In The Hunt or Out?
WELCOME BACK SOCCER MANIACS!!! It’s that time of year where the picture is pretty much clear. There are fewer than 10 games to play for most leagues and ALL POINTS ARE CRITICAL. (If you’re still in the race for a title that is) The good teams begin to emerge from the pack....they smell the trophy just a few victories away.... While some your teams have gone crashing out of tournaments like so many falling stars from the sky.... Others have seen their side only try to compete for a spot in next year's tournaments..and still others are fighting relegation....being outkasted from the very league they know and love... The risks taken during the transfer market are starting to pay dividends or make the front office personnel look like idiots. You can see the champions emerging from each league, and tournament spots are being secured for next season. There are some battles left to fight, and some leagues are too close to call a champion. However, one thing is for sure: The season remains exciting until its end. This weekend was marked by international friendlies. Perhaps the most exciting match for me was the 1-1 draw between England and Ghana . Surprised? Not me. Ghana has the foundation and makings for serious challenge for the World Cup in 2014. They boast youth and high energy and in about three years, they will have developed chemistry and a team unity that could finally see an African side bring home world class hardware. Anybody catch the 1-1 draw between the United States and Argentina? American soccer is definitely on the rise. In what was thought to be a sure blow out, the US competed adequately enough to get a draw. I dare say if not for a rocket of a goal off the foot of Ghanian player Gyan in the last world cup, we may have gone pretty far…. (speculative at best) At any rate, this week, we break down whats at stake in each league…..
Gyan for Ghana after scoring to level in a 1-1 draw vs England
La Liga
While this is pretty much a two horse race, Real Madrid has trimmed Barcelona’s lead down to just five points. Three of which they lost in a 5-0 whipping at the Camp Nou. These teams will meet again twice with a possibility of meeting in the Champion’s League if both squads advance far enough. While only nine games remain, Barcelona must be careful to not squander their lead with careless draws or even worse any losses. Madrid desperately want a title, and to get one, they’ll have to go through Barcelona. The Coppa del Rey final will see the winner hoist the Spanish country tittle. In my estimation, its highly unlikely that these teams will meet in the Champion’s League, but make no mistake about it: There is bad blood between these teams, with hardware on the line for both. Barcelona has consistently dominated this league for the last few years and the way that they have been demolishing teams makes them VERY difficult to compete with....
Bundes Liga
With five games remaining in the German league, league leaders Borussia Dortmund have a comfortable seven point lead over next closest contender Bayer Leverkusen. Although they play third place Hannover 96 this weekend, the same team that beat them 2-1 back in November, I doubt that any team in the league will be able to pull any closer than second place. It would take a complete meltdown from this team, which has proven to be the class of Germany this season, to squander the Bundes Liga Title. But keep a sharp eye: seven points is a nice cushy lead, but if Dortmund by chance drop two games in a row, and Leverkusen win two, the seven point lead is cut to one and we have a race on our hands…. But I wouldn’t bet on it.
Ligue 1
In a the tight race for the Ligue 1 Championship, Lille currently sit atop the table at 55 points with a modest four point lead. Followed by defending champion Marseille with 51 points, Stad Rennais with 50 points, Lyon with 49 points, and PSG with 45 points, this is one league to watch for an exciting finish. Within the range of two games, there are five teams with legitimate claims on the French Title. The league has ten matches remaining, and Lille have to face the likes of PSG, Bordeaux, and Stad Rennais FC on the last match day. This match could prove to be the league champion determinant. That said, Marseille also who are breathing down the necks of the Lille have a pretty easy schedule down the stretch, facing only three teams above .500 in the next ten. But among the teams that they face is close 4th place Lyon on May 7th, who are two points behind Marseille, and only six points off the league leader. This is a game that could eliminate either team from contention, and this one absolutely must have a winner. A draw would only give one point and doesn’t really help either side. Lastly there is PSG, a team ten points off the lead. A long shot at best, PSG will have a shot at the league leader but they have a long road ahead. Perhaps with the most difficult remaining schedule, PSG will need victories over Lyon, Lille, always tough Bordeaux, and Saint-Etienne, all clubs with winning records. Nothing worth having comes easy, just ask any of these teams. France is still up for grabs but to the victors go the spoils….
Lille FC
Serie A
Italy this season is now ruled by two rivals that absolutely hate one another. Atop the table is AC Milan, followed closely by nemesis Inter Milan who are two points back from the lead. Close behind is Napoli who are three points back, followed by red hot Udinese who are six points from the leaders and lastly (for my portion of possible contenders) Lazio who trail by 8 points. AC Milan and Inter Milan clash this weekend, in a match that could very well determine the Scudetto winner. A draw between these two teams is music to the ears of Napoli who can pull within a point of AC Milan with a victory this weekend. This is the closest race of all the major European countries. I want to point out the remainder of the tougher matches for each team and then leave you to your thoughts about the Serie A. AC Milan face a tough challenge this weekend in Inter, then next weekend with Fiorentina. The remaining rough patches will be against the likes of Roma, and then the season finale with red hot Udinese (in one view, this could determine the league tittle.) Inter Milan face a remaining tough schedule. Can they complete the treble the won last year?
Inter Milan fans greet the team at the Champion's League Final vs Bayern Munich 2010
Starting this weekend with AC Milan, they will have to face Lazio, Napoli and Fiorentina. Napoli perhaps have the most difficult schedule ahead, having to face the likes of Inter, Udinese, rival Palermo, Lazio and Juventus. It will not be an easy road ahead for this squad. As for Udinese, well….what can I say that they are not saying? They are perhaps the hottest team in Europe, with no losses since before the Christmas break. In their last 13 matches, they have 3 draws and 10 wins. If they maintain that type of pace throughout the end of the season, they will most likely see hardware in the form of the Scudetto by the end of the season… While Lazio, a long shot, back 8 points will face Napoli, Inter, Juventus, and Udinese. If they can prevail and have some teams take some important losses, they do have a shot at the Italian title. While nothing is written in stone here in Serie A, there are teams showing great resilience and hunger for hardware. Time will tell all…..
English Premier League
With the perennial three teams atop the English table, not much has changed. Perhaps the order of the top three has changed, but not much more. Manchester United have 63 points and maintain a comfortable 5 point lead over Arsenal with 58 points, and a 9 point lead over rival Chelsea who have 54 points. While clashes with Arsenal and Chelsea remain for the Red Devils, this will ultimately be their last challenges…. Arsenal failed to close the gap after Manchester United lost two matches in a row. Squandered opportunities have cost the gunners who at one point had closed the gap to 2 points. Arsenal have matches with Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham remaining while Chelsea have Man U, Everton, and Tottenham. But with the crazy unpredictability of the EPL, one can never be quite certain how things will turn out…. Manchester United are still chasing three acceptable forms of hardware, including the FA Cup, the Champion’s League, and the Premiership Title.
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