A fresh Season - soccer analysis for 2012-2013

A new season is here and teams are raring to go!

After an action packed summer, Euro 2012 and big transfer coups, lets look at what we can expect from the top* teams across Europe.

Premier:League:

Manchester United - 

Major Action - The RVP coup and the capture of Shinji Kagawa

Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney in a training session

Image courtesy: manutd.com

What to expect - RVP and Wazza at their peak are sure to be most lethal strike force in the world. Europe awaits an explosion this season!!!

Chelsea -

Major Action - Capture of Hazard, Marin and Oscar

Eden Hazard unveiled by Chelsea

Image courtesy: chelseafc.com

What to expect - A busy summer for the Blues promises a bright future for the team, albeit if Di Matteo can find the right mix of first team regulars.

Arsenal -

Major Action - Loss of RVP and the signing of Podolski, Giroud and Cazorla. Song may go too!

Arsenal trio-signings (clockwise from top) - Giroud, Podolski and Cazorla
Image courtesy:  Arsenal.com

What to expect - the loss of RVP will leave a big hole and only time will tell if the new recruits can make good for it! Not much can be expected though and Tottenham and Liverpool will look to take this chance to break into the top four.

Manchester City -

Major Action - None

Carlos Tevez
Image courtesy: mcfc.com

What to expect - City have had a quite summer after only signing Rodwell so far. Oh yes, Tevez is as good as a new signing too!

La Liga:

Real Madrid -

Major Action - Expected to sign Modric

Luka Modric
Image courtesy: Tottenhamhotspur.com

What to expect - The Spanish players in Real will hope to emulate their form for the national team. Murinho has a fantastic squad in place already and the signing of Modric will only make the team stronger. Serious contenders for the Champions League crown.

Barcelona -

Major Action - Departure of Pep Guardiola and capture of Jordi Alba. Song expected to sign too.

Jordi Alba

Image courtesy: fcbarcelona.com

What to expect - The departure of the talismanic coach may be a little too much for the team. Also the ageing (and replacement) of veterans Puyol and Xavi is another concern. The defense needs to be strengthened further. real may again be a big thorn.

Valencia -

Major Action - Loss of Jordi Alba and signing of Fernando Gago

Gago

Image courtesy:  Fernandogago.org

What to expect - The explosive full back was a crucial part of the team and will be difficult to replace. Otherwise a decent team. Should make it to the top four again.

Malga -

Major Action - Loss of Cazorla

What to expect - The financial problems of the team has created problems. Not much can be expected.

Bundesliga:

Borussia Dortmund -

Major Action - Loss of Shinji Kagawa and capture of Marco Reus

Maro Reus

Image courtesy:  bvb.de

What to expect - The team are a force in Germany but yet need to find their feet in Europe. Reus is a promising signing and should help Dortmund in their week area - Goal scoring in Europe. Should give Bayern a run for their money again.

Bayern Munich -

Major Action - Signing of Mandzukic. Expected signing of Martinez.

Javi Martinez

Image courtesy:  wikimedia.org

What to expect - Bayern need to find their feet again after enduring a trophyless season. With a very potent attack, Martinez should be a very good addition for the leaky Bayer defense, which was one of the primary causes of the trophyless season.

Borussia Mönchengladbach -

Major Action - Loss of Reus and signing of Luuk de Jong.

Javi Martinez
Image courtesy:  Mönchengladbach.com

What to expect - Consistency and perseverance help Gladbach last season. The loss of Reus though should be a bad blow.

Schalke 04 -

Major Action - Loss of Raul

What to expect - With the like of Huntelaar and youngsters like Holtby, Schalke have a decent team and should stand a respectable chance to secure a top four finish again.

Seria A:

Juventus -

Major Action - Capture of Lucio and Pogba

Paul Pogba
Image courtesy: Juventus.com

What to expect - Juventus were a force in Italy last season. With the weakening of AC Milan, they will hope to defend the League title. A sccessful Euro 2012 campaign will only boost the morale their of key players like Pirlo and Marchisio.

AC Milan -

Major Action - Loss of Thiago Silva and Ibrahimovic

What to expect - The loss of the duo leaves not a hole but a crater in the team. Looks like the team will endure a difficult season.

Udinese -

Major Action - None

What to expect - Many hoped in Italy for Lazio to qualify for the Champions league due to their stupendous performances in Europe. Udinese should face similar heat Lazio this season too.

League 1:

PSG -

Major Action - Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Lucas Moura and Marco Verrati

Thiago Silva and Ibrahimovic
Image courtesy: PSG

What to expect - Les Parisians have spent Big in the summer. Genuine contenders for the League title. Should expect to go some distance in the Champions League too.

Montpellier -

Major Action - Loss of star striker Giroud to Arsenal

What to expect - The League 1 Champions will look to emulate their impressive form of last season, but with the financial might of PSG, it would be difficult to defend the crown.

Lille -

Major Action - Loss of Eden Hazard and return of Joe Cole to Liverpool. Signed Kalou.

What to expect - Their wizard, French Player of the year and creator in chief has departed and that leaves a hole in the Lille that would be difficult to fill in. Lille still remain a club to be beaten and should finish in the top three.

Seems like there is lots of action in store, especially on the European stage in the Champions League.

Enjoy the new season!!!



*Top clubs here refers to only Champions League qualifying clubs, for simplicity sake.

Pepe Guardiola quits Barcelona

A tumultuous week for Barcelona it seems.
First a loss to Real Madrid, then ouster from the Champions League at the hands of a struggling Chelsea and now the Manager/Coach departing. All certainly are major blows for the Catalans.

Photo courtesy: http://www.fcbarcelona.com/

A couple of questions that immediately pop in everyone's mind:

1. Who replaces him?

2. Where will he go from here?

The immediate answer to the first one is Tito Vilanova.
But can the assistant coach fill in the void left in by the head coach?
That only time can tell. (Di Matteo is only one example to prove that.)
Athletic Bilbao main man Bielsa was touted as a replacement for Pep for his tactical and attacking approach to the game, but for now, we will have to wait and see if Mr. Rosell needs to approach Bielsa any time soon!

To answer the second question is rather difficult. The coach himself says that he will walk away from football for sometime and perhaps return later. But his immense success at Barcelona means plenty of clubs await with open arms in each top country.

In Italy both the Milanese clubs have been struggling for quite some time now to find the perfect coach. It had been rumored earlier too that Inter were in private talks with Guardiola to hand him the hot seat and that Guardiola too had expressed interest in taking over the helm.

In England, Chelsea are performing surprisingly well under interim coach Di Matteo, but Abramovich will be on the alert to land in someone of the status and caliber of Joseph Gurdiola.
Besides Chelsea, even Manchester United will be keen to track the developments as Sir Alex Ferguson's age has been a worry for many a pundits.

In France, the newly rich PSG have installed Ancelotti, but if they fail to lift the League 1 title this season than Ancelotti's days will surely be numbered and the club owners would definitely try to turn all the stones in the way upside down to get Pep.

That said,
Another big question that cannot be answered is obviously the fate of Barcelona without Guardiola.
From the exterior it seems that he has left a good enough squad that can still compete for major trophies, but a little deeper analysis will show how the mix of an ageing squad (Xavi, Puyol, Villa, Iniesta, etc) and the lack of enough firepower besides Messi can pull down Barcelona from the heights it has scaled in recent years.

Pep had a chance to achieve at Barcelona what Sir Alex Ferguson did at United. Build and rebuild great squads. It surely couldn't have been better than Barcelona with its enviable and probably the best youth set up in Europe!
He must surely have better ideas for himself!

For now we can only say Good Luck to him and the Clubs, Barca for one and the all the ones awaiting to grasp the opportunity for the rest.

Midweek Action - Apr 3rd - 5th, 2012

The Champions League and the Europa League both enter the Quarter Finals second leg stage!!

Champions League:

Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are all in the driving seat for the second leg of the quarter finals after winning their respective first legs.


Photo courtesy: uefa.com

Fixture: 06.45pm GMT,
Tuesday, 3rd April and Wednesday, 4th April , 2012


Results of the 1st leg:

	APOEL	0 - 3	Real Madrid		27 Mar
	Benfica	0 - 1	Chelsea		27 Mar
	Marseille	0 - 2	Bayern		28 Mar
	Milan	0 - 0	Barcelona		28 Mar

Europa League:

AZ, Athletic Bilbao, Sporting and Atletico Madrid walk into the second leg with advantage after winning their respective first leg ties.

Photo courtesy: uefa.com

Fixture: 06:50 pm GMT
Thursday, 5th April, 2012


Results of the 1st leg:

	Atlético	2 - 1	Hannover		29 Mar
	AZ	2 - 1	Valencia		29 Mar
	Schalke	2 - 4	Athletic		29 Mar
	Sporting	2 - 1	Metalist		29 Mar

A super midweek ahead!

Midweek Action - Mar 27 - 29, 2012

The Champions League and the Europa League both enter the Quarter Finals stage!!!!

Champions League:

The top eight teams in Europe so far this year will begin their journey to claim the unltimate crown - The Champions League!


Photo courtesy: uefa.com

Fixture: 19.45pm GMT,
Tuesday, 27th March and Wednesday, 28th March, 2012

Europa League:

Though the Europa League may often be called a second tier competition, the remaining teams in this competition can by no means be called second tier. Knocking out heavyweights like Manchester City and past European Champions Manchester United cannot be called a small task after all!

Photo courtesy: uefa.com

Fixture: 10.05 pm GMT
Thursday, 29th March, 2012



A super midweek ahead!

Review - March 10 - 12, 2012

England:
An on fire Rooney scored a brace vs West Brom and helped United leapfrog to the top of the Premier League by taking utmost advantage of City's slip up to Swansea during the weekend.

Photo courtesy: Manutd.com
While in the other big game of the weekend, Arsenal vs Newcastle, The Verminator secured a vital win for the gunners scoring a winner late in the injury time.

Spain:
Barcelona continue chasing Real, with neither Guardiola nor the players yet giving up hope. The gap at the summit remains ten points!

Italy:
Juventus continue to struggle to claim the top spot in Serie A and their draw with Genoa this weekend leaves them four points adrift of Milan at the top!

Germany:
Bayern Munich turn on the style before their vital encounter vs Basel in the midweek Champions League second leg fixture by thrashing 7 past a listless Hoffenheim.

Mouth watering action in the Midweek in the Champions League and the Europa League as most top teams face uphill tasks!

Top billings - Feb 25 - 26, 2012

After a super Midweek filled with exciting Champions League and Europa League action, the domestic leagues will now be back in action.

Top billing of the week - AC Milan vs Juventus

The battle between the Serie A heavyweights will be intense as the two teams continue to battle for the top spot. Pirlo, the ex Milan man, will undoubtedly draw a lot of attention from the Milan faithfuls as he returns to San Siro!
Fixture: 7.45pm GMT, Saturday
Other good Fixture: Napoli vs Internazionale


Top Billing in La Liga - Atletico Madrid - Barcelona!
Barcelona are off pace this season and this game will be no easy encounter.
Fixture: 8.30pm GMT, Sunday
Other good Fixtures: Valencia vs Sevilla

Top Billing in Premier League - Arsenal vs Tottenham
After tumbling out of the FA cup and a being thrashed 4 - 0 in the Champions League tie at San Siro, Arsenal will look to put their troubles behind them and try to narrow the wide gap in the League between them and the third placed Spurs.
Fixture: 1.30pm GMT, Saturday
Note: The game between Liverpool and Everton has been postponed as the Reds take on Cardiff City in the Carling Cup Final on Sunday, 26th February, 2012 at Wembley.


Top Billing in Bundesliga - Bayern Munich vs Schalke
With just a point difference between the Bavarians and Schalke, this game will be a game changer for both the teams.
Fixture: 2.30pm GMT, Sunday
Other good Fixtures: Dortmund vs Hannover

Top Billing in League 1 - Lyon vs PSG
The last time the two teams met this season in their League 1 encounter, the game ended in a 1 -1 draw.
Fixture: 8pm GMT, Saturday
Other good Fixtures: Montpellier vs Bordeaux!

A super weekend with Big ties in Italy, England, France and Germany!

Top billings - Feb 14 - 16, 2012

Midweek Action

The Champions League Round of 16:
First leg - 14/15 February
Second leg - 21/22 February

The Europa League Knockout Round:
First leg - 14/16 February
Second leg - 22/23 February

Champions League Top billing - AC Milan vs Arsenal

Billed as he Tie of the round, it is touted to be a classy contest!
Fixture: 20.45pm GMT, Wednesday
Other good Fixture: Napoli vs Chelsea

Europa League Top Billing - Ajax - Manchester United
This will be the first time the Man Utd will play in the Europa League and Sir Alex Ferguson has made it pretty clear that he would field a strong team as the Red Devils set their sights on adding another trophy to their shimmering cabinet.
Fixture: 18pm GMT, Thursday
Other good Fixtures: Porto vs Man City

Should be a cracker of a midweek!

Review - Feb 11 - 13, 2012

England:
The top billing of the weekend began in a dramatic fashion as Suarez refused to shake Patrice Evra's hand. The game ended in a 2 - 1 victory for the Red devils with Rooney (brace) and Suarez etching their names on the score sheet.

Photo courtesy: Manutd.com
Elsewhere, Tottenham smashed 5 past a lackluster Newcastle (final score 5 - 0) and Chelsea suffered a 2 - 0 defeat to Everton.

Spain:
Barcelona suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Osasuna, a team that was humiliated 8 - 0 in the previous meeting of the teams in La Liga this season!
The Madridistas took full advantage to widen the gap at the top to 10 points with a 4 - 2 victory over fourth placed Levante, the team that defeated Madrid in their previous La Liga encounter.

Ronaldo moved clear in the Golden Shoe race after bagging a hat-trick and a stunning third goal that was also the 4000th Liga goal at Santiago Bernabeu

Italy:
AC Milan sealed a crucial victory vs Udinese to go atop the Searie A while Juventus have two games in hand, whereas Inter were stunned with a defeat to Novara at home!

Germany:
In the big weekend in Germany, Mönchengladbach secured a 3 - 0 victory over Schalke while Dortmund secured a narrow 1 - 0 victory over Leverkusen.

Plenty of action in the Midweek as the Champions League and the Europa League resume!

Top billings - Feb 11 - 13, 2012

Top billing of the week - Manchester United vs Liverpool

With Suarez back from the eight match ban. served for racial abuse on Evra, the atmosphere will be pretty charged up.
Fixture: 12.45pm GMT, Saturday
Other good Fixture: Tottenham vs Newcastle


Top Billing in La Liga - Real Madrid - Levante!
Levante beat Madrid in their previous La Liga encounter earlier in the season, but Madrid should do much better this time in this game at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Fixture: 8.30pm GMT, Sunday
Other good Fixtures: Not Really!

Top Billing in Serie A - Udinese vs AC Milan
Udinese lag one point behind the third placed Lazio while Milan lag a point behind the first placed Juventus, so both team would look to go for a killing.
Fixture: 5pm GMT, Saturday
Other good Fixture: Not Really!

Top Billing in Bundesliga - Mönchengladbach vs Schalke
A big weekend in Germany. With only a single point difference between gladbach and the oh fours, the game is important for both the teams to strengthen their hold to the third or even second place as the Bavarians currently hold the second place with the same points as Schalke.
Fixture: 5.30pm GMT, Saturday
Other good Fixtures: Dortmund vs Leverkusen

Top Billing in League 1 - Lille vs Bordeaux
The last time the two teams met this season in their League 1 encounter, the game ended in a 1 -1 draw.
Fixture: 2pm GMT, Sunday
Other good Fixtures: Not Really!

A super weekend with Big ties in England and Germany!!

Review - Feb 4 - 6, 2012

England:
Manchester United - The comeback Kings!
United recover from a 3 goal deficit to secure a draw at the Stamford Bridge.

Photo courtesy: Manutd.com
Elsewhere, the Liverpool - Tottenham game ends in a goalless draw.

Italy:
Roma hit four past Inter to secure a 4 - 0 victory while AC Milan only manage to secure a single point in a goalless draw with Napoli.

Spain:
Atletico Madrid hold Valencia to a goalless draw while Athletic Bilbao draw 3 - 3 with Espanyol.

Germany:
The game between Wolfsburg vs Mönchengladbach ends in a 0 - 0 stalemate while the game between Leverkusen vs Stuttgart ends in a 2 - 2 stalemate.

More action next Weekend!

Top billings - Feb 4 - 6, 2012

Top billing of the week - Manchester United vs Chelsea

Its a big week with big matches across Europe, but this one clearly leads the pile.
Fixture: 4pm GMT, Sunday
Other good Fixture: Liverpool vs Tottenham


Top Billing in La Liga - Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol
With only a two point difference between the two teams, this game will be the difference maker for the teams in their league positions.
Fixture: 5pm GMT, Saturday
Other good Fixtures: Atletico Madrid vs Valencia

Top Billing in Serie A - AC Milan vs Napoli
A big weekend in Italy! The big games this weekend for the Milanese clubs should give them stern tests.
Note: The game timings in Italy have been revised due to heavy snowfall.
Fixture: 3pm GMT, Sunday
Other good Fixture: Fiorentina vs Udinese

Top Billing in Bundesliga - Wolfsburg vs Mönchengladbach
The Bundesliga title is a four ways race with the top three teams leveled at same points! The top team now need to avoid any slip ups to remain in the chase!
Fixture: 2.30pm GMT, Saturday
Other good Fixtures: Leverkusen vs Stuttgart

Top Billing in League 1 - Marseille vs Lyon
Marseille lag only a point behind Lyon and will look to surge past them with a win.
Fixture: 8pm GMT, Sunday
Other good Fixtures: Not Really!

A super weekend with Big ties in England, France and Italy!!!

Top billings - 31 Jan - 1 Feb, 2012

The top billing of the week - Valencia vs Barcelona

Former Valencia player David Villa (R) of Barcelona greets his old teammate Pablo Hernandez of Valencia during the la Liga match between Valencia and Barcelona at Estadio Mestalla on March 2, 2011 in Valencia, Spain.
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images Europe)

The first leg of the Copa del Ray semifinal clash between the Spanish heavyweights. An increasing gap at the top in the La Liga and ultra competitiveness in the Champions League mean that this Cup offers the only real chance for the Catalans to get a trophy this season to Camp Nou!
Fixture: 8pm GMT, 1st Feb

The top Billing of the Premier League - Everton vs Manchester City
With FA Cup action over the past weekend, the EPL resumes in the midweek.
Fixture: 8pm GMT, 31st Jan
Other good Fixtures: Manchester United vs Stoke City

The top Billing of the Serie A - Lazio vs AC Milan!
Milan are one point adrift from the top spot in the table and would look to keep the pressure at the top.
Fixture: 7.45pm GMT, 1st Feb


Another interesting midweek!!!

Review - Jan 14 - 15, 2012

Italy:
The  Derby Della Madonnina, the biggest draw of the weekend proved to be a pretty entertaining affair where Milito sealed the victory for Inter after striking the lone goal of the game!

Result: AC Milan 0 - 1 Inter Milan

Spain:
Sevilla play out a 0 - 0 stalemate with Espanyol.
Falcao, with his brace, and Diego help Atletico Madrid ease past Villarreal.

France:
There was some big action in France over the weekend.
Montpellier secure a vital win over Lyon and create a four point lead over Lille, who stumbled versus Marseille.
The game between Marseille and Lille ended at 2 - 0.

Big action in the Midweek!

Top billings - Jan 14 - 15, 2012

The top billing of the week - AC Milan vs Inter Milan




After a mouth watering Manchester derby last weekend it time for the Milan derby this weekend!
With Inter sitting in the fifth spot in the league table, it is important for them to triumph at the San Siro.
Fixture: 7.45pm GMT, Sunday
Other good Fixture: Not really!


The top Billing of the La Liga - Sevilla vs Espanyol
After snatching a point versus Barca last weekend, Espanyol would be looking to register another victory over the team with whom they sit level on points in the table.
Fixture: 5pm GMT, Saturday
Other good Fixtures: Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal

The top Billing of the Premier League - No real big one!
The big six all would be looking to register comfortable wins this weekend.
Other good Fixture: Oh really!

The top Billing of the League 1 - Montpellier vs Lyon
A big weekend in the french top flight with games between the four of the top six teams!
Fixture: 8pm GMT, Sunday
Other good Fixtures: Marseille vs Lille

The Bundesliga remains on a winter break until 20th January.

Another interesting weekend ahead!!!

Review - Jan 7 - 8, 2012

A Big weekend for United, City, Arsenal and Barcelona!

Manchester United triumph in their hotly contested FA cup third round match with Manchester City.
In a fiery contest Rooney shines for United with a brace as the City captain, Kompany sees a red for a serious challenge on Nani.
Result - Manchester City 2 - 3 Manchester United - Scorers - Rooney (brace), Welbeck, Kolarov and Aguero.


Thierry Henry makes a dream return to Arsenal with a winning goal in their FA Cup tie with Championship side Leeds United to help his team progress to the Fourth Round of the Cup.


Photo courtesy - goal.com

Espanyol folk out a 1 - 1 draw with Barcelona after grasping a last minute equalizer.
Elsewhere Real Madrid extend their lead at the top of La Liga with a thumping 5 - 1 victory over minnows Granada. Barca now trail Real by 5 points.
The tie between Villarreal and Valencia ends in a 2 - 2 draw and the tie between Malga and Atletico Madrid ends in a goalless draw.

All big teams in Serie A register comfortable victories with Inter recording a 5 - 0 win over minnows Parma.

Big action in Serie A at the coming weekend!!

Top billings - Jan 7 - 8, 2012

The Italian and Spainish top flight action returns with the end of the winter break!

The top billing of the week - Manchester City vs Manchester United

A mouth watering tie between the Manchester Clubs in the FA Cup!
To remind you folks why so:
One, who would forget the 6 - 1 mauling of United at the hands of City and that too at Old Trafford
Two, Rooney gets nominated for the Puskás Award (http://www.fifa.com/ballondor/puskasaward/index.html) for scoring the decisive goal last year, last season in the League tie!
League Table!!
Fixture: 1pm GMT, Sunday
Other Big FA Cup ties: Arsenal v/s Leeds and Chelsea v/s Portsmouth

The top Billing of the La Liga - Espanyol vs Barcelona
Barcelona would look to continue their form from the midweek Copa del Ray encounter vs Osasuna.
Fixture: 8.30pm GMT, Sunday
Other good Fixtures: Villarreal vs Valencia and Malga vs Atletico Madrid

The top Billing of the Seria A - No real big one!
With AC Milan and Juventus locked in at the top of the table with same points, any slip up would be costly by either.
Other good Fixture: Oh really!

The top Billing of the Copa del Ray - Malga vs Real Madrid
The second legs of the Copa Del Ray will be played on the 10th & 11th January.
Other good Fixtures: Sevilla vs Valencia

The Bundesliga remains on a winter break until 20th January.

Another interesting weekend ahead!!!