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European football games come so thick and fast, it's already half-way through the 2018/19 season. The top five leagues - EPL, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 - have already played over a half of their domestic games as the finish line edges closer. However, even then, we've already witnessed some really startling events transpire over the course.
Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool are on a brilliant run. And as things stand, they would be scripting history in May. Cristiano Ronaldo has successfully shrugged off his early season woes to acclimatize to new surroundings in the Serie A. He's now a hot favorite for the Capocannoniere prize. Barcelona are sailing towards another La Liga title whereas Kylian Mbappe hasn't looked back after taking the 2018 World Cup by storm.
Believe me, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Here are the seven other and more important statistics from Europe's top five leagues so far.
#6 Villarreal are mired in relegation storm
Since gaining promotion in 2013/14, the Yellow Submarine hadn't finished below top six in five seasons until now. But such dramatic has been the decline in the current term, that the Valencia-based outfit is now all the way down in the relegation mix.
Nineteenth in the standings with only three victories and 18 points after 21 games, there are premonitions that the club's time in the top tier is indeed coming to an end. Their last victory in the league came over two months ago and even though have strangely conceded only five goals more than a third-placed Real Madrid, have struggled to score themselves.
The frontline of Carlos Bacca, Gerard Moreno and summer arrival Toko Ekambi have accounted for only 10 goals between themselves, although they've fared admittedly better in other competitions. Luis Garcia replaced Javier Calleja almost seven weeks ago, but there's hardly been a difference. Villarreal have picked up only four points in eight games under him and looks like he's on his way out too, very soon.
Yet, quite surprisingly, they are through to the round of 32 of the Europa League without losing a single game!
#5 Tottenham Hotspur are the only side yet to draw a match
Out of the 98 teams in the top five leagues, Tottenham Hotspur are the only side yet to register a stalemate in a league game - a dubious distinction, considering they've lost six times in 20 Premier League games.
A mixed start to the season of consecutive defeats to Watford and Liverpool after winning the opening three games, saw the Lillywhites grappling to keep up with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea. But an upturn in form since the start of November has seen them leapfrog the Blues in the table to climb up to third - just nine adrift of runaway leader from Anfield. But two defeats in the last three games has raised concerns again.
Yet, we are still to witness a draw that involves Spurs.
#4 Monaco have already changed three managers
AS Monaco have been taught a harsh lesson about selling their valuable players. Radamel Falcao, Djibril Sidibe, Andrea Raggi, and Kamil Glik are the only four players remaining from the 18-man squad that lifted the Ligue 1 trophy just 18 months ago.
Rest all have either left for more glamorous surroundings or sold to fill the club's coffers. Monaco are second-bottom in the table with only three wins and 15 points from 21 games. Relegation from the top tier is a distinct possibility. And there have been three managerial changes already.
Leonardo Jardim was sacked in October after a terrible run. Thiery Henry was given the rough end of the stick last week when things didn't change under him after two months in charge, and Jardim was re-appointed in the aftermath, only to oversee another painful result at Dijon at the weekend.
#3 Messi is the top-scorer as well as the top assist provider
No surprises here. Messi has done this time and time again. But this is a testament to his enduring legacy and incredible longevity. He is not only the top scorer in Europe's top five leagues with 19 strikes, but has also provided the joint-most assists with 10.
Chelsea's Eden Hazard is the only other player who can hold a candle to that record. Even as Barcelona went through the motions in the league - they've already drawn four and lost twice in 20 games - the Argentinian thaumaturge has continued to shine brightly.
With yet another strike against Girona at the weekend, he's now extended his goalscoring streak in the league to seven consecutive games. And now with no Ronaldo to compete alongside, Messi, in all likelihood, should pick up his sixth Pichichi prize in May.
#2 A 35-year old Fabio Quagliarella leads Serie A scoring charts
While the Golden Boot rankings change almost on a weekly basis, former Italian international Fabio Quagliarella currently leads the race for Cappocannoniere in Serie A with 16 goals in 20 appearances so far.
And he will turn 36 before the start of February. Let that sink in first.
A very under-rated forward, the 'Mr. Hitman' is like that old wine that's just got better with age. This is in fact, his best start to a season since 1994/95 and also equaled Gabriel Batistuta's record of scoring in 11 consecutive games after bagging a brace against Udinese in the last game.
With another six assists to his already incredible stats, he has accounted for 56% of Sampdoria's goals in the league and the cardinal factor that's driving them to an improbable Europa League spot.
#1 Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani have scored more goals than any Ligue 1 side this season
PSG's whirlwind start to the 2018/19 season is driven by their prolific attacking triumvirate. Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani have all picked up from where they left off last time, combining to blow every team on their way.
Together, this frontline has scored 44 goals from PSG's 20 league games. And believe it or not, that's more than every other side in the French top flight!
No team in Ligue 1 has managed to strike 40 times so far, barring Les Parisians, of course. Strasbourg are the closest with 38. But it's mind-boggling when you consider that three players together have managed what 19 other teams in the league, haven't.
For the record, that is more than what even Europe's big guns like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Chelsea have scored, as a team in their respective leagues.
It is obviously a testament to each of their precocious talents, but it is also true when you say Ligue 1 isn't really competitive and the ever-widening gap in the table between PSG and the rest further corroborates the theory.
