European Review (January)
January 2026 sees the start of a new month, a busy month of footballing action and the transfer window playing a pivotal role in how some clubs see their second half of the campaign. For some, the new year saw a fresh start and a time for change, for others it was a chance to enter the new year as dominant as before and hoping they can keep a good run going as we head towards the final run-in.
In this series of blog posts, we will be posting a monthly round-up of the action across Europe’s top divisions, and any major talking points we’ve seen over the latest month of action. If we’ve missed something in this post that you saw over the month please do get in touch with us on all the usual places (Bluesky @NextGoalWinner – Instagram @NextGoalWin), and if you prefer an audio round up of the action then do check out our YouTube channel (@NextGoalWinner) where we post weekly reviews on there of all the key talking points in the Premier League and around Europe.
Serie A
anuary in Italy’s top flight was dominated by the winter transfer window, and while the deals weren’t global superstars dropping into Serie A, there was plenty of intrigue and hustle right up to deadline day. Clubs like Lazio and Napoli emerged as the biggest spenders, investing heavily to reshape their squads, while several significant departures, notably Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman’s €35 million move to Atlético Madrid, made headlines. Across the league, there were a mix of permanent sales, loans with options to buy, and last-gasp negotiations that kept fans guessing until the window slammed shut.
On the pitch, the title race provided a compelling subplot to the mid-season action. Inter Milan, buoyed by consistent form, extended their lead at the top of the table to six points, giving them a solid claim to the Scudetto as the league reached its midway mark, while traditional rivals AC Milan and Napoli battled to stay within striking distance. Inter’s resilience was exemplified by narrow victories like their 1-0 win over Lecce, and the broader championship narrative was shaped by dropped points for other title contenders and a tightly packed top five.
Matchdays throughout January delivered plenty of drama too. Serie A’s fixtures often brought surprising results, and at times unpredictable trends, that added colour to the conversation among supporters and pundits alike. Draws between major contenders like Roma and Milan showed how fiercely balanced the top end of the table had become, while teams in the middle and bottom of the standings scrapped for valuable points that could determine their fate come spring.
Beyond transfers and the title chase, January also saw broader discussion around squad management and fixture congestion, with coaches and supporters alike debating the impact of a congested calendar on player fitness and team performance. Those off-field narratives, from tactical identity to transfer strategy, were nearly as engaging as the football itself, making for a month where Serie A’s storylines blended ambition, resilience and unpredictability.
La Liga
January in La Liga felt like a month where the season truly sharpened into focus. It began with a statement moment as Barcelona edged Real Madrid 3–2 in the Supercopa de España, a pulsating Clásico that set the tone for what followed. The result carried more than just silverware significance: it reinforced the sense that Barça had found rhythm and belief, while also reminding everyone just how thin the margins are between Spain’s two giants this season. That intensity spilled straight back into league action, where every dropped point suddenly felt magnified.
The title race itself was the dominant talking point throughout the month. Barcelona and Real Madrid traded momentum almost weekly, with Barça leaning on control, youth and consistency, while Madrid relied on moments of devastating individual quality. Kylian Mbappé’s late-January brace away at Villarreal was a defining snapshot of Madrid’s challenge, ruthless, efficient and delivered when pressure was highest. Barcelona, though, kept responding, grinding out wins and showing a maturity that belied the age of some of their key players. By the end of January, the gap at the top remained narrow, and the sense was clear: this race is going deep into spring.
Off the pitch, the January transfer window sparked plenty of debate, largely because of its relative quiet. Compared to the spending sprees seen elsewhere in Europe, La Liga clubs were cautious, even conservative. Atlético Madrid were among the more active sides, but Real Madrid sat firmly on their hands and Barcelona focused on balance rather than headlines. That restraint became a wider discussion about financial realities in Spanish football and whether prudence now could come at a competitive cost later, especially in Europe.
Individually, January belonged to emerging stars as much as established names. Lamine Yamal continued to light up the league with performances that blended fearlessness and intelligence, cementing his status as one of La Liga’s defining players of the season. Beyond the title race, there was also plenty of substance in the middle and lower reaches of the table: hard-fought wins, survival six-pointers and subtle shifts in form that will matter enormously come May. In typical La Liga fashion, January didn’t just clarify the story, it added new layers to it.
Bundesliga
The first month of 2026 in the Bundesliga was defined by Bayern Munich’s extraordinary figures and a few jolts that stirred the title conversation. Throughout January, Vincent Kompany’s side continued to pile up numbers that will be talked about for years: coming from behind to beat Köln and extending their lead at the top, Bayern equalled the record for points at the halfway mark of a Bundesliga season with 47 from 17 games, while racking up a staggering goals tally that dwarfs those of rivals, a true statement of intent in their bid to defend the title.
Yet even amid supremacy there were moments of vulnerability that grabbed headlines. A stunning 8–1 demolition of Wolfsburg early in the month showed just how ruthless Bayern can be, but later fixtures hinted at cracks: their unbeaten run ended in a 2–1 defeat to Augsburg and a wild 2–2 draw with Hamburger SV, where Bayern twice relinquished the lead despite Harry Kane’s remarkable scoring form. Those results sparked lively debate over whether the champs are truly uncatchable or simply human after a busy winter schedule.
Beyond Bayern’s roller-coaster, mid-table and relegation battles produced compelling narratives. Mainz and Hoffenheim picked up eye-catching wins, while tight draws and surprise scorelines across the midweek matchdays kept the bottom half congested and unpredictable. Augsburg’s victory over the league leaders was the standout underdog story, but results from clubs like Leverkusen and Dortmund, solid yet not flawless, emphasised that European places are still very much up for grabs as the calendar turns.
Lastly, the January transfer window and club strategies underpinned many conversations off the pitch. Teams such as Borussia Mönchengladbach publicly prioritised reshaping squads, bringing in and offloading players in a bid to sharpen their second-half credentials, and loan moves like Bayern’s Felipe Chávez to Köln added another layer of intrigue as clubs balanced immediate needs with long-term development.
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 offered plenty of drama both on and off the pitch, with title chases, big individual performances and broader structural stories grabbing the headlines. At the sharp end of the table, RC Lens continued to lead the pack, defying pre-season expectations and maintaining their place at the summit thanks to a succession of strong results and an exciting brand of football that has become the talk of France. Their consistency has forced clubs like Paris Saint-Germain to up their game, with the Paris giants clawing back momentum in tight fixtures as they hunt down the leaders in what’s shaping up to be one of the tighter title races in recent memory.
On the individual front, one of Ligue 1’s most talked-about stories in January was the emergence of Endrick, the Brazilian teenager on loan at Lyon from Real Madrid. His hat-trick in a 5–2 rout of Metz not only lit up the score-lines but also had pundits buzzing about his potential impact on both Lyon’s season and the wider league narrative. His electric form has been one of the league’s most thrilling subplots and underlines how Ligue 1 continues to be a fertile ground for young talent to make their mark.
Not all clubs enjoyed positive January headlines, however. AS Monaco’s struggles deepened, with reports of fan frustration and a run of poor results creating something of a crisis atmosphere at the principality club. Seven defeats in eight Ligue 1 matches sparked discussions about squad morale and tactical direction, particularly as they juggle domestic form with their European commitments. Meanwhile, the Coupe de France provided its own talking point as for the first time in 35 years the round of 16 featured exclusively Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs, underscoring both the competitiveness and the narrowing gap between France’s top two tiers.
Off the pitch, Ligue 1 was also in the news for broader strategic moves. Discussions around broadcasting, including Ligue 1+ securing streaming rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, highlighted the league’s attempts to boost its media profile at home and abroad as it seeks to rival other top European competitions. Coupled with transfer window activity that saw some key departures and tactical reshuffles across the division, January offered a full spectrum of narratives that set up a fascinating second half of the campaign in France’s top flight.
Eredivisie
January 2026 in the Eredivisie was all about PSV Eindhoven’s relentless march at the top and contrasting fortunes for traditional rivals Ajax and Feyenoord, with plenty of storylines to captivate Dutch football fans. After the winter break, PSV picked up where they left off, showcasing their domestic strength with powerful attacking displays and an emphatic series of results that saw them stretch their lead at the summit to a commanding 16 points by mid-January, underlining their status as clear title favourites this season.
That dominance was highlighted in early January when PSV thumped Excelsior 4-0, extending their advantage at the top, but even that wasn’t without drama, as talismanic forward Ricardo Pepi suffered a forearm injury that could sideline him for months, prompting questions about how PSV might cope without one of their key scoring outlets. Meanwhile, they were also pegged back in a thrilling 2-2 draw with NAC Breda, rescued by a late Armando Obispo header, reminding supporters that even juggernauts can be tested.
For Ajax, January had a more mixed feel. The Amsterdam giants recorded deserved wins like 2-0 over Volendam, showing glimpses of the attacking verve that once drove title pushes, but inconsistent form and drops in key moments left them trailing the leaders by a significant margin. Questions continue to swirl off the pitch too, with talk of squad reshuffles and tactical tweaks, and even whispers of marquee names being linked with moves to the Eredivisie, such as the recent reports that former Premier League midfielder Jesse Lingard could be a target for Feyenoord outside the traditional transfer window.
Elsewhere down the table, Feyenoord’s season bore its own drama. A dramatic Rotterdam derby in January saw them throw away leads and ultimately falter against Sparta, while internal tensions, including a public spat between coach Robin van Persie and midfielder Quinten Timber, added an extra layer of narrative to their campaign. While PSV’s march towards another Eredivisie crown grabbed the headlines, the month also reminded fans that Dutch football is full of compelling subplots: injury-blighted title bids, late-game heroics, and off-field intrigue all helping make January an engrossing chapter of the 2025/26 season.
Other
January in the Scottish Premiership was as thrilling as ever, with the title race tightening and drama on and off the pitch. Hearts continued to lead the pack, but their advantage was under pressure as Rangers, pulled level on points with a statement 3-1 Old Firm victory over Celtic early in the month, a result that sent shockwaves through the title chase and sparked renewed debate over the Hoops’ inconsistency. Celtic’s managerial decisions and winter recruitment were also major talking points, with Martin O’Neill openly critiquing past recruitment strategies and the club exploring further signings to bolster their challenge. Fixture disruptions due to weather, including multiple postponements, added another layer of complexity to Scotland’s busiest month.
Over in the Belgian Pro League, January was shaping up as one of those unpredictable seasons that keeps neutrals intrigued. While traditional heavyweights Club Brugge and Union Saint‑Gilloise are often favourites, the narrative in 2026 has been about the “twist” rather than the status quo. Sint-Truiden and KV Mechelen have both forced their way into conversations about top-six placement, while traditional giants like Anderlecht and Standard Liège have struggled for consistency, a theme that made the January window and upcoming play-offs feel pivotal for shaping the push toward European qualification.
Another compelling subplot from January was the renaissance of the Polish Ekstraklasa, a league increasingly praised for its competitiveness and growing fan engagement. With just four points separating the top eight after the winter break, and attendance figures rising steadily, commentators have noted a genuine title race and a resurgence in domestic interest that could help Polish football climb the UEFA rankings. Legia Warsaw’s unusual struggle near the bottom of the table only adds to the intrigue as clubs jostle for European spots.
Beyond individual leagues, a broader theme across second-tier and mid-tier European competitions has been unpredictability, many leagues outside the largest six have shown high upset rates and tight fixtures in January, reflecting both competitive balance and transfer-window volatility. Analysts watching markets like the Pro League have pointed to this volatility as part of what makes these competitions intriguing to follow, with the mid-season break and January deals often reshaping the pecking order in unexpected ways.
Don’t forget if you have anything you saw this last month that we have missed, or you’re looking ahead to any big European football moments next month, you can get in touch with us on all the usual places (Bluesky @NextGoalWinner – Instagram @NextGoalWin), and if you prefer an audio round up of the action then do check out our YouTube channel (@NextGoalWinner).