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FC Barcelona – Tito Vilanova Turns Lionel Messi Into a Super Sub
Maybe this is going to be the new thing for Barcelona heading into next season – starting Lionel Messi on the bench, and then throwing him into the match when he’s most needed, just to show his brilliance and scoring ability in a much narrower window of time. Tito Vilanova has used that “trick” more than once this season, and it seems to have worked every time.
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Manchester United – Alex Ferguson Not Playing to Win
Even if you promise real hard, it’s hard to motivate yourself and your players to give a true effort when there’s nothing on the line. Robin van Persie only has his own goals to play for, while Wayne Rooney hardly got a whiff of a chance. Alex Ferguson sent his team out only to prevent a loss, but could hardly see and get any good football from them all match long, eventually brought to life thanks to his own players getting sent off.
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Chelsea FC – Juan Mata Taking Them to the Champions League
From the moment this long and exhausting season began, Juan Mata was there for Chelsea, more times than anyone else. Through the ups and downs of Oscar, Fernando Torres and Frank Lampard, the Spaniard, who barely has a place on his own national team, came up with the big goals, big assists and big matches to make sure this won’t be the season the team falls to previously unknown depths.
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Liverpool FC – Philippe Coutinho & Daniel Sturridge Can’t Explode Every Week
A Merseyside derby used to be a fiery affair with red cards and injured players scattered across the pitch. Times have changed, especially for Liverpool football club, about to finish beneath their city rivals for a second consecutive season, while all the talent in the world, from Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and an energetic Steven Gerrard couldn’t give Jamie Carragher a nice farewell present, sending him off from the derby with a home win at Anfield.
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Juan Mata as the Winner, Rafael as the Loser (Manchester United vs Chelsea)
Maybe Howard Webb has finally ended all the rumors about him and Manchester United, by giving a red card to Rafael in the closing minutes of the match between Manchester United, who weren’t really looking (or needed to) to win, and Chelsea, in a must-win mode, getting the three points they were looking for through a winning goal from Juan Mata.
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Miroslav Klose Scores 5 Goals in 60 Minutes (Lazio vs Bologna)
While Juventus were off securing their second consecutive Serie A title, Miroslav Klose showed that he can still score at the highest of levels, needing only 60 minutes to lead Lazio to a 6-0 win over Bologna while scoring five goals before being substituted to a standing ovation.
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Lionel Messi Scoring 90 Goals a Year Isn’t Good for Barcelona
The one-man team concept blew up in the face of Barcelona and all of its supporters, always sure that any season without them making the Champions League final is just a small bug in the system, instead of a sign that they’re trotting in the same spot of mud for too long a time, and their growing emphasis on Lionel Messi being the only finisher has taken them backwards instead of strengthened their dominance against other European teams.
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Premier League – Manchester United vs Chelsea Predictions
Even without really caring about the rest of the season, Manchester United always try to look like a team with something to play for, especially when it’s against a traditional (a decade us traditional enough) rival like Chelsea, who still have plenty to fight for in what remains of the 2012-2013 season.
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Premier League – Liverpool vs Everton Predictions
It’s been nearly 14 years since the last time Everton won a Merseyside derby at Anfield, seeing Liverpool dominate the encounter through thick & thin, even during some of its weaker seasons. David Moyes might finally get his day and star to shine at a stadium he hates to be at, hoping that Luis Suarez’ absence becomes something the Reds can’t overcome.
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Real Madrid – Cristiano Ronaldo Enjoys Angel Di Maria at His Best
Things are always interesting at Real Madrid, and they manage to stay on course, even if it’s leading nowhere, despite the inner problems, now revolving around the Iker Casillas – Pepe – Jose Mourinho line. In footballing terms, Cristiano Ronaldo is close to 200 goals for the club on another flat display, mostly enjoying the fact that Angel di Maria and Kaka have their own issues to prove and sort out in the final weeks of the season.