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Barcelona stamped their authority over Spain this weekend as they extended their lead over Real Madrid to five points. In Italy, AC Milan were eviscerated by Sassuolo while Napoli continue to reign supreme at the top. Each of the top four in France drew their matches to maintain status quo on the table (PSG lead Lens by three points at the top). Meanwhile, in England, FA Cup action saw holders Liverpool knocked out by Brighton, PL leaders Arsenal beaten by Manchester City while Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United advanced with minimal fuss. By The Numbers has the best stats from the weekend action:
FA CUP1 This is the first time in their history that Brighton have beaten Liverpool in consecutive games. Their record now sits at 7-20-11 [W-L-D] against Liverpool across all competitions. 1 The game against Reading was Casemiro's first multi-goal game since January 18, 2020 with Real Madrid (won 2-1 vs Sevilla).  3+ Wrexham are the first non-league team to score 3+ goals in four consecutive games in the FA Cup. 3 The FA Cup holders have been eliminated in the fourth round in each of the last three seasons (Arsenal in 2020-21, Leicester in 2021-22 and Liverpool in 2022-23). 10 Kaoru Mitoma is quite something, isn't he? He has completed 10 dribbles against Liverpool in all competitions this season, the most by any player, with half of those coming directly against Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 Son Heung-min's return to form came at the right time for Spurs in the Cup. He now has 14 career FA Cup goals, which is just one shy of Harry Kane's career total in the competition. 17 Since his FA Cup debut in January 2016, Kelechi Iheanacho's 17 goals in the competition are the most by any player. His goal saw Leicester City beat Walsall 1-0 to advance to the fifth round. BUNDESLIGA17 Randal Kolo Muani has been directly involved in 17 goals in his first 17 Bundesliga games. Only Hertha's Marcelino in 2004 had more goal involvements in his first 17 such appearances (18) since full data has been collected for the competition from 2004/05. SERIE A1 This is the first time in the last 25 seasons (i.e; since 1998-99) that Juventus and AC Milan have both lost home league matches on the same day. 2 Monza are only the second team in Serie A history to have beaten Juventus in their first meetings in the top-flight, after Inter Milan who did it in 1930. That was the first season of the Serie A. 3 Domenico Berardi joins Joao Felix, Ousmane Dembele, Roberto Firmino, and Neymar (twice) as the only players to record three assists in a match this season in Europe's top five leagues. 5 All those Berardi assists (and a goal) saw Sassuolo beat AC Milan 5-2. The last time Milan conceded five at a home match in the San Siro was back in April 1997, when they lost 6-1 to Juventus. 13 Meanwhile, just how well are Napoli playing right now? For the first time in the three points for a win era (since 1994/95), there is a gap of 13 points between the top two sides on the table after 20 games played (the previous biggest gap was in 2006/07, 11 points between Inter and AS Roma). LALIGA1 This is the first time in the last 20 years that Barcelona have won three consecutive matches 1-0 in all competitions. 21 Vinicius Junior attempted 21 dribbles against Real Sociedad (nine completed), the highest recorded in a LaLiga match by any player since at least the 2005/06 season.  21 In a very different kind of 21, Atletico Madrid have now kept 21 clean sheets at half-time in all competitions this season. Only Manchester United (24), Barcelona, Manchester City and Newcastle (23 each) have done this more among the Top 5 European leagues teams in this period (Arsenal and Lazio also 21). 251 An incredible record-breaking run came to an end this weekend. Inaki Williams was not in the squad for Athletic Club in their 1-0 loss to Celta Vigo - ending his run of consecutive LaLiga appearances streak at 251. The LaLiga-record streak started on April 20, 2016. LIGUE 111 Folarin Balogun has scored 11 goals in Ligue 1 this season for Reims, the most of any player aged 21 or under in Europe's big five leagues. The next closest are Jamal Musiala (nine) and E. Wahi, K. Kvaratskhelia, B Saka and and G Martinelli (seven). (Stats courtesy: ESPN Stats and Information Group)
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