Football fans have become accustomed to seeing the same names winning the big trophies in recent seasons. Paris Saint-Germain ruled over French football, and indeed Europe, over the last two campaigns, with an iron fist. Bayern Munich have won all but one of the last 14 Bundesliga titles, while Barcelona have romped to each of the last two La Liga crowns without much of a fight from rivals Real Madrid.
This season, however, the tide could well be changing. Serie A currently has four unbeaten teams through the opening eight games as Inter look to cling onto the Scudetto while La Liga’s top three are currently separated by just three points. Then there’s the Bundesliga, whose top two are currently level and about to face off.
So, are the title races across each of Europe’s top four leagues tighter than ever before? And, crucially, who will come out on top? Let’s take a look.
Premier League
We may as well start with the Premier League, which is arguably not as wide open as it has been in recent years. Manchester City’s financial discrepancies have prompted online betting sites to make them more likely to be relegated than they are to win the title, albeit not by much. The latest odds from Sportaza online sportsbook currently list them as an odds-on 4/5 shot for the drop, as well as an 11/2 second-favourite for the title in perhaps the strangest set of odds in recent memory.
After their recent 2-1 defeat away at Aston Villa cost them their perfect start to the season, the Blues are currently level on points at the summit with defending champions Arsenal, and it’s the Gunners who the bookies are tipping for glory. Mikel Arteta’s men are a 1/2 frontrunner to defend their crown.
Much of that pricing comes down to the fact that many are expecting challengers City to be docked points in the wake of their 115 charges. Should the deduction come as expected, then Arsenal could waltz to the title without much of a challenge.
Serie A
While Serie A is unquestionably lacking the quality that once saw it dominate European football, the Italian top flight has quietly become the most exciting league on the continent this term. Inter are the defending champions and the favourites to retain their crown. The Nerazzurri currently sit top of the table after scoring a pair of injury-time goals to beat Fiorentina on matchday eight.
But below them, three unbeaten sides are gunning for their crown. Perhaps the biggest threat is Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma, who have become electric this term. They have already drawn 2-2 with Inter at home, as well as drawing 3-3 away at Napoli last time out, rallying back from two goals down and then 3-2 down to escape the Maradona with a point.
They are unbeaten and four points off the champions, while their cross-city rivals Lazio are three points ahead of them and also firing on all cylinders, despite a season-long fan protest that has seen the club’s most vociferous supporters avoid home games. They are level on points with Inter, while AC Milan, also unbeaten, are in fourth place and level on points with Roma.
La Liga
Barcelona have romped to each of the last two La Liga titles, and many expected them to power their way to a third without much of a fight from Real Madrid. The Blaugrana have been averaging over four goals per game and won a record-equalling seven games straight to begin the campaign. But Real boss Jose Mourinho reminded everyone on matchday eight: Write off his Los Blancos at your peril.
Real rocked up to the Camp Nou to face rivals Barca as huge underdogs to emerge with the win. Then, after a classic Mourinho defensive masterclass, Los Blancos secured a masterful 2-1 win thanks to a brace from talisman Kylian Mbappe.
Atletico Madrid, the third horse in a two-horse race for so long, are not to be counted out. Diego Simeone’s men are currently second in the table, one point ahead of rivals Real but two behind first-placed Barca, and have won eight of their ten games, including a home win against Mourinho’s Real.
Bundesliga
Germany has been dominated by Bayern Munich for well over a decade now, but Bayer Leverkusen proved in 2024 that their fortress is far from impenetrable. Xabi Alonso led Die Werkself to a shock Meisterschale that year, and he did so in a fashion that the Bavarians have never managed: Without losing a single game.
This season, it’s Borussia Dortmund who appears to be the biggest threat. BVB won back-to-back Bundesliga crowns under Jurgen Klopp back in 2011 and 2012, but they haven’t claimed the crown since. They currently share top spot in the table with their rivals from the south and haven’t lost in their first seven games.
Make no mistake; Bayern remain the favourites, and with the goals of newly minted Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane powering them to glory, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised. But if Dortmund win the first Der Klassiker of the campaign on matchday eight, they will certainly fancy their chances of going all the way.
