There’s no break between European competitions and national leagues. After three days of Champions League and Europa League action, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 resume immediately. In Italy, Friday’s early game features Empoli vs. Torino. The two teams are experiencing contrasting moments: D’Aversa’s side comes off a stunning 4-1 win over Verona, continuing to impress, while Torino hasn’t won since October, suffering four defeats and two draws in their last six league matches.
The Tuscans have climbed to the left side of the standings, currently sitting 10th with 19 points. Torino, meanwhile, shares 16 points with Ranieri’s Roma, trailing Empoli by three. Torino’s biggest issue is in attack, as captain Zapata is out for the rest of the season. In their last six matches, Vanoli’s side has managed to score just one goal—a 1-1 draw against Monza.
The other two Friday fixtures are Freiburg vs. Wolfsburg and Toulouse vs. Saint-Etienne. In the Bundesliga, two in-form teams face off, excluding Bayern Munich, which is in a league of its own. Wolfsburg is riding a four-match winning streak, scoring 13 goals, including a 5-1 away win at Leipzig. Freiburg, while having slowed down recently, is still firmly in the European race, tied on 21 points with Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund. The Champions League zone, currently occupied by Leipzig, is only three points away.
Inter-Bologna ends 2-2: Holm rescues a point for Bologna, Napoli stays ahead
16 Jan - 07:58 •
2' min
In Ligue 1, Toulouse hosts Saint-Etienne. The visitors are battling against relegation after two heavy defeats: 2-0 to De Zerbi’s Marseille and 5-0 away to Rennes. Toulouse sits mid-table, alternating between wins and losses but still within reach of European qualification, just five points away.
