Arsenal, Barcelona, Napoli win to carry on leading their leagues, German leaders Bayern draw at Leipzig

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Arsenal, Barcelona, and Napoli took wins each in their leagues last weekend to keep their top places in their local leagues while German leaders Bayern Munich drew at Leipzig on Friday when the Bundesliga returned to action after the winter break.

All eyes in UK were on the Arsenal vs. Manchester United match that was held on Sunday at London's Emirates Stadium, the home of Arsenal.

Arsenal beat Manchester United 3-2 in an English Premier League match that Gunners forward Eddie Nketiah scored double including the winner near the end of the clash.

London's Arsenal have 50 points in 19 matches to keep their top position in the English league, and five-point margin against second-place Manchester City.

Their nearest opponents Manchester City have 45 points in 20 matches as Man City beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0, thanks to their Norwegian star Erling Haaland's hat-trick at Etihad Stadium.

Haaland, who came from Germany's Borussia Dortmund in 2022 summer, scored 25 goals in 19 Premier League appearances this season.

Newcastle United and Manchester United have 39 points to be in the top four in the Premier League.

- Pedri rescues Barcelona

Barcelona carried on to top the Spanish La Liga as they had a narrow win on Sunday evening.

Pedri, one of the Barcelona regulars in the center of the park, scored the winning goal for his team in the first half as Barcelona beat Getafe 1-0 at home.

Title contenders Real Madrid took a 2-0 win at Athletic Bilbao. French star Karim Benzema and German midfielder Toni Kroos were the scorers for the Whites.

Spanish leaders Barcelona have 44 points in 17 matches. Real Madrid are second with 41 points.

Third-place Real Sociedad collect 38 points and are looking for a mistake of Real Madrid.

- Napoli extending gap on top

Italian leaders Napoli are spending a splendid season in Italy, dominating the country's top-tier Serie A division.

Napoli last beat Salernitana 2-0 in an away match on Saturday to reach 50 points in 19 matches as the Naples club went 12 points clear atop in the Serie A.

They won 16 matches, drew twice, and lost a game in the first half of the 2022-23 season. Napoli scored 46 goals but conceded 14 this season.

Second-place AC Milan have 38 points but will visit Lazio on Tuesday. Lazio, one of the famed clubs from Rome, have 34 points and eye higher ranks in the league.

Inter Milan and Roma have 37 points, each, to be hot on AC Milan's trail.

Roma beat Spezia 2-0 on Sunday. Inter will host Empoli in Milan on Monday.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Juventus drew 3-3 with Atalanta.

On Friday, Juventus were shocked after the Italian Football Federation confirmed a 15-point reduction to the Turin club in the standings in the Serie A for capital gains violations.

After the point deduction, Juventus were previously lowered to the 10th spot with 22 points in the league.

Juventus are now ninth with 23 points. Atalanta have 35 points to come fifth in the league.

- German league back after winter break

The German Bundesliga returned to action after a winter break

Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga leaders with 35 points in 16 matches, were held to a 1-1 draw in an away match Friday by RB Leipzig.

Eintracht Frankfurt moved to the second spot after they beat Schalke 3-0 at home.

Three clubs Eintracht Frankfurt, Union Berlin and Freiburg collect 30 points each to follow Bayern Munich.

On Saturday, Union Berlin beat Hoffenheim 3-1 but Freiburg took a devastating 6-0 loss at Wolfsburg.

- Haller makes Dortmund debut after cancer treatment

One of the important clubs in Germany and European football, Borussia Dortmund beat Augsburg 4-3 at Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park on Sunday.

Their Ivorian forward Sebastien Haller made his Dortmund debut after he recovered from cancer.

Borussia Dortmund signed Haller from Dutch club Ajax on July 6 last year.

In the same month, Haller, 28, was diagnosed with a malignant testicular tumor to undergo a surgery. It was followed by chemotherapeutic treatment that lasted for six months.

Haller was subbed in the second half of the Augsburg match that the crowd at Signal Iduna Park applauded him while entering the pitch.

- No league match in France at weekend

Meanwhile, in France, the French Cup (Coupe de France) matches were played over the weekend.

So, there were no Ligue 1 matches.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are the French top-flight Ligue 1 leaders with 47 points in 19 matches.