Potential changing of the old guard

As January becomes firmly part of history and February dawns upon us, across Europe there are potentially some new dawns emerging. Winter breaks across Europe are coming to an end and the resumption of many leagues mean for some anyway a return to the potential changing of the old guard. By changing of the old guard I mean dominant spells ending, teams going for their first ever titles and new forces being set up.

We'll start in Albania's Kategoria Superiore where champions for the past six years, Skënderbeu Korçë are involved in a three horse race for the crown. Pushed all the way by Partizani Tirana, Skënderbeu Korçë and Partizani have been joined by Kukësi, who lead the table. The league resumed last weekend with Kukësi winning at Vllaznia, Partizani fell to a 2-0 defeat away at Luftetari with Skënderbeu seeing off lowly Flamurtari. It leaves Kukësi four points ahead of both Partizani and Skënderbeu after nineteen games.

In Austria's Bundesliga the table at the winter break was lead by SCR Altach by two points from RB Salzburg. RB Salzburg are the current reigning champions for the past three seasons. SCR Altach have never won the Austrian league title and last season finished just five points above relegation. Should they hold their nerve to win the title it really would be an amazing achievement for a club who were promoted to the Bundesliga as recently as 2014. The league returns from its hibernation in two weeks with Altach away at Admira Wacker, RB Salzburg are home to struggling St. Polten. Sturm Graz and Austria Wien are three and five points behind respectively and still in contention. Sturm Graz host bottom side Mattersburg and Austria Wien host the Wien derby with Rapid.

To the Adriatic city of Rijeka now and a really big story is developing there. The city's HNK Rijeka find themselves top by six points from traditional powerhouse Dinamo Zagreb. Dinamo being champions for the past eleven seasons. Rijeka have never been Croatian champions despite being the closest thing to a challenger in Croatian football in the past few seasons. Austrian Alexander Gorgon has impressed, particularly in September's 5-2 victory over Dinamo and keeping him in form will be key. The league returns in mid-February with Rijeka away at Osijek and Dinamo hosting Slaven Belupo.

The Maltese Premier league has a side gunning for the title that has never won it in their history. Balzan who in 2015 played their first ever European tie currently lead the way. Malta doesn't have a prolonged winter break but it's worth pointing out that just ten different sides have won the title in Malta since the league began in 1909. This coming weekend has Balzan away to Hamrun Spartans, the chasing Hibernians are away to St Andrews and third placed Valletta, five points off the pace, are away to Tarxien Rainbows.

Zaria Balti in Moldova have lifted themselves into title contention. With the league still on a winter break for another few weeks Zaria sit third, four points shy of Milsami Orhei. Powerhouse Sheriff Tiraspol in second have played a game more than the two title challengers. The resumption has Sheriff away to Seperanta while Zaria are away to Milsami in an early title clash.

In the Polish Ekstraklasa not one, not two, but three sides in title contention are aiming for their first league titles. Leaders Jagiellonia are joined by Lechia Gdansk, separated by head-to-head. In third four points off is Legia Warszawa but sitting in fourth six points behind the leaders is LKS Nieciecza, a team based in a village of 750 people, the smallest in any top flight European league. For them to lift the title would be a remarkable story. The league returns from the two month layoff in two weeks with LKS Nieciecza going to Lech Poznan, Legia Warszawa are away to Arka Gdynia and Lechia Gdansk host Jagiellonia in the top of the table battle.

Romania is a mad league at the best of times but this season sees Viitorul Constanta lead the pack. Viitorul have never been national champions and lead the troubled FCSB by two points. In third is Universitea Craiova, five points off. Fourth placed Gaz Metan had a three point deduction which leaves them eight points off the pace and like Viitorul, have never won the Liga title.

Lastly Turkey where Istanbul Basaksehir are looking to become only the sixth different club to win the Süper Lig title. They trail defending champions Besiktas by two points after nineteen games. To help bolster their title hopes this week they added Emanuel Adebayor to their ranks. They are away at nearby Kasimpasa with Besiktas also on their travels, this time facing Karabükspor.

So across Europe there are a selection of teams hunting for their first ever league titles and long standing periods of dominance looking fragile. It's all promising to be a fascinating couple of months ahead in the season across Europe.