This Friday is the start of the favorite season for football enthusiasts, the one where it is possible to get up at 7 a.m. on a Sunday morning to watch a sweet clash between Burnley and Crystal Palace. This is also the time of year when the European league schedule overlaps that of MLS. Overview of the five major European championships and their intrigues.
Domination. That’s the word that sums up Pep Guardiola’s time in charge of Manchester City so far. The Cityzens have won five of seven titles since he took over. Not only is the English championship under the yoke of the machine run by the Spanish driver, but it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Last year, City easily got rid of Arsenal at the end of the season and finally got their hands on a Champions League title. This season he will be aiming for a fourth championship in a row – which would be a first in Premier League history. A more experienced and above all more substantial formation of Arsenal as well as Liverpool and Manchester United will try to oppose it.
Sometimes it’s hard to assess a club’s summer before seeing the rookies in their new colours. On the other hand, we will not have to wait to understand that Paris Saint-Germain’s off-season was a disaster. First, he lost Lionel Messi, the favorite for the 2023 Ballon d’Or. Then, he is in dispute with his star striker Kylian Mbappé, whom he is trying to sell at all costs. Finally, the most expensive player in the history of soccer, Neymar, asked to evolve under new skies. Starting the season without potentially any member of this attacking trio would spell the end of the hegemony of French soccer. Marseille should gain momentum after an excellent transfer window and Canadian Jonathan David’s club, Lille, will still be just as threatening.
Failing to have a club that spends colossal sums, the Italian first division offers us the best title race for a few years already thanks to its fairly balanced ranking. A simple look at the last champions proves it: four different champions in the last four seasons. Naples, which triumphed last year with flamboyant play, will have achieved the biggest blow of the offseason. He kept his famous duo formed by the goal machine Victor Osimhen and the explosive Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Naturally, the two Milan clubs, Juventus or even Lazio could try to come and play spoilsport.
After the slap that Real Madrid took in the semi-finals of the Champions League against Manchester City and the elimination of FC Barcelona in the group stage of European competition, we feel that the Spanish clubs who have dominated the last ten years are under reconstruction. Real Madrid will try to pass the torch in midfield between the era of Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modrić and that of Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde and especially his new nugget, Jude Bellingham. Same observation on the offensive front while Vinícius Júnior awaits the worthy replacement of Karim Benzema, read here the inevitable arrival of Kylian Mbappé. Barcelona, for their part, will be more in the development continuity and will try to retain their championship belt.
A small victory. That’s what Dortmund needed in the final game of the season to end ten straight years of Bayern Munich crowning glory. But no, he got a draw and finished second. It will be even more complex to style the Bavarian club this season, as it has strengthened and will be entitled to a first full year under the orders of tactician Thomas Tuchel. As for Dortmund, they lost Jude Bellingham, but should still have a few cartridges. The title is not a foregone conclusion for Bayern, but with the imminent arrival of prolific England striker Harry Kane, it’s just like that.
