The new European season has just kicked off & it is already reasonable to predict this is going to be one of the most exciting seasons ever. This specially applies to the EPL & La Liga (English & Spanish Leagues) where most of the best players in the world play these days. But the German Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A, and the French Premira are also going to be very competitive & exciting too.In Spain, as usual, this will again be a two horse race between arguably the best two teams in Europe, ie Barcelona & Real Madrid (This simply sounds too boring to the German, French & Dutch fans who are used to far closer & more competitive title races in their respective leagues. Barcelona have a huge task to match their massive success of the last few years.
I am a huge Barcelona fan, their youth academy & Messi, Xavi, Inesta & co. The addition of Fabergas & Sanchez has made them a more compact unit. Hopefully will once again neutralise the arrogant & much disliked Mourinho & Real's "Buy trophies at any cost" strategy. Nevertheless, Mourinho, in his second season in charge, will produce a Real Madrid team capable of winning both the La Liga as well as Champions League, as he did in his previous positions with Porto, Chelsea (although lost the CL final) & of course Inter Milan. The race will be for Barcelona to fend off Real Madrid to the post & any slip up could be hugely costly to either side.
My Tip to win: Barcelona
In Germany Bayern should once again dominate now that their leaky central defence has been reinforced, as long as Ribery & Robben manage to stay fit. However, Borussia Dortmund will also be a genuine contender. Bayern will be aiming to win the Champions League final which will be staged at their Alianz stadium in Munich in May 2012. Barcelona & Real Madrid will be planning otherwise of course.
My tip to win: Bayern
In Italy AC Milan & their ageing stars are the favourites this year. In in my opinion Inter will struggle specially now that samuel E'tto has left them to become the world's highest paid football player. I am impressed with some shrewd signings by the Roman clubs Lazio & AC Roma, which should make both clubs genuine title contenders this year whilst Juventus will not win the Serie A this year, despite their renewal strategy & some great new signings including A Pirlo.
My tip to win: AC Milan
In England although it is early season, Arsenal's amazing 8-2 defeat at the hands of a young Manchester United side & Manchester City's 5-1 hammering of Spurs in London coupled with Dalglish's resurrected Liverpool means the Top 4's make up is already a forgone conclusion. It is the order of the Top 4 at the end of the season which is going to make the EPL yet again very exciting this year.
Top 4 will be Manchester United, manchester City, Liverpool & Chelsea
& Yes, the decline of Arsenal will continue & this year they will finally kiss the Top 4 good bye. But they will also say good bye to Wenger too as they miss out on the lucrative CL next year as a result.
My tip to win: Manchester City
Champions League: Barcelona & Real Madrid are once again the clear front runners to win the CL this year, with the usual suspects, ie AC Milan, Manchester United, Bayern Munchen amongst the second rank favourites. The dark horses this year are Manchester City, Porto & Borussia Dortmund
The flops will be Chelsea & Inter Milan whilst Manchester United's team is simply too young to advance to the final again.
In the draw for the group stage, barcelona & Ac Milan draw each other whilst Bayern Munchen & Manchester City find themselves in arguably the toughest group with Napoli & Villareal. I suspect the winner of this group will go a long away in the CL this year
