The beginning of a season can be as vital and influential as the latter stages. Initial struggles and shortfalls can lead to mounting pressures on clubs, whether it be for title challengers or survival hopefuls - so the perfect start to a season is important. Soccer City FC looks at the early aspiring contenders who are at the top of their respective top-flight leagues.
The leagues covered are those which began in August and thereby over 2008-2009, while those in the summer seasons are excluded from the list as their season's are coming to a close - these will be covered shortly.
Austria: 1st Austria Wien, 2nd Red Bull Salzburg, 3rd Rapid Wien
Belgium: 1st Anderlecht, 2nd Standard Liege, 3rd Club Brugge
Bosnia & Herzegovina: 1st HŠK Zrinjski Mostar, 2nd Slavija Istočno Sarajevo, 3rd NK Široki Brijeg
Bulgaria: 1st CSKA Sofia, 2nd OFC Sliven, 3rd Levski Sofia
Croatia: 1st Dinamo Zagreb, 2nd Hajduk Split, 3rd Slaven Belupo
Cyprus: 1st Anorthosis Famagusta, 2nd AC Omonia Nicosia, 3rd APOEL FC
Czech Republic: 1st Slavia Prague, 2nd Mlada Boleslav, 3rd Sparta Prague
Denmark: 1st Odense BK, 2nd FC Copenhagen, 3rd Brondby IF
England: 1st Chelsea, 2nd Liverpool, 3rd Hull City
France: 1st Lyon, 2nd Toulouse, 3rd Marseille
Germany: 1st Hamburger SV, 2nd TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, 3rd VfB Stuttgart
Georgia: 1st FC WIT Georgia, 2nd FC Mglebi Zugdidi, 3rd FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi
Greece: 1st Olympiacos, 2nd PAOK FC, 3rd Skoda Xanthi
Hungary: 1st Ujpest FC, 2nd Debreceni, 3rd Szombathelyi Haladas
Israel: 1st Maccabi Netanya, 2nd Maccabi Haifa, 3rd Maccabi Tel Aviv
Italy: 1st Lazio, 2nd Udinese, 3rd Internazionale Milan
Macedonia: 1st FK Vadkar, 2nd FK Makedonija, 3rd FK Renova
Moldova: 1st FC Sheriff Tiraspol, 2nd FC Zimbru Chişinău, 3rd FC Dacia Chişinău
Montenegro: 1st FK Grbalj, 2nd FK Budućnost Podgorica, 3rd FK Mogren
Netherlands: 1st FC Groningen, 2nd PSV, 3rd NAC Breda
N. Ireland: 1st Crusaders, 2nd Linfield, 3rd Glentoran
Poland: 1st Wisla Krakow, 2nd Legia Warsaw, 3rd Polonia Warsaw
Portugal: 1st Porto, 2nd Nacional, 3rd Leixoes SC
Romania: 1st FC Dinamo Bucureşti, 2nd FC Steaua Bucureşti, 3rd FC Unirea
Scotland: 1st Celtic, 2nd Rangers, 3rd Kilmarnock
Serbia: 1st FK Partizan, 2nd FK Vojvodina, 3rd OFK Belgrade
Slovakia: 1st MFK Kosice, 2nd MSK Zilina, 3rd Slovan Bratislava
Slovenia: 1st NK Maribor, 2nd NK Nafta Lendava, 3rd NK Domžale
Spain: 1st Valencia, 2nd Villareal, 3rd Sevilla
Switzerland: 1st FC Zurich, 2nd FC Basel, 3rd FC Aurau
Turkey: 1st Trabzonspor, 2nd Bursaspor, 3rd Besiktas JK
Ukraine: 1st Dynamo Kiev, 2nd FC Metalurh Donetsk, 3rd FC Metalist Kharkiv
Wales: 1st The New Saints, 2nd Rhyl FC, 3rd Llanelli AFC
Can the premature leaders retain their position at the summit of the tables? When the majority of the seasons are only around six or seven matches old, any assumptions are definitely too early to conclude but a salient commence to the new campaign is on every manager’s wish-list. Early season blues and despondency ensure the managerial merry-go-round is constantly in full operation as owners hit the panic buttons and opt to bring in fresh personnel at the club’s helm.
Keep a closeful eye over the season as the action unfolds - we will track the progress of Europe's leaders throughout the season.
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