-Leicester’ lead in Gazzetta. “The party breaks out in the city. Sixth consecutive victory for the Nerazzurri and they’re ready to face Juventus. Even Ranieiri applauds from England,” writes  the pink paper. Atalanta visit Juventus on Saturday. Can they make it seven straight wins? Against the best team in Italy? It’ll be tough.