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#3 RB Leipzig - Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate, Marcel Sabitzer
RB Leipzig were able to procure the signings of some really good players this summer. Andre Silva, Josko Gvardiol, Ilaix Moriba, Mohamed Simakan and Benjamin Henrichs, to name a few, are worthy additions.
But so far, they've not been able to match the levels of the RB Leipzig starters who departed the club this past summer. It's been a cruel summer for the Bundesliga outfit. They've seen the backs of Marcel Sabitzer, Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate this season.
While Konate and Upamecano were the first-choice centre-backs for a while last term. Sabitzer was a strong creative presence on the other side of the pitch. Leipzig finished second in the Bundesliga table in the 2020-21 season and had the best defensive record in the league.
However, they have got off to a poor start in the 2021-22 season. They've won just one out of their five Bundesliga matches so far, scoring just three goals and shipping in six. They were also comprehensively beaten in their first Champions League match of the season. Leipzig lost 6-3 to Manchester City on the 15th of September.
#2 Barcelona - Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann
Barcelona's finances have been so poorly managed in recent seasons that they had no choice but to let go of Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest footballer of all time. Messi wanted to stay at Barcelona.
But they couldn't afford to keep him as even if he had taken a 50% wage cut, the Catalans' wage bill would be way above the La Liga salary cap. Messi was Barcelona's best player of the 2020-21 season by a country mile.
It was Messi who got them back into the title race although it fizzled out in the closing stages of the season. He scored 38 goals and provided 14 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions for the Catalans last term.
Providing him ample support in the frontline last season was Antoine Griezmann. The Frenchman was shockingly offloaded on loan to Atletico Madrid by Barcelona on deadline day. Griezmann scored 20 goals and provided 13 assists in 51 appearances across all competitions in the 2020-21 season.
Barcelona have looked a bit out of sorts in the duo's absence in the new season. They have seven points from three La Liga matches so far, which is not bad. However, they suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou in their Champions League season opener.
Memphis Depay's form has been a silver lining. However, if he hits a rough patch or gets injured, Koeman will have his work cut out trying to figure out where the goals are going to come from.
Also Check Out: Barcelona Transfer News
#1 Juventus - Cristiano Ronaldo
There was a narrative running through the summer which held Cristiano Ronaldo accountable for Juventus' struggles in the 2020-21 season. It was being said that accommodating Ronaldo had caused Juventus to lose their identity and compromise on their style of play.
It seemed ridiculous given the fact that the Portuguese international was the top scorer in the 2020-21 Serie A season, scoring 29 goals in 33 matches. Ronaldo worked hard despite being 35-years-old at the time and was a leader in the dressing room as well.
He joined Manchester United in the summer and has got off to a great start to his second stint at his former club, scoring four goals in his first three games. Juventus, on the other hand, were expected to get better now that they didn't need to accommodate Ronaldo.
However, the Bianconeri are yet to win a single game in the new Serie A season. They've drawn two and lost two and Massimiliano Allegri has quite a task on his hand as he tries to get their season back on track.
