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Expect big things from Barcelona this termAfter a truly breathtaking 2015, the world of football shows no signs of slowing down as we enter the new year and football fans across the globe will be preparing themselves for an incredible 2016. There are plenty of big stories developing across football’s top leagues while various records could be broken too. When you also factor in the managerial carousel and potential transfers on the horizon, it should be set to be another blockbuster year for the beautiful game.This is why we love football, and here are 10 of the big stories that you can expect to see over the coming 12 months.
#1 Lionel Messi to win fifth Ballon dOr
The first major sporting award ceremony of 2016 is just around the corner, and three extraordinary players will be battling it out to be named the world’s best. In truth, though, Lionel Messi is the only contender with realistic hopes of winning.
Messi is up against Barcelona teammate Neymar, and long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Whilst the latter did score more goals in 2015 than anyone else, a lack of silverware is likely to cost him – especially as the Blaugrana lifted five trophies in total.
Neymar has arguably enjoyed a better start to 2015/16 than Messi, mainly due to the Argentina captain’s injury problems. However, there’s no doubt that Barcelona’s main man was the catalyst behind last season’s heroics.
The only real disappointment in 2015 for Messi was losing the Copa America final to Chile. Nevertheless, this won’t stop him from claiming a record-breaking fifth Ballon d’Or. In truth, it would be hard for anybody to argue against the decision.
#2 Pep Guardiola to manage an EPL club
It has been a turbulent campaign for the Premier League’s top managers to say the least. Before the turn of the year, we’ve already seen Liverpool sack Brendan Rodgers and Chelsea parting ways with Jose Mourinho while both Manchester clubs look destined to make a change before the start of next season. This has brought plenty of speculation about potential incoming coaches, and Pep Guardiola’s name is the most commonly touted.
Guardiola’s desire to manage in the EPL has been no secret. After biding his time for several years, it looks almost inevitable that 2016 will be his time to take the leap of faith. The only real question is which club will he manage.
The Spaniard’s current club, Bayern Munich, have already announced that Carlo Ancelotti will replace Guardiola at the helm of the club. Notably, Bayern’s chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has claimed that he knows where the 44-year-old will end up.
Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal could all be in the hunt to secure the former Barcelona coach's signature. Whatever happens, he will be a welcomed addition to the world’s most exciting league.
#3 France to win Euro 2016
As far as international football is concerned, the big story will be Euro 2016. It will be the first time that 24 teams battle it out to be crowned kings of Europe, and the football fraternity will be hoping to see plenty of drama on French soil.
The host nation has suffered a difficult year in 2015 for multiple reasons. The Paris terror attacks shocked the nation and the atmosphere in the Les Bleus camp has also encountered disruption due to the Benzema-Valbuena situation. Meanwhile, Michel Platini’s ban from FIFA has also tarnished the image of French football.
However, 2016 offers Didier Deschamps and his men to put those things in the past by winning a third major tournament on home turf. A group of Albania, Switzerland and Romania should be easy pickings for France and once they are in the knockouts, only three or four teams can stop them from lifting the crown.
With the home crowd behind their team, the Les Blues can possibly lay their hands on to their first major trophy in 16 years.
#4 Leicester City to miss out on the Premier League
All football fans have loved seeing Leicester City mix it up with the big boys to make this year’s EPL title race one of the most exciting ones ever. Sadly, though, the spirited Foxes couldn’t retain the top spot heading into the new year. Despite their best efforts, fans should expect to see them fade away between now and May.
Whilst Claudio Ranieri’s men have been brilliant, they concede far too many goals to win the title. Meanwhile, their reliance on Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez to provide the goals could become their Achilles heel. One injury could prove to be very costly due the lack of depth in the squad.
The club has vowed to keep hold of its two star men. However, a big January bid would be hard to turn down and could force Leicester’s hand slightly. Even if they can keep the squad intact, it’s hard to see them keeping that level of drive up for an entire 38-game campaign.
Arsenal and Manchester City will definitely finish in the top four. Leicester will be battling with the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool for one of the other two Champions League qualification spots. Quite frankly, fans should expect to see their title challenge come down along with the Christmas decorations.
They could end up qualifying for the Champions League or the Europa League, which would signal a fantastic first year at the helm of the club for Claudio Ranieri.
#5 Aubameyang to move away from Dortmund
Scoring a goal is the hardest job in football. Over the last 18 months, very few have done it better than Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Subsequently, the chase for his signature is becoming fierce, and it’s difficult to see the Bundesliga club retaining his services for another full year.
After watching Robert Lewandowski depart the club on a free deal, the BVB board will probably want to cash in while they can. Dortmund are one of Europe’s top sides, but they cannot compete with the financial rewards of Bayern or the top clubs in Spain and England. The widespread interest is bound to turn Aubameyang’s head, and we could see the Gabon star make his exit after the season ends.
The more likely scenario is that he’ll help Dortmund back to Champions League football before departing this summer, when a string of top European side will be vying for his signature. in what could be one of the hottest transfer sagas of the year.
#6 Barcelona to defend the Champions League
Since being rebranded the Champions League in 1992, no club has ever managed to defend its crown. However, those types of records are there to be broken, and 2016 could be the year that fans see that particular voodoo topple.
Luis Enrique’s Barcelona dominated Spanish, European and world football in 2015 and the Blaugrana juggernaut has not shown any signs of slowing down soon. The electrifying attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez can carve defences open at will. At the other end, the likes of Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano are seasoned professionals that know exactly what it takes to win the biggest trophies.
Apart from their own credentials, Barcelona have to be fancied as favourites by default. The EPL teams don’t realistically have enough quality while the Italian clubs can be taken out of the equation too. Moreover, Barca have proven themselves time and again to be far better than fierce rivals Real Madrid and it looks, at least, a year too soon for PSG to make a serious claim. Only Bayern Munich can offer real competition but, with Guardiola seemingly heading for the Allianz Arena exit door, you’d have to fancy the Catalans.
Expect history to be broken at the San Siro on May 28th, because Barcelona could be the first team ever to successfully defend the Champions League. If they do, Enrique’s place in the record books will be secured.
#7 Mesut Ozil to break the Premier League most assists record
This EPL campaign has been extraordinary for many reasons, and we’ve enjoyed several brilliant headlines. However, one of the craziest stories has been Mesut Ozil’s continued ability to make goals for his Arsenal teammates. It would be a major upset if the German playmaker fails to break Thierry Henry’s record of 20 assists in a Premier League season.
Ozil boasts 16 assists heading into the new year, which is double that of his nearest challenger. The German has also popped up with important goals and has been the driving force behind Arsenal’s title charge. If the Gunners do claim a first EPL crown since the Invincibles, then their record signing will surely be the biggest driving force.
It’s quite incredible to think that Ozil was labelled a flop just one year ago and although those criticisms were harsh, there’s no doubt that he has improved his game massively. Notably, he has adapted perfectly to the physical demands of English football as well.
#8 PSG to set new records
French football has been a one-horse race since the financial backing took PSG to another level. The Paris-based club have lifted the Ligue 1 trophy for three years running and they are on they are on their way to make it four by the end of 2015/16 season. Not only have they essentially wrapped things up before January, but they additionally look set to break many more records along the way.
Laurent Blanc’s men have dropped just six points from a possible 57 and are on course to surpass the record 89 points that they registered in 2013/14. Moreover, they are halfway to going an entire league season undefeated. This is something that no club has ever achieved in France (Nantes went closest with one in 1994/95) and that place in history should serve as huge motivation, even after the title is mathematically confirmed.
Meanwhile, star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has already equalled the Ligue 1 record for goals in consecutive matches this term. The Swedish star is now enjoying another purple patch having scored in his last four games of 2015, and could well have another shot at breaking the run of nine.
Whatever happens, it’s set to be another historic year for the Parisian club.
#9 A shift of power in Italy
For the last few years, Italian football has been dominated by Juventus to the point where Serie A had become stale. After seeing Bianconeri clinch a double and reach the Champions League final in 2014/15, many would have been forgiven for thinking that it would be more of the same in 2015/16. However, at the halfway stage, the champions find themselves sitting in fourth.
This has largely been down to a summer exodus in Turin. The likes of Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo all left for greener pastures. While Juventus are still blessed with one of the best squads in Italy, their Serie A rivals have responded well by piling the pressure on. In truth, it is building up to be a very exciting title race.
Moreover, with Paul Pogba seemingly set to leave in 2016, it could pave the way for the likes of Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Napoli to stake their claims to become top dog. Even if they can’t dethrone the champions, the tide is turning.
It should be great news for the neutrals.
#10 Benitez to be sacked by Madrid
Modern football and managerial security aren’t phrases that are commonly seen together, But if there’s one managerial casualty that looks certain to happen in 2016, then it has to be Rafa Benitez at Real Madrid.
The Bernabeu giants made a calamitous error in the Copa del Rey while their Liga and Champions League aspirations look to be destroyed by a Barcelona side that also humiliated them in the first Classico of the season.
Perhaps more importantly, there seems to be friction within the squad. This has played a major part in turning the fans against their head coach. Florentino Perez has publicly supported his manager, but this also happened with Carlo Ancelotti just weeks before a subsequent departure.
Time is already running out for Benitez. If he can’t turn the situation around soon, then his chances of seeing out a full year at the Bernabeu will be virtually non-existent.
