By admin 
Top-tier domestic football takes a well-earned break for the next week as international football takes centre stage.
The drama of the Premier League, LaLiga, the Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 gives way to the start of World Cup qualification for some UEFA nations, with that confederation the last to get the race to the first 48-team tournament off and running.
There are also Nations League matches and friendlies aplenty, giving those in the heat of battle for the titles in Europe’s top-five leagues time to take stock.
With the run-in approaching, two title races look to be all but over, but three are still very much alive.
Premier League
While Liverpool have endured a dip in form at the wrong time, suffering a Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain and losing the EFL Cup final to Newcastle United, they remain firmly on course to claim the league title in Arne Slot’s first season in charge.
They lead Arsenal by 12 points with nine games remaining, and it would take an almighty collapse from here for the Reds to let that slip.
Ligue 1
PSG, having ended Liverpool’s dreams of European glory for this season with their penalty shootout victory, cruised to a 3-1 win over Marseille in Le Classique. As a result of that victory against their arch rivals, PSG are now 19 points clear of Marseille with eight games left.
The Ligue 1 title is staying in south-west Paris.
A great victory, a great atmosphere!
Thank you, Parc!
#PSGOM 3-1 I #LeClassique pic.twitter.com/J7DOP2PWDP
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) March 16, 2025
Bundesliga
Harry Kane is not quite sure of his first major trophy quite yet, with Bayern Munich’s lead at the top of the Bundesliga cut to six points after Bayer Leverkusen capitalised on their slip-up at Union Berlin.
Bayern were held to a 1-1 draw by Union, and Leverkusen took advantage, albeit in dramatic fashion, Patrik Schick’s 94th-minute effort giving them a 4-3 win at Stuttgart. With Bayern’s remaining eight games featuring a Klassiker with Borussia Dortmund and an away game against Champions League-chasing RB Leipzig, the race is far from over.
Serie A
It is a three-horse race in Italy, though it is one tilting in favour of Inter.
The Nerazzurri’s 2-0 win over Atalanta at the weekend moved them six points clear of Gian Piero Gasperini’s side in third and extended their advantage over second-placed Napoli, who were held to a 0-0 draw by struggling Venezia.
An away game with fourth-placed Bologna represents Inter’s toughest remaining assignment of a favourable run-in.
LaLiga
Barcelona’s dramatic comeback to secure a 4-2 win over Atletico Madrid has knocked the Rojiblancos off the pace in the fight for the Spanish league crown.
FULL TIME!
FULL TIME!
FULL TIME!
FULL TIME!
WHAT A COMEBACK! pic.twitter.com/qlKG5aIUMk— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 16, 2025
It is the Blaugrana who are top of the table, though they are level at the summit on 60 points with Real Madrid. Atletico are four adrift.
Barcelona do crucially have the advantage of a game in hand on Madrid, but their home Clasico on May 11 looks as if it will, in essence, serve as a mouthwatering title decider.