With Chelsea forging clear in the Premier League, James Whelan casts his eye over the pacesetters and chasing packs in Europe’s top flight competitions.

Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti feels his side must not forget how good a start to the season they have made, despite going two games without a win.

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia.

Arsenal’s defensive crisis worsened in Sweden as centre-half Gabriel was stretchered off late in the 3-2 win over Manchester City with what appeared a serious leg injury.

Bayern Munich strengthened their grip on a fourth straight Bundesliga title with a 3-0 win over Schalke which put the ball back in Borussia Dortmund's court in the two-team race for the title.

Match-winner Eljero Elia has thanked Southampton boss Ronald Koeman for handing him a chance to prove himself all over again.

Werder Bremen piled the misery on Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund with a 2-1 Bundesliga win at the Weserstadion today.

Xabi Alonso and his team-mates left the Bremen defence baffled with the cheeky but perfectly executed free-kick at the weekend.

Borussia Monchengladbach shared the points with their namesakes from Dortmund as a game of two halves ended 1-1 at the Borussia Park Stadion yesterday.

Mainz have given Ivan Klasnic a route back into the Bundesliga by signing the former Werder Bremen striker on a one-year contract.

Chelsea winger Kevin de Bruyne has agreed to join German side Werder Bremen on a season-long loan.

Chelsea have agreed to sign Werder Bremen midfielder Marko Marin.

Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Werder Bremen midfielder Marko Marin.

Arsenal tonight turned their sights on Yossi Benayoun after failing in a bid to sign Mikel Arteta hours before the transfer deadline.

ARSENE WENGER began the process of rebuilding Arsenal’s shattered defence yesterday after swooping for Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos, signings that have reportedly ended the Gunners’ interest in Bolton defender Gary Cahill.

Lazio have confirmed the signing of Germany striker Miroslav Klose.

Bayern Munich today confirmed Germany striker Miroslav Klose will leave the club at the end of the month after talks over a new deal broke down.

Borussia Dortmund gave Bayer Leverkusen a glimmer of hope in the Bundesliga title race as they lost 1-0 to basement boys Borussia Monchengladbach this afternoon.

Germany coach Joachim Low today signed a two-year contract extension which ties him to the role until after the 2014 World Cup finals, the German Football Federation announced.

Joachim Low looks set to extend his contract as Germany coach until 2014.

Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund returned to winning ways this afternoon with an impressive 3-0 victory at Wolfsburg.

THEY may have rested their star names, but a largely second-string Barcelona consigned Rubin Kazan to a place in the Europa League after easing to a narrow victory at the Nou Camp.

Tottenham qualified for the last 16 as Group A winners in their maiden Champions League season after a typically high-scoring draw was coupled with a surprise 3-0 defeat for holders Inter Milan.

Rafael van der Vaart was today rated only “50-50” by Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp to return from an ankle knock in Sunday’s Barclays Premier League game with Liverpool.

IT may not have had the high drama of their defeat of Inter three weeks ago, but Spurs marked another milestone on their European journey by qualifying for the knock-out stages of the Champions League last night with this easy win over Werder Bremen.

Tottenham 3 Werder Bremen 0

Rafael van der Vaart failed to recover from an ankle injury as Tottenham looked to seal their place in the Champions League knockout stages in tonight’s Group A clash with Werder Bremen.

Tottenham’s hopes of sealing qualification for the Champions League knockout phase with a game to spare suffered a blow today when star men Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale emerged as injury doubts for tomorrow’s clash with Werder Bremen.

Harry Redknapp reckons no team in Europe will relish coming to White Hart Lane following Tottenham’s stunning Champions League victory over Inter Milan.

RANGERS suffered their first defeat in the Champions League this season as Roberto Soldado grabbed a double to hand Valencia a 3-0 victory.

Rangers suffered their first defeat in Group C of the Champions League this season as Roberto Soldado grabbed a double to hand Valencia a 3-0 victory tonight.

LIONEL MESSI struck two goals as Barcelona moved top of Group D after squeezing past FC Copenhagen at the Nou Camp last night.

TALK about a game of two halves.

Werder Bremen 2 Tottenham 2

Jermaine Jenas is a surprise starter for Tottenham’s first ever game in the Champions League proper at Werder Bremen tonight.

HARRY REDKNAPP fears that Tottenham will suffer the kind of mauling England endured at the hands of Germany if he goes gung-ho in his side’s Champions League Group A opener at Werder Bremen tonight.

Harry Redknapp fears Tottenham will suffer the kind of mauling England endured at the hands of Germany if he goes gung-ho in his side’s Champions League Group A opener at Werder Bremen tomorrow night.

Northern Ireland Under-21 star Liam Boyce has joined German outfit Werder Bremen on a two-year-deal.

REGULAR readers will have become (perhaps wearily) aware that I believe all of modern United life can be illustrated using similes from either World War Two or The Simpsons.

REAL MADRID have landed their second Germany international of the summer with the signing of Mesut Ozil from Werder Bremen.

Werder Bremen have confirmed midfielder Mesut Ozil has joined Real Madrid for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around €15m.

Werder Bremen midfielder Mesut Ozil is optimistic about becoming a Real Madrid player after learning of the Spanish club’s interest in him.

Real Madrid have had an offer for Werder Bremen midfielder Mesut Ozil turned down by the Bundesliga club.

THE chase to sign Mesut Ozil took a bizarre twist yesterday when a player profile of the Werder Bremen star appeared on Manchester United’s official website.