Interesting 2013 European Football Season

The world of football in the coming season is quite complicated already and probably is no longer monopolized by the great Blaugranas as German clubs asserted their dominance in the Champions League Finals. And I’m sure many expect Bayern Munich to defend their treble when the season starts and I have little doubts, as of the moment, that they can’t knowing that Guardiola is on their bench and the team is still intact.

While the status of Barcelona, on the other hand, is quite intriguing and interesting to keep an eye on them. That I have said, because even they had captured Neymar, they also lost several key players like Thiago and David Villa but what’s more devastating is when Tito Vilanova resigned due to health reason. Another thing to watch very closely is the Messi and Neymar tandem if they’re going to play alongside.

Although I am a huge Real Madrid fan but I am not sure of their chances this season even if they have acquired some key players and that remains to be seen. Another equally interesting club to watch is Monaco as they have assembled an armory of talented footballers that surely will compete with the top side of League 1. And across the Atlantic, two teams has intrigue me so well so I will keep a close watch of both Man City and Chelsea as they bolstered their own team as well.

With that, it is indeed interesting to watch the 2013 European football season.

NB: Image from wikipedia.

Becoming a Sports Blog?

You might be wondering that this blog will turn into a sports blog or perhaps a football niche as I have been talking only football (majority of it) in the past two months. But NO, humble opinion by sirrob isn’t heading that way. It is just that March and April are crucial months in European football because it is where the champions are formed. It is the turning point whether you raise the trophy or go home empty handed and wait for another season to try once again.

There’s just so many things that happened in March and April that’s worthy of my attention and that I need to document them. Then comes May the crowning glory before the season ends.

We witnessed in March when the Great Wall collapsed, from Premier League, to La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1. Although I am not following the French League but I was checking them form time to time only because of PSG. Other than that, I am already occupied in the first three leagues. Then the saga roll over the following month but only Real Madrid was able to hold on in the leaderboard while the rest, just crumble to the pressure.

The Los Blancos almost relinquish the La Liga top spot to arch rivals Barca but a gallant stand during the recent El Clasico, gave Mourinho his first win at Nou Camp. And it is like worth winning the La Liga. If Madrid wins tonight they are going to clinch their 32^nd La Liga title. While AC Milan and PSG aren’t able to grab back the top spot and may have to finish the season as runners-up. But the Manchester derby last Monday has given Man City a glimpse of light and snatched the top spot from city rivals ManU but it's not over yet, there are still two more games to play.

NB: Image from wikimedia commons.

La Liga and Premier League Commentaries

Valencia’s continued lackluster run in their last two games made the La Liga fixture became a two way battle between league leader Real Madrid and Barca. The gap from second and third stands at seven points already and Valencia cannot afford another drop in points as Levante and Espanyol are also trying to narrow it.

Athletic Bilbao would try to spoil Real Madrid’s three game winning streaks while Malaga will do to taste what its like to win again by facing Barcelona. Which I would say that is not very unlikely to happen considering Barca’s horrible away from home record. Barcelona won only three games in their last nine away matches with one loss and has drawn the rest of the games. Real Madrid on the other hand, has so far had impressive stats with only two losses (one from Barca) a draw and an exceptional fifteen wins, so it would be a stiff climb for Athletic to win.

In the Premier League, it is again another disappointing day for Newcastle and Liverpool as both lost their respective matches and stalled their chances of catching up in the leader board. While Chelsea was unable to cut down the Spurs lead of six points as they are forced to a goalless draw with the newly promoted Norwich City.

Man City will face third place Tottenham, who are trying to defend their three point lead from Manchester United. While ManU is trying to catch up with city rivals Man City and a win at Arsenal will tie them in points but would still remain second place because Man City thrashed ManU with a humiliating 6-1 loss at Old Trafford last October. And Tottenham will try to cut the lead to at least two points yet they are also facing their own roadblock as Man City has never been defeated at Etihad Stadium this season at a span of 10 games already. And for the record, it was only Arsenal who gave them a hard time playing football and it was already in the second half that Manchester City scored the only goal of the match.


NB: Image from wikimedia commons.

The Other Half of Crucial January Month

It only took 22 minutes of playing time before Man City sealed another game and back at the top of the Premier League. Many would expect such result considering that Wigan Athletic lies at the bottom of the table. Yet they played a descent and tight game last night and made Man City players sweat out real hard with a 1-0 win.

Dzeko’s timely and precise header at 22 minutes of the game found the back of the net that became the only goal of the match. And the gap between the second and third spot starts to open up a little bit and could be stretched farther when they (Tottenham) face Man City at Etihad Stadium. More so that the odds are not at their side as Man City has still to taste defeat, unbeaten in the last 10 games at their own turf this season.

Lazio and Inter’s game on Sunday 22 January is crucial for both teams. As Lazio’s loss last January 7 became a big blow as it closes the gap and Inter is knocking at its door with only a point that separates them now. An Inter win will knock off Lazio in the fourth spot and Inter’s loss will widen Lazio’s gap by at least four points. Udinese and Milan on the other hand, will try to bounce back from its own defeat though they will face a separate foe. Milan will take on bottom dweller Novara and Udinese will face struggling Catania.