World football went into its holiday break this week, as just about everyone outside Britain takes a midwinter break of two to six weeks; there were key results in several Euro leagues on the last full weekend of 2007. (The Brits, of course, just keep playing – a heavy schedule, in fact, through the holiday season.)
Real Madrid won 1-0 at Barcelona, to open a 7-point lead over their Catalan rivals… Inter Milan beat city rival AC Milan, 2-1, and opened a 7-point league lead… Surprise French contenders Nancy Lorraine got an 87th-minute goal to draw with leaders Lyon and stay within striking distance of the seven-time defending champs… Little surprise that Glasgow’s Celtic and Rangers have begun to distance themselves from the pack in Scotland; their Jan. 2 derby will establish a front-runner heading into the second half… Manchester United took over the top spot in England in the traditional slate of Boxing Day games, passing Arsenal, who has begun to falter lately after a brilliant start.
This article appears in December 28 • 2007.