Champions league group stage up for grabs

Tonight the Champions league group stage is on the minds of ten clubs. All five games are 19:45 kick off and some key clubs are involved.

Sampdoria v Werder Bremen:

I will be watching this game to see if Werder can complete their passage through or Sampdoria will overcome their German opponents. It will be intersting to see if Sampdoria can mount a challenge while Bremen without Ozil could be a different side. Altogether though I see Werder going through but Sampdoria will score which will make this match tight.

Hapoel Tel-Aviv v Salzburg:

A game finally poised at 3-2 to the Israeli champions and with three away goals from last week they are the favorites to advance. Salzburg though are a though nut to crack and who knows maybe they will get the two goals needed to advance themselves. My prediction in this one is Hapoel to go through and 2-1 winners on the night.

Sherriff v Basel:

Sherriff are an interesting side. The Moldovan champions for the past ten years have never really made a big splash in Europe. Tonight they have an opportunity to become the first Moldovan side to make the group stages. Basel are tough to beat. I can see Sherriff winning 2-1 but Basel to go through on away goals.

Anderlecht v Partizan:

Again another finely poised tie. 2-2 from Belgrade last week can we expect another cracker tonight? Anderlecht have home advantage and with that I see them winning tonight to advance but Partizan are a side that won't back down so expect a good open match in this one.

Sevilla v Sporting Braga:

An Iberian derby and with one place to grab this is going to be a massive game for both sides. Sevilla and Sporting Braga are two sides that deserve Champions League football. A 1-0 lead from last week, Braga will be expecting a tough game as Sevilla will go on the chase. Almost impossible to call but I am going for Sevilla to advance and it may well go to extra-time.

The Chaos of a league

Chaos is what the Brazilian Série A was at the turn of last decade. Today we see UEFA officials wanting the top European leagues to cut the number of teams from 20 to 18. Should that happen those leagues (England, Spain and Italy) will have two rounds of matches less, which would in theory make the holidays longer in the summer of no World Cup or Euros.

But in Brazil back in 2001 they didn't beleive in cutting the number of teams. No they wanted more we are talking about 20 odd teams in a league being the maximum number but in 2001 Brazil had a total of 28 teams taking part.

Thankfully the league only had them play each other once which totaled 27 games for everyone and sparred us of a 54 game season in the league for each side. They have cut the number down since with "only" 26 taking part the following year in 2002 and 24 in 2003. 22 took part in 2005 before the current system of 20 was first introduced in 2006.

Could you imagine the Premier League with 28 teams ? sounds funny but with money taking preference these days in football don't rule it out in many years to come.

Fluminense

Fluminense from Rio de Janeiro are having a splendid season in 2010. Top of Série A by four points from Corinthians currently and going well with that man Washington leading the attack.

Washington is the club top scorer in the league this year with 5 goals but the thing with Fluminense is that they may have scored just 23 goals in 14 games but have conceded just 9 with only Ceará conceding less.

Fluminense have been slowly evolving into a title challenging side. In 2008 they lost the Copa Libertadores final to LDU Quito from Ecuador and only just avoided the drop that year. 2009 was also tight and Fluminense avoided the drop by a point.

So far in 2010 already the club are on 32 points and are just 14 from beating last year's total. It may be shocking to think that Fluminense may well have been playing in Série B this year but the fact that they lead the table shows that this side mean business.

My La Liga predictions 2010-11

2010-11 promises to be a fascinating campaign. Both Madrid and Barcelona have spent big and effectively. Only yesterday Madrid announced Mesut Ozil was their new signing having thrown up some impressive performances at the World cup just gone. Ozil joins Carvalho, Pedro León, José Mourinho and Sami Khedira as the new arrivals. But what can we expect from Madrid this year? this time last year with Kaká and Ronaldo we expected Madrid to take some time to gel. The gelled quickly and chased Barca all the way until the final day last season.

And what of the Catalans that are the currently champions for the past two years. Not much different from last season with David Villa heading the arrivals that also include Adriano from Sevilla, who I think is proberly the best bit of business in Spain this summer and the on going Fábregas saga which it is not beyond question that we may see Cesc in Barca colours before the window shuts at the end of the month.

The rest of the league may well forget about the title but a season that could lead to a scramble for the European places may end up with the usual suspects claiming them. Last year both Sevilla and Valencia were touted as possible contenders to stop Madrid and Barca but 3rd placed Valencia were a full 25 points off.

This summer Valencia have been hit hard as the financial problems have caught up. Out are David Villa and David Silva while Ruben Baraja has also departed and in come Roberto Soldado, Aritz Aduriz and Mehmet Topal plus many others from around Europe. The shining light may be Juan Mata who appears to be set to stay and Pablo Hernández, a player I highly regard might well be staying which could help Valencia.

My Top four:

1. Barcelona
2. Real Madrid
3. Sevilla
4. Villarreal

Barcelona for me may well win the league but just as last year it will be tight possibly heading down to the final day again. Real Madrid to finish 2nd but just pipped by Barca. José Mourinho may have a strong squad but Barca have been on top with the same players for the past two years while Adriano and Villa will strengthen the side.

As for the other places. Sevilla get my 3rd place as I feel they will have a good season providing they keep Luís Fabiano and keep Jesús Navas fit.

Villarreal get my 4th place ahead of Valencia because of the problems Valencia have endured this summer. Villarreal have spent wisely this summer but I think Nilmar will have a good season as will Giuseppe Rossi and I think we may well be seeing more of Jefferson Montero this season.

Rest of the top ten

5. Valencia

6. Real Zaragoza

7. Atlético Madrid

8. Deportivo La Coruna

9. Athletic Bilbao

10. Getafe

A season that could surprise many as far as the European places are concerned. Zaragoza I feel are a top six team in Spain but may struggle to get the Europa league place. Atlético it depends on which Atlético we see this year. Do we see a side that implode and miss out on Europe or a side that can make a push for the champions league again.

Deportivo might finish 8th but home form is crucial and getting a good run away. Bilbao have been improving and 9th I think is the best they will achieve this year but don't be surprised if they finished higher.

Getafe may well be fighting for a Europa league place but Pedro León is a key departure as is Roberto Soldado but are a dark Horse.

Mid-Table:

11. Real Mallorca

12. Real Sociedad

13. Sporting de Gijón

14. Espanyol

Mallorca will achieve a could solid 11th I feel but Sociedad and Gijón have strong home support which will help them while Espanyol without Raúl Tamudo will be interesting.

Relegation:

15. Racing Santander

16. Almería

17. Osasuna

18. Málaga

19. Levante

20 Hércules

This is what I have gone for as for relegation but I like to be proved wrong and Hércules have an element of surprise. Levante have been here before but I think not enough to stay up this time while Málaga for all the support could be down this season. Almería, Osasuna and Racing are my other sides here but any of them can go down.