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More than half the football season has concluded and as all the European League competitions head towards their respective finales, the final battles which will eventually decide the fates of the teams this season have already started taking shape. The week gone by saw many results we expected and some we did not, across all top European Leagues involving the top teams. Teams like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Bayern Munich had good days at the office while the mighty Chelsea found themselves halted by a relegation threatened team. Giants like Manchester United and Barcelona on the other hand slipped up and crashed to upset defeats at the hands of lower placed teams.The week may not have been a weekend of derbies or big matches, but it has been immense in terms of putting in the corner pieces of the jigsaw that is the final standings of top European teams. We analyse the weekend’s results of all the big teams across Europe and speculate what it means for them.
#1 Real Madrid
Result: Won 2-0 against Elche
After a near perfect start to this year’s La Liga campaign, the Los Blancos seemed to have lost their way for a bit. Carlo Ancelotti’s men had lost two of their last four league games on the road ahead of visiting 17th place Elche.
The seemingly nominal drop in form was cause for some concern to Ancelotti. Real Madrid’s brief slip-up in recent weeks have seen arch rivals Barcelona cut down Real’s lead to a single point ahead of the match.
Despite notching up a 2-0 win against the struggling side, Madrid were far from their regal best. The La Liga leaders, however, did put in a professional display and managed to come out with the desired points.
Madrid seemed far from the tantalizing aggressive team they were at the beginning of the season. However, the performance showed that Ancelotti’s men have the required tenacity and professionalism to see off games where the touch-of-the-green seems to be working against them.
The win gives the Los Blancos some breathing space at the top with Barcelona slipping up to Malaga at home. Hard fought wins like this week’s is going to be vital if Real Madrid expects to keep Barca at bay until the end of the season.
#2 Barcelona
Result: Lost 2-0 to Malaga
Few teams have been in better form in the first few weeks than Barcelona. The Catalans had scored 23 goals in five La Liga matches ahead of this weekend’s visit from Malaga.
However, Luis Enrique’s side failed to continue their 11 match winning run after losing 1-0 against Malaga at the Camp Nou. The Austrian coach was expected to rest some key players with a crucial Uefa Champions League tie against Manchester City looming in the midweek.
However, Barcelona lined up with a full strength squad with Neymar, Messi, Suarez and Iniesta all starting. Only Javier Mascherano was left on the bench. A defensive mistake eventually led to the goal.
The loss means the Catalan’s falling four points behind Real Madrid yet again and will have to toil hard to eliminate the deficit with 14 matches still remaining. There’s certainly a lot of opportunities to come their way, but the defensive lapse highlights the lack of composure in Barcelona’s defence devoid of Maschereno.
Barcelona fans will be praying for the Argentine to be fit for the rest of the season if they are to lodge any sort of onslaught on the La Liga leaders.
#3 Manchester United
Result: Lost 2-1 to Swansea City
Manchester United’s torrid post-Sir-Alex-era continued this week, with Louis van Gaal taking his team to the Liberty Stadium to take on Swansea.
Despite going into the match perched third in the Premier League table, Louis van Gaal’s side this season has been far from deserving of the position. The Red Devils this season have fallen far short the level of expectancy pinned on the team after an expensive summer window.
Van Gaal decided to put forth an attacking team, many United fans were hoping for, with Rooney taking his place up-front to partner Robin van Persie and summer signing Ander Herrera finally starting a Premier League game after months. Herrera incidentally was their best man on the pitch and scored.
The match exposed United’s frailties both up-front and in the back. Despite’s Van Gaal’s denials, Manchester United’s over-reliance on Marouane Fellaini as the crudest of offensive threats has been evident in the past few weeks.
The defeat saw United drop to 4th place with Arsenal leapfrogging them to third. With 12 matches to go and fixtures destined to get tougher and tougher, Manchester United fans can very well expect a struggle for the coveted European spots with only 4 points differentiating 4th place to 7th.
#4 Chelsea
Result: Drew 1-1 against Burnley
Chelsea, in their domestic league, have seemed invincible at times during a stellar first half of the season. The Blues went into this week’s match against relegation threatened Burnley, sitting cosy with a seven-point lead over their closest rivals Manchester City.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has also been up in arms against the FA, not-so-subtly hinting at a conspiracy against Chelsea coming from the highest strata of the governing body.
Going by the script, the talking point of the game came in the 70th minute after when Barnes went over the top of the ball in a challenge on Matic. Tempers boiled over and the Serb angrily pushed Barnes to the floor and was shown a straight red card.
The draw means Chelsea’s seven-point lead at the top got cut to five.
However, what would be more pressing for Mourinho will be the lack of discipline in what is otherwise a formidable team. Matic will be suspended for three matches.
Incidentally, Chelsea top-scorer Diego Costa came back to the starting XI against Burnley, after serving a three match suspension for a stomp on Liverpool’s Emre Can.
Mourinho needs to reconsider if his comments on the officials conspiring against Chelsea is having an adverse effect on his players, causing them to act up. With Manchester City hot on their tails, Chelsea cannot afford to miss out on key players due to these unnecessary suspensions.
#5 Manchester City
Result: Won 5-0 against Newcastle United
Manchester City have endured a roller-coaster season thus far without quite hitting their stride. The reigning Champions have already fallen behind to runaway leaders Chelsea, cut down Chelsea’s eight-point lead at the top and then have managed to fall seven points behind again, before going into this week’s match against Newcastle United.
The highlight of the match was the return of Yaya Toure after lifting the African Cup of Nation’s with Ivory Coast. If anyone needs an idea of how essential the big man is to Manuel Pellegrini’s side, here’s a hint. While Toure was away, City have only managed one win from five league matches and have crashed out from the FA Cup to a lower league side.
Toure’s impact could be immediately felt with the Ivorian firmly taking control of the midfield and orchestrating an attacking trio of Silva, Nasri and Aguero to put five past the Magpies.
The match also saw Toure’s Ivory Coast team-mate Wilfried Bony make his debut for City, after his winter move from Swansea.
The win was a crucial one for City and saw them move into five points of leaders Chelsea with 36 points still to play for. It will hard to bet against a completely fit and inform City side, to take the battle for the Premier League right down to the wire.
#6 Arsenal
Result: Won 2-1 against Crystal Palace
Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday saw the Gunners reap the benefits of their recent run of good form and sneak into the third place in the Premier League. Arsenal have picked up 18 points from their last seven games in the League.
Arsene Wenger’s side will be looking forward to continue their run and consolidate a European place. However, it’s highly unlikely that they will still launch a challenge for the League.
Arsenal have recently shown that they have overcome their over-reliance on Chilean recruit Alexis Sanchez, who has been in sensational form since his arrival in the club from Camp Nou.
With most of its players pitching in lately, Arsenal will be hopeful of retaining a European spot in what is shaping up as a five team scramble for third and fourth.
#7 Liverpool
Result: Won 2-0 against Southampton
Liverpool have been in scintillating form lately and hosted fourth place Southampton. Brendan Rodgers’ side put in a solid showing at St Mary’s to beat Ronald Koeman’s side 2-0.
The victory takes the Reds within three points of the third place. The victory means Liverpool have been unbeaten in their previous 10 matches in all competitions.
After a miserable mid-season, Liverpool seems to have turned their season around with the players starting to respond to Brendan Rodgers’ philosophy. The crucial victory will mean Liverpool have now thrown in their hat for the impending squabble for a Champions League spot, in the Premier League.
With form on their side and star striker Daniel Sturridge almost back to full fitness, last year’s runner ups are very much in the quest for the top four.
#8 Bayern Munich
Result: Won 6-0 against Paderborn
With 12 games remaining in the Bundesliga, Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich seems comfortably at the top with an eight-point lead over closest rivals Wolfsburg.
Pep Guardiola’s side, who have been in terrific form this year losing only one match in the Bundesliga, seem to have found another gear in the last few games.
After thrashing Hamburg 8-0 on Valentine’s Day, the reigning German champions put six past Paderborn this week.
The German side have shown no signs of slipping up in the domestic league so far. With a relatively relaxed domestic campaign ahead, it won’t be a surprise if Pep Guardiola intends to shift his focus to the Champions League.
Bayern’s only defeat in the Bundesliga came as a surprise 4-1 loss to Wolfsburg, last month. Wolfsburg registered a 2-1 win against Hertha BSC to keep pace with Bayern.
#9 Juventus
Result: Won 2-1 against Atlanta
Juventus extended their seven-point lead at the top of the Serie A after a come from behind win against Atlanta.
The win proved to be a welcome one for the Old Lady, as closest rivals Roma were held 1-1 by Hellas Verona. The combination of results put Juventus with a comfortable Nine-point lead at the top with only 14 games remaining.
Juventus have won the Serie A three years running and seem set for a fourth despite a change of manager. Roma, despite putting in a solid run of games, have drawn nine games so far. The failure to convert draws into wins have cost the Rome side, who have barely threatened Juventus’ lead since the early stages of the season.
