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We are in the second week of February and are fast approaching the business end of the 2021-22 season. Every team and player worth their salt is gearing up for a grandstand finish and will stop at nothing to quench their thirst for glory.
Today, we will take a quick look at some of the biggest teams and footballers in Europe and make some bold predictions about their future.
While some of the conjectures might seem a bit far-fetched, we assure you, stranger things have happened in football.
Here are five daring predictions for the second half of the 2021-22 campaign:
#5 Lionel Messi to score 25+ goals for PSG
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in the summer of 2021. Since his arrival at the Parc des Princes, the Argentine superstar has rarely looked at his best, often struggling to make the impact he’s known for.
His hesitancy has been particularly glaring in the French top-flight, Ligue 1, where he has only struck twice in 13 matches.
In the Champions League, however, Messi has been a different beast altogether. He has scored five goals in five games, showing why PSG are allegedly paying €1million in wages for his services.
We believe Messi will turn his fortunes around in Ligue 1 and fare better for the club from the French capital. With any luck, he could reach double figures with ease and may even end up emerging as their leading scorer in the league.
Maintaining his form in the Champions League is likely to be a challenge, but we are backing Messi to keep up the good work.
Don’t be surprised if he does serious damage to Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg clash next week.
#4 Tottenham Hotspur to clinch fourth spot ahead of Manchester United and Arsenal
West Ham United, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are all vying for a top-four finish in the Premier League this season. None of the four teams have been firing on all cylinders, making the race for Champions League football next season all the more unpredictable.
West Ham United are currently leading the race but are likely to be out of juice by the business end. Manchester United are strong contenders, but Ralf Rangnick’s men have lacked consistency in crucial games.
Arsenal, meanwhile, lack depth in the final third and are likely to pay the price for letting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave for Barcelona without signing a replacement.
Spurs are not playing breathtaking football either, but Antonio Conte’s experience in the Premier League could help them clinch fourth spot.
Expect star striker Harry Kane to gain some of his lost confidence back in the second half of the 2021-22 season.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo to score 20+ league goals for the 13th consecutive season
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is not going through the smoothest of patches right now. He has not scored in his last five games across all competitions, marking his longest dry spell since 2010.
As expected, while many have already written off the Portuguese superstar, we cannot help but back him for a swift turnaround.
The Manchester United No.7 has scored six goals in five Champions League matches this season, winning invaluable points for his team.
He is the Red Devils’ leading scorer in the Premier League as well, netting eight times in 19 appearances.
Backing him to score 12 more in the next 15 games may seem a bit too optimistic, especially considering the form he is in.
However, considering the fact that he has scored 20-plus goals for the last 12 seasons, the prediction hardly seems outside the realm of possibility.
#2 Barcelona to win the Europa League
In December, Barcelona were eliminated from the group stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2000-01. They are now preparing to face Napoli in a Europa League Round of 32 clash.
Considering how they have fared so far this season, both in Spain and Europe, the Blaugrana are not outright favorites to lift the trophy. However, we believe their quality will shine through in the second-most prestigious cup competition in Europe and they’ll walk away with the Europa League trophy in May.
Under Xavi, Barcelona have started playing an impressive brand of football, nicely blending intricate movement and clever exchanges. They have also improved their finishing and are finally getting the goals their link-up play deserves.
If the Catalan giants keep at it and play to their strengths, we don’t why they won’t go all the way in the Europa League this season.
#1 Bayern Munich to win the Champions League
Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are one of the most explosive teams in Europe and we’re backing them to win their seventh Champions League this season. They have the best striker in the world in the form of Robert Lewandowski, and the supporting cast is just as brilliant.
When on song, they can tear through any defense in the world, and luckily for them, they rarely have an off day.
Julian Nagelsmann, who took charge of Bayern Munich at the start of the season, has struck the right balance between defense and attack.
The Bavarians still love to play on the front foot, but they don’t overtly commit themselves, which keeps them from getting caught out during transitions.
Bayern Munich will face RB Salzburg in the Champions League Round of 16 and we believe the tie will be nothing more than a formality.
An emphatic win would only increase the German champions’ confidence, making them even more dangerous in the latter stages of Europe's premier cup competition.
Also Read: FIFA World Rankings February 2022: Top 10 Nations
