Soccer: How they stand this Christmas

We take a look at the European League tables and see how the clubs stand as the January transfer window is set to open. In the Premiership, it's the two Manchester clubs forging ahead, the only other contender being London's Tottenham. In Spain, real and Barça share a 106-goal haul so far this season. In Italy, Inter Milan enters the pack.

England Premier League

Manchester United have caught their City rivals. Tottenham, with two games in hand, seems to be the only London club in the pack with any hope of catching up, unless fireworks happen in the New Year's games.

 

English Premier League after 18 games

1. Manchester City 45

2. Manchester United 45

3. Tottenham (16 games) 35

4. Chelsea FC 34

5. Arsenal (17 games) 32

6. Liverpool FC 31

7. Newcastle United 30

Spain - Primera Liga

Real Madrid switches places with Barcelona, now three points clear and after the same number of games. Between them they have scored a staggering 106 goals (56 to Real and 50 to Barça).

Spanish Primera Liga after 16 games

1. Real Madrid 40

2. FC Barcelona 37

3. Valencia CF 33 

4. Levante UD 29

5. CA Osasuna 25

6. Sevilla FC 24

7. Málaga CF 24

Italy - Serie A

A spectacular recovery towards the end of the year by Inter Milan but it is neighbours AC Milan that share the top spot with Juventus on points. All teams have now played the same number of games. Both Rome clubs and both Milan clubs are in the pack.

Italian Serie A after 16 games

1. Juventus 34

2. AC Milan 34

3. Udinese Calcio 32

4. SS Lazio 30

5. Inter Milan 26

6. AS Roma 24

7. SSC Napoli 24

Germany - Bundesliga

The only change in the top seven is that Stuttgart is replaced by Hannover. Bayern Munich leads, but Dortmund, Schalke and Borussia Moenchengladbach are hard on their heels.

German Bundesliga after 17 games

1. FC Bayern Munchen 37

2. Borussia Dortmund 34

3. FC Schalke 04 34

4. VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach 33

5. Werder Bremen 29   

6. Bayer 04 Leverkusen 26

7. VfB Stuttgart 23

France - Ligue 1

It's PSG back on top with new manager Carlo Ancelotti, closely followed by Montpellier; Lille and Lyon...Marseille are also looking stronger as the season progresses.

French Ligue 1 after 19 games

1. Paris Saint-Germain FC 40

2. Montpellier Hérault 37

3. LOSC Lille Métropole 36

4. Olympique Lyonnais 35

5. Stade Rennais 32

6. Olympique de Marseille 31

7. Toulouse FC 31

Portugal - Primeira Liga

FC Porto and Benfica predictably lead, Sporting much better this season, a dark horse to watch in the next phase of the Portuguese championship after January.

Primeira Liga after 13 games

1. FC Porto 33

2. SL Benfica 33

3. SC Portugal 27  

4. SC Braga 25

5. CS Marítimo 22

6. A. A. Coimbra 17

7. SC Beira-Mar16

Russian Premier League - Final standings (League closed for winter)

Russian Premier League after 30 games

1. FC Zenit St. Petersburg 61

2. PFC CSKA Moskva 59

3. FC Dinamo Moskva 55

4. FC Spartak Moskva 53

5. FC Lokomotiv Moskva 53

Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey

Pravda.Ru