What an eventful weekend in Europe.

Hat-tricks for Gareth Bale and Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane's managerial career at Real Madrid is off to a winning start and Atletico Madrid are top of the table at the halfway point of their season.

Over in Italy, Inter Milan lose their grip on top spot to Napoli but Juventus are closing in fast.

Many thanks for your company. 

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It's the Ballon d'Or on Monday where we find out who is the best player in the world. Will it be Lionel Messi? Cristiano Ronaldo? Neymar? All will be revealed this time tomorrow.

But what makes a 'perfect' Ballon d'Or winner?

BBC Sport has been finding out.

Who is standing in the way of Juventus and a 10th successive Serie A win? It's mid-table Udinese, who entertain the Old Lady next Sunday.

Juventus move up to second in Serie A after a remarkable ninth straight league win.

Image source, Reuters

Any hopes of a late Sampdoria comeback vanish as Niklas Moisander is shown red for an ugly challenge on Simone Zaza. 

Scrappy ending as Sami Khedira is booked for a mistimed challenge on Luis Muriel.

Four additional minutes. Sampdoria have found some additional energy from somewhere and Buffon takes the ball off the head of Alejandro Rodriguez as the Sampdoria forward looks set to strike.

Around five minutes of normal time left. Little sign of Sampdoria getting an equaliser. Juventus are using all their experience to play keep-ball as they chase a fifth straight Serie A title.

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Messi? Ronaldo? Neymar? Who will win the Ballon d'Or and why?

Dan Lennie:  Messi is the best on the world but Ronaldo is now the top goal scorer at the most successful club in the world. Think he'll edge it because of this.

There's around 10 minutes of normal time remaining in Italy. Juventus are looking pretty in pink. They are closing in on a ninth straight league win which will take them level on points with second-placed Inter Milan.

Image source, Reuters

It's a job well done for Atletico. Their away game at Barcelona on 30 January is a match not to be missed. It could go a long way to deciding who will be the champions of Spain.

Atletico Madrid go two points clear at the top of La Liga.

Image source, AP

Corner for Celta but it comes to nothing. The hosts, who hammered Barcelona here back in September, have been disappointing and displayed very little cutting edge. This has been far too comfortable for Diego Simeone's side. 

Three minutes of additional time. 

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Granstand finish in Genoa as Sampdoria get a goal back as Antonio Cassano tuck a low finish beyond Gianlugi Buffon to give the mid-table hosts hope.

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Almost a goal for Sampdoria. Eder leaps to meet Antonio Cassano's cross and heads just wide.

That's it. The point are heading back to Spain's capital and Atletico are heading to the top of La Liga. They double the lead through substitute Yannick Carrasco who takes advantage of a poor Celta clearance to drill home. Hunders of Celta fans have had enough and are heading for the exits.

Image source, Reuters