1.   After all, Middlesbrough has the toughest job of all Saturday, facing runaway league leader Newcastle.

2.   On Thursday, runaway Dutch league leaders Ajax Amsterdam are at home against German side Bochum.

3.   In Spain, runaway league leaders Atletico Madrid, now a commanding nine points clear of second-placed Barcelona, play on Saturday night at midtable Sporting Gijon.

4.   They entertain English champions and runaway league leaders Leicester on Saturday.

5.   Leicester, runaway English league leaders, then responded in champion style.

6.   Sale spent the interval steeling themselves for another mighty effort but failed to compete with the runaway league leaders.

7.   Reigning Scottish Premier League champions and runaway league leaders Celtic are set to be at full-strength as they bid for a back-to-back double.

8.   Runaway Scottish league leaders Celtic aim to bounce back from an unexpected blip against Aberdeen when they take on minnows Livingston on Wednesday.