While most are preparing for Christmas celebrations with friends and family, some of us are looking forward to a totally different form of entertainment during our holidays.

Across Europe, many football teams have only a few matches until the end of the year, which marks the midpoint in their seasons. Often sides that go into the Winter Break in good stead go on to have extremely successful campaigns, but there are some crucial matches that take place between now and then which are set to have resounding impacts.

In Germany, traditional giants Bayern Munich have been almost miraculously dethroned by underdogs RB Leipzig. The east-German side have been a story to behold, and is made even more impressive when it is noted that they have a policy of only signing players under the age of 24. The majority of their team has almost negligible experience at such a high level.

While some believe that their achievements may be undercut by the fact that the side is heavily funded by Austrian Drink Company Red Bull, RB Leipzig offer a breath of fresh air in a league which has become so dominated by a select elite. Leipzig travel to Munich to face Bayern in their final match before Christmas, on December 22nd, hoping to continue their great underdog story.

Italy’s “Serie A” is set for a number of high profile clashes this month. Italian football fans will be treated to second-placed AS Roma taking on both first place Juventus and third place Milan before Christmas, on the 12th and 17th of December respectively. Currently, a gap of merely four points separate the three of them, as the Italian football season is reaching a crucial turning point.

Real Madrid have been the best team by far in Spain’s La Liga, and that trend looks to continue despite a draw against rivals and second-placed side FC Barcelona. Madrid – who are in an exclusive club of teams yet to be beaten this season, along with the aforementioned RB Leipzig – have a seemingly straightforward run until the new year.

France’s “Ligue 1” is shaping up to be the three way tug-of-war between holding Champions PSG, highly rated AS Monaco and underdogs OGC Nice. Nice currently lead the way, but face PSG in a crucial encounter on December 11th.

The English Premier League is the only competition which does not give it’s players a winter break, but instead capitalizes upon bloated audiences during the festive period by ramping up their fixture lists to extreme levels. The Premier League features a staggering 60 matches from now until January 5th, with 30 of them coming in just 10 days between Christmas day and January 5th.

This is often the time where the league goes into overdrive. Chelsea lead the Premier League by a hair after an 8-game winning streak, with Liverpool, Manchester City and fierce rivals Arsenal in direct pursuit. These four are separated by only four points, with fifth place Tottenham Hotspur only 3 points behind them. Manchester United, currently sitting in sixth, will hope to close the gaping 6-point gap between them and the top 5, but their hopes hinge upon a match against Tottenham on the 11th.

With a schedule such as this, pure grit and endurance play as much of a role as quality during this time. A number of crucial games leading up to the new year culminate in breathtaking encounters between

Liverpool and Manchester City 30 minutes into the New Year (local time), and Tottenham hosting Chelsea 5 days later. For football fans, these massive games are a hallmark of their winter break and this year seem to be no different as a number of crucial positions are up for grabs across the football world.

Gian Chansrichawla