The Title Race in the World’s Top Leagues
It is crunch time in most leagues around the world and as another intriguing season of football draws to a close, Yahoo7 takes a look at what is going on in the top leagues around the globe.
Barclays Premier League, ENGLAND
Yet again, the EPL is displaying why it is the most watched league around the world. The ‘anyone can beat anyone’ characteristic of the league has lead to four teams being in contention of clinching the title.
Current Table
1. Liverpool – Played 32, Points 71
2. Chelsea – Played 32, Points 69
3. Manchester City – Played 30, Points 67
4. Arsenal - Played 32, Points 64
Liverpool are in devastating form. The Reds currently sit in top spot for the first time since Boxing Day and have been producing football of the highest quality. Brendan Rodgers’s tactical genius is a major factor as to why Liverpool may become the champions this season. His willingness to use an array of different formations combined with his attacking outlook has seen Liverpool string together some quite impressive performances this season. On the back of eight-straight league wins, they have the form needed to win the title. Add this momentum to the form of captain Steven Gerrard and the freakish SAS (Suarez and Sturridge) and you have a winning combination. They are still yet to play title rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, but these matches are at Anfield, and Liverpool’s unstoppable form at home will give them and their fans a major boost in confidence. Albeit, a significant amount will rest on Manchester City’s and Chelsea’s trips to Anfield.
Chelsea currently sit in second spot and will be no pushovers. Mourinho continues to play his infamous mind games, declaring Chelsea to be out of the title race, yet his tactical prowess and ability to get the job done will mean that every side takes them seriously. The Blues manager is arguably one of the best managers in Europe and his organisation of his side is exceptional. While title rivals Liverpool are all about free-flowing attack and scoring goals, the Blues are built upon defence and look to do their damage on the break through the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian. Chelsea’s away trip to Anfield may decide the fate of Chelsea and opponents Liverpool. The clash of the leagues ingenious tacticians will produce an intriguing affair, with the rampant Reds looking to continue their formidable home form. Besides their trip to Liverpool, Chelsea will also have the distraction of the Champions League, which may effect their domestic form.
Third-placed Manchester City sit on 67 points, trailing league leaders Liverpool by four. However, City has two games in hand and a win and a draw would be enough to see them sit level with their Merseyside rivals. Pelligrini’s men are undoubtedly the favourites for the title, despite Liverpool’s incredible form and the Manchester side’s world-class squad is difficult to look beyond. When you have such a talented side who also have a experience on their side, it makes a monumental difference in the remaining fixtures. City’s depth has seen them yet again be the real deal, having the likes of Negredo and Dzeko in replacement for the prolific but injury-prone Aguero. City, unlike Chelsea, have no European distractions and have their sites solely set on the Premier League. If they can manage to win their catch-up games, and win at Anfield, there will be little that Chelsea and Liverpool can do to catch them.
Arsenal are still within reaching distance of the title, however, it seems highly unlikely that they will be able to be crowned champions. The Gunners are six points behind the top with seven games remaining. They will need to win every remaining fixture, and rely on Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City to drop points. Once again, the lack of depth in Arsenal’s squad has resulted in another disappointing season. Although they still are in the FA Cup, the club would still have liked to mount more of a push for the title. They led the table for a significant period of time at the beginning of the season, however, injuries to stars such as Walcott and Wilshere, combined with the disappointing form of Ozil, have left the Gunners sitting yet again in fourth spot, with Everton breathing down their necks.
Remaining fixtures
Chelsea – Stoke City (H), Swansea (A), Sunderland (H), Liverpool (A), Norwich (H), Cardiff (A)
Liverpool – West Ham (A), Manchester City (H), Norwich (A), Chelsea (H), Crystal Palace (A), Newcastle (H)
Manchester City – Southampton (H), Liverpool (A), Sunderland (H), West Brom (H), Crystal Palace (A), Everton (A), Aston Villa (H), West Ham (H)
Arsenal – Everton (A), West Ham (H), Hull (A), Newcastle (H), West Brom (H), Norwich (A)
La Liga, SPAIN
Current Table
1. Atlético Madrid Played, 31 Points 76
2. Barcelona Played, 31 Points 75
3. Real Madrid Played, 31 Points 73
Atletico Madrid have emerged as a serious title contenders this season, mounting an unprecedented title challenge to the usual favorites Barcelona and Real Madrid. Atletico's impressive achievements under Argentine coach Diego Simeone have lead to La Liga, for the first time in years, having three teams all in strong competition to win the league. Barcelona and Atletico will clash on the last day of the season and this is the only fixture where any of these teams meet again. With that in mind, each side will know that consistency will be key to winning the title. Each side’s fate is essentially in their own hands, and in order to finish in top spot, they will realistically have to win every one of their remaining fixtures. Atletico’s front man Diego Costa will look to continue his fantastic form this season and produce performances that have seen him be compared to some of Europe’s top strikers such as Aguero and Suarez. While for Real and Barcelona, it will be Ronaldo and Messi who lead their respective sides.
Bundesliga, GERMANY
Bayern Munich have already sealed the league title this season. The unstoppable Bayern won the league with a record seven games to spare. They are currently 25 points clear of second place Borussia Dortmund. This means that Dortmund, Shalke and Bayer Leverkusen will all be battling it out for second spot in the remaining fixtures.
Serie A, ITALY
The Italian top four has just about been sealed. Juventus are currently in control, sitting 11 points clear of nearest challengers Roma, who still have a game in hand. With only seven matches remaining, it will be unlikely that Roma will catch Juve. Following Roma in third spot is Rafa Benitez’s Napoli, who sit on 64 points, and finally in fourth is Fiorentina who sit on 52 points.
Ligue 1, FRANCE
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Paris St-Germain have all but sealed their title defence this season. They are cruising in top spot, thirteen points clear of second placed Monaco. Third-placed Lille are only six points astray of Monaco, and also have St. Ettiene only three points behind and chasing them.