VAR mayhem in Serie A, Schalke flying high in Germany and Ajax net eight among talking points from European action
IT'S been an action-packed weekend on the continent which results which could have huge ramifications in title races across the various.
The 0-0 draw between Atletico and Real Madrid saw both fall ten points behind Barcelona, but Valencia kept the gap at the top to four points to set up a mouthwatering clash against the leaders at the Mestalla next weekend.
In Italy, meanwhile, Juventus slipped up at Sampdoria while Napoli beat AC Milan and two Mauro Icardi goals saw Inter Milan overcome Atalanta.
It means the Bianconeri are now in third place and four points off the pace — and Roma's 2-1 derby victory seems them move to within a point of the champions with a game in hand.
Paris Saint-Germain were the only side in Ligue 1's top five to record a victory as they battered fifth-place Nantes 4-1. Monaco, Lyon and Marseille all drew.
And, over in Germany Peter Bosz's job is on the line after another Borussia Dortmund defeat as Bayern Munich march on.
Those are the main headlines, but here are some other incidents you might have missed.
So near yet so VAR
It's a system which many are still trying to get their head around, and there was yet more confusing at the San Paolo on Saturday evening.
Lorenzo Inisgne raced through to fire the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma and give Napoli a 1-0 lead over Milan — only for the referee to blow for offside.
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The rules state that, once the whistle is blown, a decision cannot be reversed, but he went to the VAR regardless and overturned his original decision.
It was the right decision in the end, but it was ultimately made illegally.
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Ranieri wants It
The Nantes boss has enjoyed a brilliant start to life at the Ligue 1 club.
But Claudio Ranieri and Co. were brought back down to Earth with the 4-1 hammering at runaway leaders PSG.
So he probably didn't pick the best time to get cocky and refuse to rule himself out when asked about the Italy job — especially given he hasn't even been linked it.
Kings of Leon
Despite being without star man Leon Goretzka, Schalke continue to rise up the Bundesliga table.
A 2-0 victory over Hamburg saw them leapfrog RB Leipzig into second place on goal difference.
Goretzka is summer target for Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern.
Gr-eight win for Ajax
Ajax were the big winners of the weekend — literally — as they hit NAC Breda for EIGHT!
It was 5-0 at half-time as centre-back Matthijs de Ligt got two while the highly-rated Donny van Beek scored a hat-trick.
David Neres, Lasse Schone and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar completed the 8-0 rout, but Ajax remain eight points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven.
Ben-event-o
With 93 minutes on the clock and the scores at 1-1, Benevento thought they'd earned their first point of the season after Sassuolo rattled the bar.
But, from the resulting corner, Federico Peluso headed into the back of the net to shatter the home side's hearts.
I'm here for you, bro
There was a lot of bad blood between the two Madrid giants in the summer as Real broke the ethical code and met highly-rated Theo Hernadez's buy-out clause to move him across the city.
But Atletico needn't have worried themselves as they have a perfect replacement in his older brother.
Lucas Hernandez excelled during the derby, playing the role which had been left for young Theo.
And finally....
An awful moment for Chelsea youngster Fankaty Dabo.
Under pressure, but nearer the halfway line than his own box, the on-loan Vitesse Arnhem defender, 22, lobbed a backpass way over his goalkeeper's head an into the back of the net.
The goal made it 1-1 and sparked Groningen into life, as they stormed to a 4-2 victory.