By Tim Stannard (@stannardsports)

1) Coach Zizou opens uncomfortable truth over nature of football

In news that must have come as a bit of a shock to poor Florentino Perez, who is still getting to grasps with the concepts of football, Zinedine Zidane has revealed that The Beautiful Game is all about balance: defending well and not just scoring bags of goals. It’s a revelation that would have had coffee dribbling down the nose of the Galactico-loving Madrid president when he heard it.

The omniscient Real Madrid manager was speaking on Monday ahead of a rather big game at the Santiago Bernabeu against Wolfsburg a day later, which sees Madrid chasing down a 2-0 deficit to their Bundesliga visitors. Zizou’s wise words are especially…er…wise seeing that if Wolfsburg score just the single effort in Madrid’s home, it could be curtains for the Champions League in the quarter-final stages, leaving the Madridista massive hoping for Barcelona to slip on a footballing banana skin week-after-week in La Liga.

The Locker Room will be chin-stroking over Madrid’s chances of a season-saving win from 10.30PM ET.

2) Ronaldo gees up fans as German legend regrets six-pack action from Madrid forward

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo is not giving just one thumbs up but a near unprecedented two in an image released by Real Madrid, as the Portuguese poacher tries to get the Bernabeu fans warmed up for the clash. Actually, it looks like a waxwork was wheeled in for the purposes of the photo.

The Madrid icon was also the target of a remorseful comment from former Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn, who told German TV that “lately, I've been seeing more of Cristiano Ronaldo's six-pack than my own wife's breasts.”

3) Neymar’s contract reveals bigger clauses than fat Santa convention

On reading that the details of Neymar’s contract being released by ‘Football Leaks’ – the game’s answer to Edward Snowden – it is hard not to wonder which version of the contract of the 19 that appear to be in existence has been published.

For the purposes of the story, the one true contract has been unearthed and it reveals deal littered with huge payout clauses covering everything from remaining on the squad, to winning the Ballon d’Or. The deal even includes up to a million dollars every time Neymar wins La Liga. The Brazilian might have benefited from having that part of his contract being waved in front of his face ahead of the past two league games for Barcelona, such was the lethargy of Neymar’s performances.

4) Roma chase Champions League dreams as Brighton want piece of Premier League action

A whirlwind of a football weekend still has a few puffs to expel. Especially in Serie A where Roma will look to continue to put pressure on Napoli, who are currently seven points ahead in second-place but with a match in hand. The game against Bologna will be a further chance to shine for Stephan El Shaarawy, one of the comeback kids of the season, after scoring six goals in nine appearances since moving from a very flat spell at Monaco. Tune in to beIN SPORTS from 2.40PM ET for Roma against Bologna.

The Championship is also offering up a whopper from 2.45PM ET as third-placed Brighton look to stay within touching distance of the top two with a win on the road against a rapidly unravelling Nottingham Forest. The East Midlands club should be boosted by the return of American defender, Eric Lichaj, to the back four. "I think the fans just want a result,” said the fullback who is returning from suspension.

Our Spanish language channel is offering up an eclectic clash between Deportivo and Las Palmas, two teams looking for three more points to ensure they are safe to face yet another season of ensuring their security in La Primera next season. Coverage starts at 2.25PM ET. However, you can catch all the highlights of all these matches on the half-an-hour, super-packed XTRA at 10PM ET.

5) English football authorities investigate Leicester City’s miracle

Here’s a philosophical question for Monday morning. Are Leicester City’s current achievements, that leaves the team three victories from the EPL title, lessened any if the club cheated in order to get into the Premier League in the first place? The Football League is reportedly investigating a deal that potentially breaks Football Fair Play rules from the club’s promotion season from the Championship in 2013-14.

There could be more American money in the Premier League with two US investors looking at taking a “controlling interest” in Welsh outfit, Swansea City.