Champions League Quarter Finals draw

With the Champions League 2nd round over last Wednesday, we had some regulars - The 2 Madrid Clubs, Juventus & Bayern & a surprisingly Barcelona ( Barcelona was surprising only  to the 1st Leg Result), some not so  surprising  - Dortmund & Monaco & some surprises - Leicester City.

So the Quarter Final Draws on Friday were interesting. The Permutations were Massive.

Would it be a Madrid Derby? Or Can we have 3 El Classicos in this season? Or will it be an all German Q/F?

In the end the draws did give us some Mouth Watering ties.


Atletico seems to have the easiest draw as they face the English Champions Leicester City.
Dortmund face the Young Guns of Monaco.
Juventus face Barcelona in the replay of 2015 Final.

But the pick of the tie has to be Bayern Munich face Real Madrid.

What a mouth watering tie as Ancelotti will face his former club with whom he won the title in 2014 who was sacked in 2015.

It is Master v Pupil as Ancelotti will face his former assistant Zindane.

April could not be more better.

Greatest Champions League Comeback ever

What a Game, What a Game.

FC Barcelona can now be called The Greatest Club Team in the World.

When the 1st Tie Score was 4-0 in Paris against PSG, even a die hard Barcelona Supporter like me thought we are out of the tie.

But the 2nd leg 6-1 win was unbelievable.

To be fair in the 1st half PSG defended too deep & at times Cavani was a lonely figure having a lack of partners. But they did come back strongly in the 2nd half especially after introduction of Di Maria.

When Cavani scored the away goal to make the score 3-1 on the night & 3-5 aggregate for PSG, the game was all but over.

But after 88 minutes what happened was nothing less than a miracle, it was staggering, incredible. in 2 minutes plus injury time Barcelona scored 3 goals.

What makes this win more special is that MNS were not great in the game. It is generally believed that if Messi, Neymar & Suarez don't play well Barcelona loose.

Messi was not at his best, Neymar was good but not great & Suarez was a frustrated figure at times. But all the other players chipped in & they won the game.

So why did Barcelona win? Sheer Determination & Belief in one's own abilities is the reply.

All and all it was the best Two - Legged victory pulled up by Barcelona, as no team has ever come back from a 4-0 1st leg defeat.

Suddenly Barcelona has become the Favourite to win this years Champions League.

El Clasico

Two of the Biggest & Richest clubs in the World.

54 League Titles between them.

16 Champions League Titles Shared between them.

2 of the best players in the World.

One of the most viewed Club Games in the World

2 of the biggest cities of Spain.

The rivalry between Spanish Nationalism & Catalan Nationalism.



264 games played
58 Draws
97 Won By Real Madrid
109 Won by Barcelona

Barcelona v Real Madrid

Welcome to the


El Clasico

The Biggest Game in the EPL

Monday Night Football this week has the Biggest Club Game in the English Premier League.

Its Liverpool V Manchester United.

Some people have been asking me "What is all this fuss about? Liverpool has not won The Premier League at all. And they have not been Champions for 26  years now."

The Answer to this lies in many reasons.

The First and the foremost reason is the proximity.

The cities of Liverpool and Manchester are located in the north west of England, 35 miles (56 km) apart. Since the industrial revolution there has been a consistent theme of rivalry between the two cities based around economic and industrial competition. Manchester through to the 18th century was the far more populous city, and held a position of significance and notability as representative of the north. By the late 18th century, Liverpool had grown as a major sea port – critical to the growth and success of the northern cotton mills. Over the next century, Liverpool grew to supersede Manchester and throughout the late 19th and early 20th century was often described as the British Empire's second city.

In Footballing terms, The two clubs are the most successful English teams in both domestic and European competitions; and between them they have won 38 league titles, 8 European Cups, 3 UEFA Cups, 4 UEFA Super Cups, 19 FA Cups, 12 League Cups, 1FIFA Club World Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup and 36 FA Community Shields.

Liverpool was the dominant club in 70’s & 80’s winning 11 League titles & 4 European Cups between 1970 to 1990, while Manchester United drew blanks in that period. Still much to the discord of the Liverpool fans United was considered “The Glam Team” & Liverpool was considered  “A Workman like Team.”

All that changed in the Premier League Era under Sir Alex Fergusson when United won a record 13 Premier League Titles & 2 Champions League Trophies. While Liverpool have not been champions of England now for 26  years.

Indeed when United Over took Liverpool to the English Champions for the record 19 th time in 2011, entire Manchester celebrated.

United now claims to be the most successful English Club with 20 league titles to Liverpool’s 18. Liverpool though claims to be more successful as they have won 5 European Cups to United’s 3.

Indeed so intense is the rivalry between the 2 clubs that in 2014 when Liverpool were edged out by Manchester City to be the Champions even the United Fans celebrated.

In the Fergusson Era United Fans often used to ridicule Liverpool due to their lack of trophies, now United fans fear they will go through the same period.

And from this season there is an added dimension to the rivalry as the managers Klopp & Mourinho have had famous battles in Champions League managing Borussia Dortmond & Real Madrid.

Indeed this rivalry is in for some exciting times.

The Manchester Derby

Football  like in any other sport thrives on rivalries. Rivalries ignite the passions out the players, the coaching staff and of course most of all among the fans.

But nothing ignites more passion among the players, coaching staff and the fans as a Derby does. Simply because in a Derby game, the rival fan is not someone of the other town. He could be someone you know, he could be your neighbour, your friend, even your family member.

Many Derby games ignite passion as one team is  David and other team the Goliath(The Turin Derby). Or simply because, one team was formed by the break way fans (The Milan Derby) or because one of them is super rich club (The Madrid Derby).

In 1990's & early 2000,s till the Calciopoli Scandal, the biggest Derby used to be the Milan Derby, between AC Milan & Internazionale Milan.

After the take over of Manchester City by Sheikh Mansur for a brief period, till Sir Alex Ferguson retired the Manchester Derby was the biggest Derby game, till the two Madrid Clubs played in two of the last three Champions League Finals.

But now Manchester Derby is THE DERBY GAME in the FOOTBALL WORLD.

Why?

 Is it due to the fact that Manchester United who dominated English football for almost 2 decades, is over taken by City in the last few seasons? Or is it due to the fact that United are still considered one of the biggest clubs in the world while City are not. Or is it due to the fact that these two clubs have been the biggest spenders in last few seasons?

 Sir Alex Ferguson once famously called City the "Noisy Neighbours". But the Blue half of Manchester have had the last laugh over the Red Devils for last 3 seasons.

But this season has added spice in the Manchester Derby.

Two of the biggest managers currently are in charge of the Manchester Clubs.

Between the two they have won League titles in 5 countries & have won 4 champions league.

Add to it their Past in Spain where they crossed swords as managers for the two biggest clubs in the world Real Madrid & Barcelona.

With Jose Mourinho & Pep Guardiola in charge of United & City, suddenly the rivalry of the two clubs has been taken to a different level.

For a simple reason that though both are successful, both are as different as Chalk & Cheese.

While Mourinho has had his success based on defense, Pep believes in attack, Jose always looks for individual players, Guardiola is all about team work.

It is a Clash of Footballing Philosophy.

For Mourinho winning is important, does matter how ugly it is, for Pep "How you win" is the only thing that matters.

Jose will park the bus & win all the games 1-0 if he thinks it will get him the League, for Pep winning in the free flowing style is important.

Pragmatism V Free Flowing Attack  - that is what is expected in the now Biggest Derby game..........


The Manchester Derby

The Champions League is Back

The Champions League is Back

There are some interesting tie ups, especially in Group C where Pep Guardiola's Manchester City meets his former team FC Barcelona.

Group A

It should be a fight between PSG & Arsenal for the Top 2 Spots.


Group B

This is a Group of Death for me. Benifica & Napoli are favorites for me but count out Dyanamo Kyiv & Besiktas at your own Peril

Group C

Interesting  tie between Barcelona & Man City. Pep's earlier return to Barcelona with Bayern Munich was not a success. It will be the same again as Barcelona is expected to top the group followed by Man City

Group D

Expect Bayern Munich to top the group followed by Atletico, though Deigo Simeone's men can pull an upset like they did in last season's semi finals

Group E

Thanks to change in UEFA's seeding policy where in they seed the League winner as Top 8 seeds we find CSKA Moskva as Top seeds in this group, another tight group were all 4 teams can go thru as the balance teams are Leverkesun, Tottenham  & Monaco

Group F

Defending Champions Real Madrid expected to top the group. A fight for second position between Dortmund & Sporting Lisbon.

Group G

If a year ago someone had predicted that Leicester City will be top seeded in UCL group as English Champions people would have told him to check a psychiatrist. But they are the Top seeds.

Expect Porto to qualify for the next round. For the second place a fight between The Foxes & the Belgian team Club Brugge.

And finally Group H

Expect the Italian Champions Juventus & Europa Cup winners Sevilla to go thru.

Contenders in the Top Leagues

With the Major Leagues of Europe starting this month lets have a look at the Potential Contenders in France, Italy, Germany, Spain & England - The Top 5 Leagues of Europe.

French Ligue 1


It should be a One Horse Race.

Paris Saint-Germain

It is for PSG's to loose, But to whom is the question. With no proper challenger, even the loss of talisman Zaltan Ibrahimovic should not affect the Parisan's title defence.

And in the new Manager Unai Emery, they have an experienced campaigner who has taken Sevilla to 3 consecutive Europa Cup titles.


Italian Serie A

Juventus is the favourite to defend their title once again with Napoli a weak challenger.

Juventus

The Old Lady from Turin is expected to defend their title successfully & win the Serie A for the sixth consecutive time.

The World record transfer of Paul Pogba to Manchester United will not have a negative effect on the Turin club's title defense. In fact they have already invested part of the money astutely in the form of the Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain whom they bought from direct title rivals Napoli.

Add to it Juve has the meanest back 5 in Italy in the form of Goal Keeper Buffon & defender Chiellini, Barzagli, Bonucci & Lichtsteiner.

Napoli

The closest challengers to Juve should be Napoli as they were in last few seasons, but the sale of Higuain to Juve will certainly dampen their title challange.

 
German Bundesliga

As usual it will be a two horse race between Bayern Munich  & Borussia Dortmund


Bayern Munich

With the deadliest Number 9 in Europe in form the Pole Robert Lewandowski & the signing of defender Mats Hummels from rivals Dortmund the Munich team is the favourite to  win the league title for the 5th time.

And in Carlo Ancelotti they have an experienced campaigner who has won titles in Italy, England & France. Though the main target of the German Giants will be the Champions League.

Borussia Dortmund

The transfer of Hummels to Bayern has weakened the Ruhr clubs title challenge. But Die Borussen has proved in the past that such sales do not affect them much as they play with a high pressing tactics & the return of Mario Gotze will certainly help them to mount a challange.

Spainish La Liga

It will be a 3 horse race between the Catalan Giants & the 2 Madrid Clubs

Barcelona

With the most potent attacking Trio in the world in the form of MNS attack has never been Barcelona's problem. The trouble for the Catalans has been the defence which they are yet to strengthen.

Also the predictability of the passing game is an issue which manager Luiz Enrique will have to address, which was very evident in the later half the domestic season & the Champions League Quarter Finals where they got knocked out by Atletico Madrid & the demise of Spain the Round of 16 in the Euros.

Real Madrid

The Domestic title will certainly be the top priority for the Galacticos which they last won Four seasons ago in 2012.

The return of Morata from Juventus will certainly boost Zinadine Zidane's challange in his First full season as the manager of Los Blancos

Atletico Madrid

In the last few seasons the other Madrid Club has made La Liga a 3 horse race.

Diego Simeone's team has managed to challenge for the title & indeed win it 2 seasons ago in spite of them being a selling club.

But this time around they have held on to their priced asset Antoine Griezmann & with Torres having a new lease of life count Atletico out at your own peril

English Premier League


EPL is the toughest & most challenging League in the World, One look at the defending champions will prove it.

Leicester City, yes Leicester City.

The top contenders are

Manchester City

City are the favourites to win the title along with neighbours United, if not for anything than for the manager Pep Guardiola.

Also the addition of Leroy Sane, Nolito & Gundogan will certainly help the title challange.

Manchester United

Like neighbours City the manager of United will certainly make them title favourites as Jose Mourinho is back in the EPL.

After a disappointing 3 season after the stepping down of Sir ALex Ferguson, the United fans can hope & dream for the title this season with the "Special One" at helm.

By signing of Paul Pogba in a World Record transfer fees, United have made their intentions clear.

While the 2 Manchester Clubs are the favourites to win the title Chelsea & Liverpool have to be counted in as they do not have any European Competitions to think off.

Defending Champions Leicester City will certainly not defend their titles - Miracles happen once in a life time though they can finish in the top half.

Arsenal will find it difficult to finish in Top 4 thanks to Wenger's stubbornness in signing  a Striker, while Spurs may find it hard to be consistent.