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Bayern Munich – Thomas Müller Ready for the Big Double
In a world of Barcelona’s, Bayern Munich will never be regarded as true favorites to win the Champions League, but it’s hard to argue with two finals in three seasons, while playing excellent football in both the Bundesliga and the UCL, having quite a few players having career-best seasons, with possibly no one better than Thomas Müller.
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Marco Reus & Mario Götze, the Future of Borussia Dortmund
Some things are obvious, but still need a little bit of demonstrating from time to time. Like Marco Reus being a wonderful player. Like his partnership with Mario Götze being the basis for future success with Dortmund and with the German national team.
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AS Roma – The Never Ending Francesco Totti
Last season really seemed like the last hurrah. Roma failed miserably in the league – a sixth place finish for a second consecutive season, despite all the expectations from their Barcelona-system manager, Daniele De Rossi presumably on his way out and Francesco Totti looking older than ever.
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FC Barcelona – Lionel Messi Doesn’t Stop in Garbage Time
The Spanish La Liga is so over, and we’re only in the middle of January. Barcelona are on cruise control for the rest of the season while bigger challenges await in the Champions League, although it doesn’t mean Lionel Messi is going to stop scoring.
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Chelsea FC – Oscar Hides the Terrible Fernando Torres
No matter how many chances he gets, it seems that anything Fernando Torres had going for him earlier this season and then again from time to time has almost been depleted, with both Eden Hazard and Juan Mata, despite countless tries, failing to make the broken Chelsea striker to work like before. Luckily, Oscar does have some football to overcome his physical adaptation to Europe.
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Liverpool FC – Steven Gerrard & Joe Allen Doesn’t Work
Instead of moving forward, Liverpool take steps back. Further from contention for a European spot in the Premier League, and not really in a good position to turn their Europa League knockout tie on its head, as Brendan Rodgers learnt once more that playing with Steven Gerrard and Joe Allen together isn’t good for a team that simply doesn’t know how to play defensively.
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Manchester United – David de Gea Silences Last of Critics
Impossible expectations can never be met, so why try to live up to them? David de Gea has been heavily criticized since the first time he put on the Manchester United goalkeeper jersey, but slowly and gradually, he’s winning over those who called for him to be benched or even sold.
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Real Madrid – Mesut Ozil & Angel Di Maria Didn’t Come Through
Maybe Jose Mourinho has a point in deflecting the blame from his own players to the way Manchester United played, but in all fairness, Real Madrid needed more from Cristiano Ronaldo, and more from the talent around him, that didn’t step up – especially Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil.
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Real Madrid & Jose Mourinho Needed More From Cristiano Ronaldo
It’s not over yet, but the smell of defeat was in the air. Jose Mourinho had no answers to the Manchester United defense, or a couple of great saves from David de Gea. What he needed the most was Cristiano Ronaldo at his best for more than one half, and more than just a single goal. That didn’t happen, and Real Madrid find themselves not too far from ending their season in February.
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Champions League – Valencia vs PSG Predictions
One club is simply happy to get here, while the other sees this as the first chance to cement the beginning of European domination. Valencia have been doing well lately in the league, but it might seem that Paris Saint-Germain and their role of overpaid stars might be a bit too much to overcome.