This week's jog through France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain breaks out the spy kit to investigate the clubs quietly making their move.

#5 - Friesian Formula

The last decade was pretty kind to Heerenveen, with a runners up medal in 2000 and eight other finishes between fourth and fifth. But after starting the new decade by finishing out of the top 10 for the first time in 16 years, the Friesians ended up last season a spot lower in 12th.

The swoon may be over as Heerenveen have gradually warmed their way up to seventh place. Unbeaten since August 14th - when a 5-1 loss to FC Twente left them winless from the first three games of the season - the team have topped FC Utrecht and ADO Den Haag by a combined 8-1 count the last two weeks.

Despite the sudden goal deluge, Heerenveen are really making this run from the back out. They've allowed just four goals in their last seven Eredivisie games, with none of them coming before the 44th minute.

Their hot streak could get hotter; their next three matches are against offenses ranked in the bottom half.

#4 - Ches-ing Fireflies

Let's face it... it can't be easy to be Valencia. Think about it. They're an side casualty in the ongoing roster war between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Since last winning La Liga in 2004, Los Ches have ended up no higher than third.

With the big two strengthened over the summer and back in the top two, it's too soon to say whether this season will finish any better - but Valencia look ready early to make another raid on the top of the hill despite scoring just 15 goals in the first 10 matches.

Like Heerenveen, the northerners are doing it with defense first, leaking just nine goals thus far. During their current five-game unbeaten run with three wins, Valencia have conceded just three.

They will need to be sure those hatches are secure becausse they are about to sail into consecutive meetings with surprise package Levante and tabletoppers Real.

#3 - Guess who!

It seems safe to say that champs AC Milan have finally stopped hitting snooze and woken up to the Serie A season. Though far from the only early head-scratcher in Italy, the Rossoneri had folks looking around bemused after winning just once in their first five.

Slowly recovering from an early spate of injuries, Milan have now won four straight with 14 goals after taking a 3-2 win at AS Roma this past weekend. Don't look now, but they are suddenly fourth and two points off the top.

The winning streak has been highlighted by four goals each from unlikely hat trick heroes Kevin Prince Boateng and Antonio Nocerino, plus three from more familiar source Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

#2 - Erm... Montpellier (jazz hands)

I'm sorry. You try making up a clever title with Montpellier. Of course, if they keep assaulting the throne like they have been, French beat writers will surely spend enough time pondering it to come up with something.

As is, the east-side crew will need to be content with three consecutive victories and a chance to pull level at the top with a win at Saint-Etienne this weekend. Though being certainly the last of our five teams here you'd expect to top their league goals, Montpellier actually do.

The largely unheralded forward stable of top scorer Olivier Giroud, Souleymane Camara, Geoffrey Dernis and John Utaka have combined for 17 goals in 12 outings, with four strikes of support from midfielder Younes Belhanda.

#1 - There Is Gold In Them Thar Hills!

Last season was rather strange for Schalke and their fans. Accustomed to finishing top five nearly every spring, the Miners slumped to 14th last term while dazzling with a Champions League semifinal run.

If it was a bit tough to know how to feel about things in 2010/11, that is becoming quite clear this season. After roller coastering with three fine wins and three galling losses over the first six games, Schalke have now ripped off four wins in fives to reach second place.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is leading the way with six goals during the last five and 10 on the season. With Jefferson Farfan and Lewis Holtby also getting it cranked up. first place Bayern Munich will need to mind their four-point cushion.

Next up for the club? A weekend trip to Hannover 96 before the international break.