Top 3 sides in the EPL, La Liga and Serie A
As the second half of EPL, La Liga and Serie A is about to start, here is a look at the current top 3 clubs which have showed their best performances till now.
English Premier League
1. Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side is currently on top of the table with their best form now, thought it came a bit late. With the likes of Rooney, Chicharito, De Gea, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and new signings Robin van Persie from Arsenal and Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund, it was ‘necessary’ to come on top. They have displayed great performances this season, though Rooney and Kagawa met with an injury and are sidelined. Though Sir Alex is right now concerned about his team’s defending, his attacking side has proved to be fantastic. Their start was not so good as we expected, but later they proved to be the real ‘Comeback Kings’. Currently, they are 7 points ahead of their city rivals Manchester City and 13 points ahead of third placed Tottenham Hotspur.
2. Manchester City
Manchester City, city rivals of Manchester United, are currently in second position. The defending champions have shown lot of talent, with great performances till now and they deserve to be on the ‘first 3′ list. Their start was superb, they kept winning matches, but later, they lost their tempo and lost some games. But now, again they have made themselves powerful to remain in the title race. With Roberto Mancini’s strategy and top players’ such as Dzeko, Aguero, Balotelli, Hart, Silva, Kompany, Toure, they are now in second place and can be favourites again to win the title. But now, Aguero’s long injury and Balotelli’s fight with Mancini can put the team in trouble. So, they have to remain cautious and patient.
3. Tottenham Hotspur
Unexpected, but true! Andre Villas-Boas has managed to keep his side third on the table. Tottenham Hotspur, also known as Spurs, have shown great play this season. Unlike their performance last season, this time it is totally different. Defoe, Dempsey, and not to forget Bale, all have shown great skills. But if we talk about Emannuel Adebayor, he still has to prove himself. His poor form can put the team in danger and maybe, out of the title race. But keeping the good form of Spurs in mind, it will be difficult for any team to throw them out of the top 3.
Spanish La Liga
1. FC Barcelona
It’s been a perfect start for this club! Tito Vilanova’s side has repeated Real Madrid’s record of a perfect start in the 1991-92 season. Their ‘tiki-taka’ Football, passing, playing, stamina, is out of the world. Though they were unable to win the title last season, this time they are looking in the mood to snatch the title back from arch rivals Real Madrid. With winning all the matches this time and drawing only one of them with their arch rivals Real madrid, they are back in form. Stars Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, David Villa, Puyol, Pique all have shown their best performances till date and are looking forward to show some more. Messi scored 91 goals last year, breaking the record of Brazillian Pele (75 goals) and German Gerd Mueller (85 goals), and now is looking forward to show some more this year. They are obviously the favourites to win the league title this year.
2. Atletico Madrid
Rising from the ashes – if we say something like this about this club, then it is not wrong. Under Simeone, Falcao, their power is rising day by day and showing its effect on La Liga’s top goal scorer’s chart with Falcao competing with the world’s top 2 strikers, Messi and Ronaldo. Not only Falcao, but the whole team, Adrian Lopez, Diego Costa, Arda Turan, Filipe Luis all are in form this season. It is obviously a big thing for them. They are currently 7 points ahead of their city rivals Real Madrid.
3. Real Madrid
I feel pity for this club! Who would say, after seeing their performance, that this was the club that won the league title last season? Their performance has been disgusting this time. Great players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Arbeloa, Karim Benzema, all are looking weak this time. Drawing with teams like Espanyol (2-2), Valencia (1-1) and losing matches to Sevilla (1-0), Getafe (2-1), Malaga (3-2), Real Betis (1-0) can prove very costly for this team. Though they are in the top 3, but they must start winning their matches in the new year to reduce the gap with their city rivals Atletico Madrid as soon as possible.
Italian Serie A
1. Juventus
The Old Lady, as they are also called, came back in form from last season only, and this season too, they are looking forward for their 29th league title. The defending champions are giving a fantastic performance this season by losing only 2 of their matches, against Inter Milan (1-3) and AC Milan (1-0). Andrea Pirlo, Fabio Quagliarella, Bonucci, Sebastian Giovinco, Gianluigi Buffon all have displayed their best of forms and the show will go on till the end of the season. Not to forget, they have also thrashed the European Champions Chelsea out of the UEFA Champions League.
2. Lazio
Lazio are the newcomers in the top 3 this time. Last season, they finished on 4th place. They have improved their performances, and perhaps tactics too. Vladimir Petkovic’s men are now fighting for their third title, after winning the 1999-2000 season. Miroslav Klose, Alvaro Gonzalez, Albano Bizarri, Federico Marchetti, Cristian Ledesma, Stefano Mauri all are back with some extraordinary power, it seems. They are just 5 points behind the defending champions Juventus as they have won their last match against Cagliari 2-1, with Abdoulay Konko’s 79th minute strike and Antonio Kandreva’s 86th minute goal from the spot.
3. Inter Milan
Last season, they finished on 6th place and their city rivals finished on 2nd. But this time, they are very well satisfied with their current position. Andrea Stramaccioni’s men have the capability to win their 19th title this time. Samir Handanovic, captain Javier Zanetti, Walter Samuel, Wesley Sneijder, Antonio Cassano all are now back in form. What is the main reason behind their position? No one knows. But it matters that they are the third favourites to take the title home. For now, they are currently sitting in 3rd place, 4 points behind second placed Lazio and 9 points behind Juventus, but also sharing points with 4th placed Fiorentina.