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Cristiano Ronaldo Can’t Complete a Remontada (Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund)
The better team made the final of the Champions League, despite the late drama caused by goals from Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos. Cristiano Ronaldo never showed up, possibly not completely fit for this kind of match, and Real Madrid didn’t do enough for long enough to beat a team that was once again their superior.
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Israeli Premier League – The Best Relegation Battle in Europe
The Israeli Premier League isn’t one of the best or worth watching in European football, but the relegation battle that has come to the point of no return with one match-day left to play, putting six teams (Hapoel Haifa, Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Hapoel Acre, Bnei Sakhnin, Maccabi Netanya) in danger of dropping to the second tier (Liga Leumit), with all six of them involved in matches between one another.
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Manchester United – Robert Lewandowski Isn’t Coming Just Yet
What’s left for Manchester United this season? Giving their “all” in a match against Chelsea, which matter for those chasing the top four finish, and that’s it. The rest is garbage time games and speculation about transfer rumors, from the absurd and unrealistic like Cristiano Ronaldo, to the Robert Lewandowski saga, which seems to take a different twist each and every day.
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Liverpool FC – Philippe Coutinho Still Needs Time
Despite the promising start and the signals of a very bright future, Philippe Coutinho still isn’t the savior of Liverpool football club, the one who’ll take them out of these relatively dark days which mean no European competition and watch rivals they once viewed as equals leave them out of the way as they fight for the more significant things in the Premier League and football in general.
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Chelsea FC – Frank Lampard & John Terry Should Be Yesterday’s News
We keep hearing about the importance of the Chelsea old guard, but at some point, its time has to end. Maybe John Terry and Frank Lampard have an influence that goes beyond what they bring onto the pitch in terms of ability, which isn’t too special most of the time, but for the club to remain an elite one, the reins have to move on to better, younger players.
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FC Barcelona – Andres Iniesta Needed for Legendary Comeback
Not just a ‘good enough to qualify’ result would be considered a success. Any win for Barcelona against a team that’s shaping out to be one of the more menacing Europe has seen in quite some time, it’s going to take more than Lionel Messi wonders. Andres Iniesta, demolished by Javi Martinez in that first leg, will have to be the best midfielder in the world for 90 minutes, something he’s capable of doing.
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Arsenal FC – Olivier Giroud & Laurent Koscielny Aren’t Good Enough
Of the many mistakes and bad signings Arsene Wenger has made for Arsenal over the past few years, two stand out above the rest – Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud. Both Frenchmen, tall and impressive looking, before they start playing football.
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Champions League – Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund
With the chances of turning the tide and somehow making an unbelievable comeback in the second leg quite slim, Real Madrid head into their encounter with Borussia Dortmund hoping that like another Spanish team from almost a decade ago, a 4-1 thrashing in the first leg isn’t the end of the world.
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Real Madrid – Jose Mourinho Has Only Cristiano Ronaldo to Count On
With his own personal legacy the only thing he really cares about, Jose Mourinho needs Cristiano Ronaldo to be more than healthy, but at his superhuman best as Real Madrid try to erase a three goal deficit from their first leg against Borussia Dortmund, which seems like an impossible quest at first, second and third glances.
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FC Barcelona – Lionel Messi With a Chance For His Greatest Performance Ever
On paper, there’s nothing left for Lionel Messi to achieve with Barcelona. Spanish champion, Champions League titles, Pichichi awards, goal records, FIFA awards and Ballon d’Ors. And yet with the impossible second leg in the Champions League semifinal with Bayern Munich coming up, he has a chance to accomplish his greatest feat ever.