Europe is not only about the EPL, but it also has some exciting leagues being fought for in Germany, Italy and Spain. Just as the title run-ins get going all over Europe, iSport’s Pulasta Dhar gears for the last stages of a brilliant 2009/10 and how championships will be decided over the next few weeks….
It is marketed as ‘The Best League in the World’, but there are more competitive leagues than the English Premier League also. Take for example Germany. It might have been touted as boring because Bayern win everything (they’ve won it 20 times!!) but over the last few years, some under-achievers have been playing pokey with Bayern’s high nose. The Bundesliga is one league where anybody can win the title. After a combative 31 weeks, Bayern have made it to the top with a 2 point slender advantage over next in line Schalke04. For most periods, various clubs came, saw the top and fell back. You will know better by reading this: out of the top 7 teams in the Bundesliga, none of them have lost more than 9 games in the whole season! It looks like the challenge will be decided between Munich and Schalke, because 3rd place Bremen are lurking 9 points behind the leader with only four gameweeks to go.
There was a clamour about ESPN not showing the La Liga. On the other hand, I think it was a good decision in the end, because there are virtually only 2 teams fighting for the league since years (let us keep Benitez and Valencia as a rare exception). It is none the different even today, as Madrid have cut the lead to just a point with 5 games to go. If you think there’s a 2nd place scramble, forget about it as Valencia are a quarter of a century of points behind Barcelona. With all the wonders that the Catalans have conjured up this season, Madrid might have a case in this since they know Barca slip up in the easiest games possible.
It’s a similar story in France where the numbers of games are concerned but we will probably have a new champion this time (thankfully!!). Lyon, after some recent slip-ups in domestic football, are 9 points behind leaders Marseille, who in turn are trailed by 2nd placed Auxerre by 5 points. With a mathematical 15 points to play for, anything is possible in France….
Italy is a great place to play your football and watch some very good defending. On the other hand, I think the defending just looks good due to some really bad attacking. This is epitomized by a Goal Difference of not more than 35 in the whole league (Inter Milan being the team to do so). Inter have been pipped Roma in this gameweek and it was due to the derby 2-1 win against Lazio. It is very EPL like as the difference is just 1 point and 3rd placed AC Milan (yeah….that’s the club where Beckham goes on loan) are 7 points behind the leaders. Juventus are nowhere near the top and might find it difficult to get into the ECC again. Surprisingly, the most exciting run-in is in Italy. You might want to check the fixture list to make sure.
As the ECC also enters its final stages, four teams from four different continents will fight it out to become champions of Europe. With Bayern vs Lyon and Inter vs Barca on the cards, take your pick on whom to scream for…..
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/hide comments
Show/hide comment form
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
