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FC Barcelona – Neymar Might Actually Be Making Lionel Messi Better
The most intriguing duo in global football needed a few matches to work things out, but it looks like Barcelona found themselves a perfect match in Neymar and Lionel Messi, as the Brazilian has adopted the role of facilitator down the left flank in order to make the best player in the world even better.
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Liverpool FC – The Return of Luis Suarez
Considering their most recent result, Luis Suarez coming back might not be the biggest problem solver Liverpool could have asked for, but it’s hard to believe anyone involved with the club isn’t ecstatic about the return from suspension of their best player.
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Manchester United – Nothing to Show Beyond Wayne Rooney & Robin van Persie
While players like Shinji Kagawa, Nani and Javier Hernandez continue to rot on the bench, disappointments like Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia continue to roam the wings. David Moyes has made some perplexing decisions when it comes to his team building and lineup, but hiding behind the talents of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie isn’t going to last forever.
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Arsenal FC – Mathieu Flamini Trying to Change the ‘Soft’ Image
When it was announced that Mathieu Flamini would be the second signing for Arsenal this summer, few thought that the return of the Frenchman, five years after he left to Italy, would bring the necessary toughness and “badness” this team has been missing for so long.
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Real Madrid – Cristiano Ronaldo Doesn’t Need Gareth Bale When He Has Isco
The only thing that’s sure and certain about any lineup Real Madrid use this season is Cristiano Ronaldo playing on the left side. The rest doesn’t seem to matter, even if it means Gareth Bale injured right before the start, because Isco has been so good for his new team it doesn’t really make a difference.
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Manchester United – Robin van Persie Can’t be Replaced by Danny Welbeck
Even without Robin van Persie, Manchester United shouldn’t look this bad. However, when the manager is David Moyes, it wasn’t surprising to see a man-for-man switch by putting Danny Welbeck, who is anything but a goalscorer, instead of the team’s best player.
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Arsenal FC – Mesut Ozil Makes the Champions Dream Possible
Only one big signing, and suddenly everything seems to be completely different. Mesut Ozil hasn’t been at his finest since arriving at Arsenal, but whatever he’s done so far has been enough to put the Gunners on top of the Premier League and be overflowing with confidence about their chances of finally being an integral part of the title race.
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Premier League – Manchester City vs Manchester United Predictions
For the last few seasons, the Manchester Derby has been the most important match of the season in the Premier League, usually pitting the best two sides against each other, with the local rivalry between Manchester United and Manchester City obviously adding to the importance of the occasion.
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Bayern Munich – Bastian Schweinsteiger Makes the Pep Guardiola System Work
It was simply impossible for a Bayern Munich team so talented no to start putting in impressive performances at some point. Apparently, the return of Bastain Schweinsteiger to full health and form is the difference between Pep Guardiola being misunderstood and berated than the same manager talked about as a tactical genius.
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FC Barcelona – Pedro Gives Lionel Messi a Break From Scoring
Hard to tell if the new Barcelona is really less about possession and simply more about being direct and finishing off matches later rather than sooner, but if it gives the chance for Pedro to steal the spotlight from Lionel Messi with an impressive hat trick, you won’t hear too many complaining about it.