New Delhi: The most-widely followed game on the planet is set to usher in the new year with top clubs jostling for top spots in the top leagues around the world. The beautiful game will come to the business end of the season with all the cup and league results around the corner and top clubs from the different leagues vying for the big prize.
EPL
The race for the Premiership title will be the closest it has been in the past few years. With more than half season to be played, there are still six teams that are fighting for the Premier League title. Manchester United at the moment looks to be the hot favourites for the title but you can never discard the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal who also play the finest football in the business.
With all the money in the bank, Manchester City will surely spend big in the January transfer market and make sure that they give the big boys a really tough time. And termed as underdogs, Tottenham Hotspur will surely be battling them till the finish line. They have been the surprise package of the season as they have already beaten the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea and will surely be up there for the silverware.
It's just not about the Premier League in English football, trophies like the Carling Cup and the FA Cup are also up for grabs. Arsenal surely have their one hand on the Carling Cup as they are the only team from among the big boys that has survived till the semi-finals. Next they take on Ipswich Town in the semi-finals and it should be a cake walk for them. Arsene Wenger men's will be itching to get their hands on the first silverware after six years.
The FA Cup will kick-off early January with the mother of all games as Manchester United host Liverpool at the Theatre of Dreams. United holds the record for the maximum FA Cups and will be hoping to add another to its tally. But the hot favourites before the start is none other than the defending champions Chelsea. Chelsea have won three FA Cup titles in last four years and will be hoping to add another to its tally.
As they say, never take anyone for granted in the club competition, and so big guns will surely be wary of likes of Aston Villa, Blackburn and Fulham who could prove to be more than a handful on their day.
La Liga
The year 2010 ended in fantastic style for Bracelona in the Spanish League as they topped the charts, ahead of their arch Rivals Real Madrid by two points. As we head into the New Year, it's by far a two-horse race. Barcelona and Real Madrid will be vying for the biggest trophy in Spanish League. On paper, Real Madrid and Barcelona have arguably the two strongest club teams on the planet at present.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas, Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, David Villa; these squads are stacked with football gems!
Barcelona, though, remain the firm favourite to make a hat-trick of league titles but with Jose Mourinho as the coach for Madrid, Barca will surely have something to worry about. Rivalry between these two has been going on since ages and now with Ronaldo and Messi in the opposite camps, it's expected to boil over. Both would want to prove who is the best player in the world.
With Villarreal and Valencia in third and fourth positions respectively (10 and 15 points behind the leaders), Barca and Madrid have little to worry about other teams catching up with them. Surely as the time and months pass by, these two teams will be rubbing shoulders and not to forget, Barcelona still has to travel to Madrid in the most awaited matches of the season: 'El Clasico'.
Shiting focus to the Copa del Rey, and while it is not the most prestigious trophy, in recent seasons Spain's top club teams Real Madrid and Barcelona have found winning the Copa Del Rey an elusive feat. Sevilla has won two of the last four tournaments and have retained their flashy core squad in Luis Fabiano, Jesus Navas, Diego Capel, Didier Zokora and Diego Perotti.
Look for Sevilla to be right up there with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia this season and to replicate their 2009-2010 Copa del Rey success.
Serie A
With Jose Mourinho's departure to Real Madrid, Mario Balotelli's ill-advised move to the Manchester City and above it the sacking of Rafael Benitez, defending Champions Inter Milan will surely be hoping that year 2011 brings something good for them. Inter Milan are currently in seventh place, 13 points behind their city rivals and league leaders AC Milan. However, you can never take Inter for granted as they have won the league five times in succession.
AC Milan have been in sublime form and will be hoping that Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pato and Robinho continue with the last years form and help AC Milan win the league after 2003-04 season.
But it won't be easy for them as Napoli and Lazio are hot on their tail and will surely give them a run for their money. And as they say, never rule out Juventus of the Scudetto. Old Lady's form has been a pleasant surprise this season and are sitting comfortably on fourth, just five points behind the leaders. Juventus' one of the aims this season would be to qualify for the Champions League which they missed out last time.
Talking about Inter Milan, they really have a tough task ahead but a new coach and a few buys in the January transfer market can do world of good to them.
Well, it's just not about league title. There is one more tournament where clubs will be vying for the silverware. Coppa Italia will go into the last-16 round in mid January and surely Inter and AC Milan will be firm favourites to win the title. The defending Champions will be up against Genoa and on the other hand Milan will take on AS Bari.
Champions League:
The draw for the last sixteen of the Champions League has been made and the tie of the round is Arsenal's match with Spanish giants Barcelona. The match will be a dream draw for neutrals, as it should be a match full of open and attacking football. The other match-ups that stand out are AC Milan's tie with Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan's match with Bayern Munich, which is a repeat of last season's final.
English giants Manchester United and Chelsea take on Marseille and FC Copenhagen, while Spanish sides Valencia and Real Madrid face Schalke and Lyon. Italians AS Roma will play Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk.
All the clubs mentioned above will be hoping to bring home the glory and lift the biggest prize in Europe. Players and managers live for the day when they can lift this title. Such is the excitement about this tournament that many managers, including Sir Alex Ferguson, feel that this tournament is even bigger and important than the FIFA World Cup.
The title has been won by 21 different clubs, 12 of whom have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Real Madrid and they, along with Barcelona, are again seen as the favourites to win the title. Punters' money will surely be on Barcelona as their players will be hoping to remove the scars of last year's semifinal exit at the hands of Inter Milan.
Transfer Market:
The really big transfers never happen mid-season any more, but when Manchester City is there anything can happen and already rumours are rife that Edin Dzeko is on its way from Wolfsburg. The price tag expected is 30 million Pounds. City are surely to be active in transfer market as they are fully loaded. But the team whcih surely should be active in transfer market are Chelsea who's season has gone from bad to worse lately and they surely need players to get them right on track.
Manchester United will also have to be in marker for defending mid-fielder as Owen Hargreaves is no where near return and name which is being linked is none other than Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra but Ferguson has never been interested in January buys but surely they will be active in the summer transfer market. Arsenal would want to add few names to their squad as they lack a good goalkeeper and solid defenders.
When the transfer market comes to your mind how can you not think about Real Madrid. Madrid will want to add few more starts to their Glacticos. Their arch rivals Barcelona will try to tempt Cesc Fabregas again in summer. Inter Milan would also want to add few talent to their squad as they are no way near the best this year with their ageing squad.
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