WERDER BREMEN MUST WAKE UP

Great teams have come and gone Napoli did play their part, Deportivo La Coruna also did well but amongst others the 2009 UEFA CUP finalists are nowhere the places they deserve to be and they should fight back and come to the very top of the German Bundesliga and then transform their energies into the UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.

  

After the 2010 Champions League qualification, their tie against Sampdoria proved to be the match of the qualifying round and they did not disappoint, eliminating Sampdoria at the Estadio Luigi Ferrari in Genoa with two goals from Claudio Pizzaro and Arnautovic. Their qualification to the group stage where they drew Internazionale Milano and Tottenham Hotspurs proved to be the real performances they have churned out in the limelight in as many years but they could only manage third place and back to the renamed Europa League.

Werder Bremen seems to be gradually losing the spirit that saw them play against heavyweights Barcelona, Milano and Internazionale in recent seasons and would need to get that love back as soon as possible.

After losing 3-0 to Schalke 04 at the Weserstadion and with a trip to the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on Friday night, Bremen have an uphill task and would have to do more to realize the first points of the season.

The current players of Werder Bremen should know how it feels like to play for Bremen, although they cannot compete financially with the powerhouses of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, the current players can do more to make the team attractive so that the team gets back to its former state.

The fans at the Weserstadion would support the team no matter what but unlike footballers who get paid whether win or lose, fans joy only comes when the team performs well.

 Raphael Wolf, Clemens Fritz and the other members who make the core group of the Werder setup should step up their game so that smiles start covering the faces of the faithful Werder supporters.

WINNERS AND LOSERS OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIRST LEG

Manchester United after making a shaky start to the tie after letting in an own goal by Michael had an uphill task and they replied in style with new boy Memphis Depay coming up with two goals in the first half. Marouane Fellaine capped it off in the dying embers of the game to see Manchester United take a 3-1 lead to Belgium.Whatever happens in the weekend against Newcastle United, Manchester United would feel more than relax but would negotiate the match against Newcastle knowing they have a two goal cushion which could be turned over by the Belgian side but their experience in the elite competition should see them through. The Belgian side did not disappoint and if they bad in a goal within the opening stages of the second leg, fans would fall in to watch a great game.

SS Lazio has given Italian Football hope, the late result they got against a great Bayer04 Leverkusen side was not the Lazio team but for the Italians and the league. They are not going to get it easy but would have to come out and play and win so that they would sail through and make the group stage. It is either they make it or see Italian Serie A represent themselves with only two teams.

Seydou Doumbia’s goal would prove vital for CSKA Moscow as the Russian club hold their heads high knowing that a goal would see them through in Moscow. Sporting CP played a massive goal and can hold on to advance to the group stage. The result of the tie makes the second leg one that’s worth waiting for and the football world is set to see and experience a great game and the first team that would make it to the group stage due to the early kickoff in Russia.

DI MARIA THE MAN TO BREAK PSG's QUARTER FINALS CURSE

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Paris Saint Germain can exceed the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final having reached that stage for three consecutive seasons having been eliminated by FC Barcelona in 2012/13, Chelsea in 2013/14 and FC Barcelona again in 2014/15.

The acquisition of the Argentina International who has spent the last two seasons with three different clubs winning the Champions league with Madrid saw injuries mess up his fine form for Manchester United. Di Maria would be spending yet another season in a different league, a different city and a different club and at Paris Saint Germain where he has the comfort of fellow Argentina internationals Javier Pastore and Ezekiel Lavezzi, Di Maria would settle fairly well in the French capital and would help the club cross that stage.

The current squad available at the PSG needed a little augmentation and needed a man like Angel Di Maria who can naturally attack from the right, score goals and set up massive goals for strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani. Cavani played at the right side of attack for the last two seasons and evidently his performance and contributions were not up to standard as compared to the prowess he possesses when he is the main focal point of attack as seen from his days at Napoli.

Angel Di Maria would add that final touch to the club who has won everything in French football, his performances would come in handy and with his versatility as an attacker and midfielder he can distribute passes and assists the same way he helped fire Real Madrid to La Decima, they have acquired the right player for the main course.

After FC Barcelona's troubles on conceding goals against Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao, PSG can be the dark horse for the coming European season.

LEICESTER CITY FC COULD DO MORE THAN THE SOUTHAMPTON OF LAST SEASON

Leicester City would be more than the Southampton of last season if they carry on successfully with the performances they have been displaying on the football pitch. It was a deadly voyage for Leicester City Football Club at the start of the season last time out but they turn the tide and became the lone survivors.

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With a new man at the helm in the light of Claudio Ranieri who has seen it all with the likes of Chelsea, Internazionale and AS Roma among other teams, Leicester poses a tactical genius in their own rights and with such performances they would do more than they have done now as matches against clubs like Sunderland and West Ham, the latter who stunned Arsenal on the opening day is no fluke that Leicester have cemented their place in the English Premier League and would not visit the championship any time soon, probably never again.

The signings of Shinji Okazaki from Mainz has been the coolest deal that has been made in the transfer window aside Raheem Sterling's move to Manchester City obviously as his contributions to the teams opening success has been tremendous. Leicester is a relatively smaller club so many people might not see the impact the Japanese international have up his sleeves and the creativity that has befallen on him. Shinji Okazaki can give goals and great attacking play from either side of the wings and would create a lot of chances for James Vardy to score and transform the team from relegation bound and threatened to a middle table team in the first round and can do more to compete for places in the Barclays Premier League this season. 

 

The goalkeeping DNA that has exchanged hands from father to son has seen Kasper Schmeichel help in maintaining Leicester's form. With safe pair of hands in the goal post and with the goals looming in the Barclays Premier League, Schmeichel without a doubt would do the very best to help his side continue the enormous success that has already started because of the dedication the team has already put in.

The experiences of Robert Huth having played for Chelsea and Stoke City would also prove vital towards meeting opposing strikers who are new to the tempo and the reading of the game in the league. With the sizzling runs of Ghana international Jeffrey Schlupp and the creative game of Riyad Mahrez, James Vardy can be amongst the top ten goalscorers in the Barclays Premier League this season if he continues to score and take every chance that comes his way.

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A great win against a great Aston Villa side having come from two goals down to win 3-2 makes Leicester a force to reckon win, the other teams should get ready for the better Southampton of last season because the King Power Stadium is going to witness more of match day wins this season.