SUPER SUNDAY WITH FOOTBALL; WHAT TO EXPECT

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This weekend would provide the footballing world with some of the matches the world has been dying to see. In this article the author ranks the matches that are going to be bring more joy to the footballing fraternity in ranks starting with the Premier, La Liga, Bundesliga and the Italian Serie A

PREMIER LEAGUE

EVERTON VERSUS LIVERPOOL

DO OR DIE FOR BRENDAN RODGERS AND LIVERPOOL?

 

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EVERTON LOOKS TO CONTINUE WITH GREAT FORM

It’s one of the matches that I would pay any amount of money just to watch because it might determine the future of Liverpool Boss Brendan Rodgers who has seen his side play against some of the weakest opponents in recent times and only manage draws. Last Thursdays draw against a low fancied Sion in the Uefa Europa League means that Liverpool seems to be thriving on the same fate that see them buy players but cannot get the results the team needs in order to sail through. The sale of Balotelli seemed to have helped but the performances he is churning out for Milan proves he could have done something for the Club. Philippe Coutinho might be playing his last season for Liverpool if they do not make it to the Champions League and would likely follow in the footsteps of Raheem Sterling. Brendan Rodgers should do more to win this game or his job and the core of the team would all leave to see Liverpool become weaker and weaker.

Everton at 12 points and just four points to the summit of the table would not be pushovers, they are more concerned about getting the job done and Naismith would love to repeat the feet he gained against Chelsea. Everton would be coming out with full strength. Merseyside is destined to witness a great game on Sunday and the whole world would be following them.

 

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ARSENAL VERSUS MANCHESTER UNITED

One of the greatest games in the early 2000’s when the league was dominated by the two clubs till Arsenal fell off but are now back in third place and a win would see them join United in the summit of the league and better them with goal difference. It’s been embarrassing for Arsene Wenger’s men, but they look bright this season in the league and would like to bounce back from the shameful disgrace and performance in the Champions League in mid-week which now sees them on the brink of group stage elimination. Alexis Sanchez and Ozil would come strong and Petr Cech would do his best to make the best out of the game.

Manchester United seems to have gotten a new energy this season and bounced back with wins against Southampton, Sunderland and Wolfsburg. With the likes of Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial possessing strengths in attack, Louis Van Gaal would be relying on his team to play out his tactics and get the results they need so that they would be able to extend their lead in the race for the Premiership.

It’s going to be a game where new faces face off and both teams need to make the most of their chances in order to be victorious.

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SPAIN (LA LIGA)

ATLETICO VERSUS REAL MADRID

La Liga has always been seen by many as the best league in the world. Anyway it’s arguable but having Ronaldo and Messi who score combined goals of a little over 100 shows you they are in a league of their own. Messi is out injured but the big match revolves around Cristiano’s team and that’s the game between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid. Having lost to FC Barcelona this season after taking the lead Atletico would not give Real Madrid any chance and would love to repeat the feet they achieved 2014/15 where they beat them 4-0. Cristiano Ronaldo seems to have broken Raul’s record according to the kind of lens you are wearing, but in order to clear people’s doubts, he would be aiming to score the goal that would silence his doubters and proves to him that hard work and ambition pays off and he would go down the history books of the world game as one of the greatest. Rafael Benitez gradually seems to have found his rhythm and the same goes with Atletico Madrid who would love to bounce back after losing 1-2 to Benfica in midweek. Whatever happens, derby matches are like no other and with the London Derby gone and the Milan Derby gone far away, this derby is the one the world focuses on this weekend. Viva Derby Madrid.

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BUNDESLIGA

BAYERN MUNICH VERSUS BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Thomas Tuchel came up not long ago and has taken over well from former Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp. The yellow and black outfit seems to have a new light under the former Mainz Boss and they are playing Champagne football and keep the ball to themselves, work it out well before scoring flamboyant goals. With the sale of Kevin De Bruyne to Manchester City, Wolfsburg are a far cry to challenge Bayern Munich this season and the job as always needs to be done by Dortmund. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang would love to score again to take his scoring record to a new level having scored in the first seven games of the Bundesliga season.

Josep Guardiola as always is a master, having reached the Champions League semi-finals every season in his career, he assembles young and old and gets the job done. The purchase of Douglas Costa and the emergence of Robert Lewandowski from the shadows is one that would aid Bayern Munich win this game.

Whatever happens the Allianz Arena would be filled to capacity and the game would be won by the top two strikers involved.

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ITALIAN SERIE A 

AC MILAN VERSUS NAPOLI

The Italian league is the most unpredictable league this season. Betting on matches would see you always lose because every team seems to have upped their game and tactical set up. The match between AC Milan and Napoli is the match that would fill the headlines of the Gazetta Dello Sport newspaper at the end of the weekend. Both teams need to win. Luis Adriano, Balotelli and Carlos Bacca would love to get a good game to prove their worth to coach Sinisa Mihaijovic who seems to be unimpressed week in and week out. Napoli are no push overs, with the happenings of Fiorentina at the San Siro last weekend, this weekend might also provide some scintillating games. The Italian Serie A is on the rise and the game would be one that takes the performances of the teams to a new level.

It’s a weekend with great games and Sunday evening would have summed up with a lot of surprises.

DON'T BLAME THEM: NETHERLANDS SUFFER FROM AGING SQUAD

Source: dailyvedas.com

Everybody seems to be talking about why Netherlands is not performing and how shaky they have become after the 2014 World Cup and the departure of Louis Van Gaal. There have been many ups and downs after the World Cup.

The tactical genius Louis Van Gaal who normally gets criticized by people over nothing because he is bold to play youngsters and players with no names rather than players who just know it all has departed and the confidence he instilled in players such as Bruno Martins Indi and the likes have all died down to some extent.

Aside that Arjen Robben has been battling with injuries over the last season which saw Barcelona FC eliminate Bayern Munich from the Champions league and therefore his performance has been shy from the Robben the football world saw at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Wesley Sneijder has not been the best though he played well at the World Cup; Sneijder has not been the same man for Netherland in 2014/15 as he was for Internazionale Milano in 2009/10 season. The core group is aging and some of them would soon depart, new methods and players should be grouped together for long in order to come out for

Source: unisportstore.com

L’Orange.

The man people refer to us as V-Power Van Persie is aging and he is not the same man whose last name sounds like goaaaaal. After his transfer from Manchester United to Fenerbache, RVP, Van the man hasn’t been the same as he is predestined to play other than Old Trafford where he would have fought for spots with the likes of Wayne Rooney for the arrow head role.

With the likes of Iceland and Turkey featuring an Arda Turan who is still waiting for Barcelona’s ban to be lifted to be able to kick a ball thrashing the Netherlands means that the national team has a whole lot of things they should do in order to get the 2^nd and 3^rd place team of the previous two editions of the World Cup back.

With new additions and faces such as Manchester United’s emerging superstar Memphis Depay, Kevin Strootman and De Guzman, L’Orange can become that force again like the Van Persie, Robben and Sneijder trio. Another group of players should be given the chance to feel responsible and take the blame when things and results do not go the way of the Netherlands football team.

Avid football fans are missing the great games they used to play and the kind of goals they used to score and with new mentality and energy with a sense of responsibility and a hunger for titles and success, L’Orange would be back.

WILL CLUB BRUGGE BECOME THE NEW BILBAO TO ATTRACT VIEWERS TO A SECOND LEG

Big teams possess the strong players and the big money to attract but without the relatively smaller clubs, they won’t be able to become the powerhouses they call themselves.

With players such as Felipe Gedoc, Oscar Duarte, Ruud Vormer and Jose Izquierdo not being in the same league and fame as Rooney and Co. football is played with passion, therefore Club Brugge should do more in order to help their supporters realize champions league football.

With manager Louis Van Gaal admitting that the match could be the biggest match he has presided over as manager of Manchester United (source: theguardian) should not be taken at face value.

Club Brugge might not the biggest club around these days but Manchester United would not have it easy as they play at first then visit the Belgian side at the Jan Breydel Stadium later this month. Football is a game of two halves and with the group stage placements just around the corner, anything can happen.

Whatever happens today would play a massive role in deciding the tie therefore both teams to do well to progress and give viewers the edge to watch a second leg.

Around this time on Friday last week many fans of Barcelona said they were going to thrash Bilbao. In the biggest club competition in world football Manchester United have quality and a greater chance to qualify to the group stage because of the experience they possess in their team and the lovers of football would experience a great which might be full of surprises.