PSV took full advantage of being one of only two sides in the top five, along with FC Groningen, to have a game this past weekend in the Eredivisie, comfortably beating 6th placed Roda JC 3-1 and opening the gap between them and defending champions FC Twente to four points.
As the country lies beneath a beautiful but debilitating carpet of snow and ice we know that we are fast approaching that all important time of year, Christmas. And for many this triggers memories of the year gone by and visions of what lies ahead.
La Liga can often provide the perfect blend of the majestic and the absurd for football fans. In this sense Cristiano Ronaldo is the epitome of the division. One minute petulant and devious, the next sublime and majestic. And so it was that this weekend in La Liga came to highlight the contrast.
A beating for FC Twente and points dropped for PSV have blown the race for the Eredivisie crown wide open this weekend, with Groningen still defying the odds and Ajax starting life after Martin Jol with a win.
With Inter Milan involved in the Club World Championship, much of the focus moved away from under pressure manager Rafa Benitez and onto the rest of the league and in particular, their cross town rivals AC Milan.