Over this winter window, we get to see what the top contending teams are really made of during the gruelling schedule in the Premier League, while other giants across Europe have returned from a welcome break to take to the pitch once again.
Over the years, we’ve seen the bite of winter take its toll on teams, causing many to slump in the second half of the season. Here are some of the most notable post-winter slumps that the top European divisions have seen in recent times.
1971/72: Manchester United
Manchester United and their team of superstars under the new management of Frank O’Farrell rose to the top of the First Division by five points on Christmas Day.
But, the festivities must have weighed heavily on the Red Devils as they went on to lose seven games on the trot to eventually finish eighth in the table, ten points down on eventual champions Derby County.
United have little hope of winning the Premier League this season but are at 40/1 to win the Champions League.
1992/93: Norwich City
The very first season of the new Premier League saw one Norwich City sit atop the table on Boxing Day. Having let the First Division title slip away in 1988/89, the Canaries were determined not to let history repeat itself.
But, come the end of the season, Norwich sat 12 points adrift in third. This season, leaders Liverpool are at 4/5 to win the Premier League, with Manchester City in close pursuit at 6/5.
2003/04: Real Madrid
Real Madrid were seeking a third title in four years, leading the way by two points at the winter break. Over the next 21 games, Los Blancos collapsed, picking up eight losses in the rest of the campaign to finish fourth.
Sitting behind Valencia, Barcelona, and Deportivo La Coruna, Real Madrid were seven points adrift by the end and are currently at 14/1 to win La Liga.
2016/17: RB Leipzig
The tale of RB Leipzig’s collapse was only made out to be such a big deal because of the potential history-making that was on the line by the team from East Germany.
But, after being neck-and-neck with titans Bayern Munich 15 games in on 36 points, Die Roten blazed ahead to leave Leipzig in their wake, taking the league by 15 points.
In 2018/19, Bayern are trailing in the standings and only second-favourites to win the German Bundesliga title at 11/10.
2016/17: OGC Nice
In 2016/17, while RB Leipzig were trying to make history in the Bundesliga, to the west, a season of giant-killing was on the cards in Ligue 1.
At the halfway point of the season, both OGC Nice and AS Monaco led Paris Saint-Germain who were seeking a fifth league title in as many years.
At the close of the campaign, PSG led Nice by nine points, but they were outdone by Monaco, who won the league with an eight-point cushion on the tyrant reigning champions.
This season, it’s back to the status quo in Ligue 1, with PSG also at 3/10 to win the Coupe de France.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
