The action was nonstop during the weekend in top five leagues and the Emirates FA Cup continues in England while the other four countries took it to another level as the decisive rounds continue.

In Spain, Real Madrid continues to lose grounds and they fell in Betis while both Barcelona and Atlético Madrid add to their points with impressive wins in their respective games.

The top of the table clash between Inter and Napoli ended in stalemate, while Atalanta failed to take advantage having been forced to a goalless draw at home to Venezia. Milan beaten at home by Lazio.

Bayern Munich continues to roll on in Germany while Leverkusen isn't ready to give up the chase. Leipzig still looking lost and while a lot of other big names, including Dortmund, remain in no man's land.

In France, PSG, Marseille, and Nice won, while Marseille also win and return to the top four at the expense of Lille, thanks to a Mika Biereth's hat-trick against Reims.

Amidst the good and bad fortunes of different teams during the weekend, below is our selected standout performers representing each of the leagues in top five in action, with the Emirates FA Cup taking the place of the Premier League.

Standout performers of the weekend in Top Leagues 

English FA Cup: Nico O'Reilly of Manchester City

Plymouth Argyle defeat Liverpool in the previous round, and took the lead with half-time approaching against Manchester City at fhe Etihad, sensing another massive upset in the competition.

However, the Premier League champions was not to fall victim of the Championship side, and in the form of their young Academy starlet Nico O'Reilly, they were inspired, and turned the tie around to progress into the quarter finals.

O'Reilly, who scored his first professional goal in the round three win over Salford City back in January, scored again to level matters for the host in the first minute of added time in the first half.

The 19-year-old glanced a Kevin de Bruyne delivery from a free-kick with his head, managing to beat the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper to prevent the visitors taking their lead to the interval.

O'Reilly scored from another header to complete the comeback 14 minutes from time, this time from a Phil Foden delivery from a corner, while De Bruyne added a third in the final minute of normal time to seal a 3-1 City win.

It was a remarkable performance from Nico O'Reilly, who started as a left-back in a much altered City back four. He is our nominee as the best player from the Emirates FA Cup games during the weekend, and not many could challenge him.

Spanish LaLiga: Isco of Real Betis 

Isco put on a show for Real Betis as they secured an important win against his former employer Real Madrid, ending a run of nine without a win in the fixture.

The host were handed a mountain to climb after Madrid took a ten minute lead through Brahim Diaz, with Ferland Mendy setting him up with his first assists since October 2022.

Johnny Cardoso then leveled matters four minutes after the half hour, heading home a Isco corner kick to open his account for the season.

Isco then scored a 54th minute penalty to complete the comeback after Jesus Rodriguez was fouled in the area by Antonio Rudiger, and the Spaniard celebrates his 99th career goal, and his fifth of the season.

The 32-year-old also won six duels, made six recoveries and created six chances during the game, making him the most decisive player in the Spanish topflight during the weekend.

Italian Serie A: Riccardo Orsolini of Bologna 

Riccardo Orsolini was the hero as Bologna earned another impressive win during the weekend to keep their UEFA Champions League qualification hopes alive.

The visitors during the weekend was Cagliari, who hasn't been at their best of late and had lost each of their previous four trips to the Renato Dall'Ara Stadium, while failing to score in two of those four.

However, they struck first on enemy's ground on Sunday, just as they did in their other two defeats of their previous four in Bologna. This time, striker Roberto Piccoli scored his seventh league goal of the season in the 22nd minute.

The lead lasted until halftime and two minutes after the restart, the host were presented a chance to level matters from the spot, after substitute Nicolo Cambiaghi won a foul off Mattia Felici in the area.

Riccardo Orsolini stepped up and converts, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it four in four against the Highlanders.

He completed his brace with the match winner four minutes before the hour mark, arriving at the back post to tuck home a Cambiaghi low cross from the left.

In a season affcted by injuries, Orsolini continues to star for Bologna and his seven League goals now see him go level with Santiago Castro for most in the colors of Bologna this season.

The Italian is our pick in the Serie A during the weekend, and Vincenzo Italiano will hope his star player recovers in time for the next games.

German Bundesliga: Nadiem Amiri of Mainz

Mainz traveled to the Red Bull Arena on Saturday afternoon in search of their second topflight win over Leipzig after going unbeaten in their previous two trips, which brought an end to a run of six winless.

They had just what they wanted as they took advantage of their host's inconsistency to inflict a first defeat in six games on Marco Rose's charge thanks to an inspiring performance by German midfielder, Nadiem Amiri.

The former Bayer Leverkusen man stepped up after the host, who had failed to score in their previous two meetings at the Red Bull Arena took a first minute lead through Xavi Simons.

Amiri was needed to steady things in the middle of the park and he very well delivered even before the goals came for Mainz. He won nine duels, four fouls and made eight recoveries while also recording 100 percent tackle success rate.

Seven minutes after the half time break, Amiri restored parity for the visitors with his fifth Bundesliga goal of the season, overtaking his total of four for Bayer Leverkusen in 2022/23 season, setting a new personal best record in the competition.

Less than six minutes later, Amiri turned provider, setting up striker Jonathan Burkardt with his third league assist, for the winning goal pf the encounter, as Mainz made it three wins on the bounce to move into the top four.

Nadiem Amiri, who also created three chances and completed the most passes in the game was withdrawn just before full time, but his contribution was enough to win the game, and he is our nominee as the best player of the weekend in the German topflight.

French Ligue 1: Mika Biereth of AS Monaco 

For the third time in the month of February, Mika Biereth took home the Ligue 1 match ball after another hat-trick, which made him become the only player to score three hat-tricks in their first seven Ligue 1 games.

Monaco needed a win to keep on track their quest to finish in the top four this season and their Danish striker is doing his best to ensure the goal is achieved come the end of the season as his hat-trick led them to another important win on Friday night.

The 22-year-old was the hope as the host look to end a run of three winless in the fixture with Reims, and he got them up and running just four minutes after the half hour with his first of the night.

Five minutes later, Biereth got his second from a Maghnes Akliouche's through ball, sending his shot into the bottom corner to give Monaco a deserved cushion.

The former Sturm Graz striker completed his hat-trick six minutes after the restart, becoming the first Monaco player to score three Ligue 1 hat-tricks in a single since Delio Onnis 49 years ago.

He has now scored 10 times in seven Ligue 1 games, making him the leading goalscorer in top five leagues since his AS Monaco Ligue 1 debut midway through January.

Once again, Mika Biereth is our nominee as the player of the weekend in Ligue 1, and with Lille falling at PSG later on Saturday, Monaco returns into the top four.

Ultimate Player of the weekend

Mika Biereth, the only player to score a hat-trick in top five leagues this weekend is the ultimate player of the weekend.

His impressive outing saw him break multiple records, while he also helps Monaco return to the top four in Ligue 1.