Ligue 1 and La Liga are the first continental divisions to get back under way following the break for the World Cup
In 2022-23, there's little time to recover after the World Cup. After less than two weeks since the final in Qatar, club football is already on the horizon around Europe, with Ligue 1 and La Liga both set to resume before the turn of the year.
Serie A and the Bundesliga will soon follow before the Champions League restarts in February, and after the slog to the World Cup break, it now becomes something of a sprint to the end of the season around the continent.
Almost every major league has something of a live title race, while European spots are also still to be figured out for next season.
The World Cup also brought us some breakout players that we're keen to see kick-on for their clubs, while established superstars are either looking to build on or recover from their tournaments in Qatar.
But what are we most looking forward to from the return of football around Europe? GOAL breaks it all down…
Getty ImagesKylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar reuniting
Stories of internal strife within the Paris Saint-Germain camp have been all too common over the 18 months.
Although the Neymar-Messi-Mbappe trio undoubtedly makes for fantastic viewing, transfer rumours, contract disagreements and behind-the-scenes issues have dominated headlines.
And after the World Cup final, it's hard to imagine things getting easier.
Though Neymar was able to move on from the disappointment of Brazil's quarter-final exit to offer congratulations to Messi for Argentina's victory over France, public communication between the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and Mbappe has been limited at best.
Instead, rumours of Mbappe leaving for a new club have begun to swirl again, while Messi's request to parade the World Cup trophy at Parc des Princes has reportedly not gone down well.
It could be a turbulent time for PSG in 2023 – and we've got the popcorn out ready to watch it all unfold.
AdvertisementGettyBarcelona vs Real Madrid in La Liga's title race
Although much of Barcelona's season has been defined by their group-stage exit from the Champions League, Xavi and his players have quietly pieced together a solid league campaign so far.
They hold a narrow two-point lead over arch rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table, and have only lost once in the league, with that defeat coming at Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid, then, are still very much in the running, and with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, cannot be ruled out.
It will likely all come down to the next Clasico, scheduled for March 19. Whoever wins that one will likely be in pole position ahead of the run-in.
Getty ImagesEurope's great entertainers: Napoli are back!
With an unbeaten record and an eight-point lead at the top of Serie A, it's hard to see Napoli losing momentum in Italy. But how far can they go in the Champions League?
Their performances in Europe this season have been electric, with Luciano Spalletti's side winning five of six games, including a 6-1 battering of Ajax in Amsterdam.
Although there's quality all over the pitch, breakout winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been the star. Known locally as "Kvaradona", the Georgian has been a joy to watch since arriving in the summer.
Assuming Napoli hold on to the key pieces in their squad during the January transfer window, the sky is the limit for the Partenopei.
Getty ImagesThe rise of Jamal Musiala
Germany's World Cup was one they will want to forget in a hurry.
Embarrassed by Japan and eliminated in the group stage, Hansi Flick's side fell miles short of expectations.
Still, among the negativity, youngster Jamal Musiala shone. One of the standout midfielders at the tournament at just 19, though he still has a long way to go, he is already a key player for both club and country.
He returns to an unstable Bayern Munich camp that has been rocked by injuries to Sadio Mane, Manuel Neuer and Lucas Hernandez, and so they will need Musiala's quality to ensure they both remain top of the Bundesliga table and go deep in the Champions League.
Musiala tends to thrive regardless of the situation, and so we can't wait to see how the ex-Chelsea trainee continues to step up over the next few months.