Big kick-off: Who will win Europe's top leagues?
It’s that time of year again! The new football season is upon us and below you will find my predictions on what will happen in Europe’s top four leagues over the next 10 months. One thing is for sure. There should be plenty of dramatic twists and turns in England, Germany, Italy and Spain. So here we go:
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
1. Manchester United
A 20th league title beckons for United, who got better in the summer and are still the team to beat. With Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic the best central defensive partnership in Europe, the Red Devils will be solid enough to see off all of their major contenders once again.
In my mind, they still need one more central midfielder to have aspirations of winning the Champions League.
Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher are too average for United to contend with the top teams on the continent. Alex Ferguson will hope Anderson can stay fit and focused this season. The Brazilian will be a key player if no re-inforcements (Wesley Sneijder?) are signed.
2. Chelsea
Do the Blues keep on getting older or wiser? A little bit of both, I guess. A new manager with a fresh approach will motivate some of the veterans to run harder and faster, but new faces are still needed at the Bridge if Chelsea want to win the title.
Without Michael Essien, who is injured for several months, the midfield is just too thin and too slow. Luka Modric would be an amazing signing, but if he doesn’t come, then Andre Villas-Boas needs to find another creative player to run the show. Otherwise his team will be too predictable, just as they were last season.
3. Manchester City
They have the squad to be champions, but I just don’t see Roberto Mancini as the man who is going to take City to the title. He keeps on buying forwards instead of improving the centre of defence. He keeps on leaving Adam Johnson on the bench.
He keeps on giving Mario Balotelli a key role, even though he hasn’t matured into a star player yet. Don’t get me wrong, City will win a lot of games this year thanks to the individual quality of their players, but they need to be more offensive and have a better game plan before they can dream of dethroning their rivals United.
4. Liverpool
I picked The Reds to finish fourth last year and was made to look silly. The team just couldn’t get going with Roy Hodgson and flirted with relegation before recovering to finish 6th.
However, this season I really believe all the pieces are in place for Liverpool to be back amongst the big boys. Luis Suarez is an electrifying player and the signings in midfield have given manager Kenny Dalglish the necessary tools to build a solid team. Charlie Adam will surprise a lot of people, believe me. The Reds are two top defenders away from being title contenders.
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
1. Borussia Dortmund
They are young, they are lean and they are mean. Dortmund took the Bundesliga by storm last season with a series of fantastic performances on the way to their first title since 2002, and they are ready to do it all over again. Dynamic manager Jurgen Klopp was able to hold on to most of his young stars and they will keep on shining this year. Mario Gotze will keep on getting better and if Lucas Barrios continues to knock in the goals, then they will be hard to stop. The sophomore slump will not affect these guys, take my word for it.
2. Bayern Munich
They have two world class wingers in Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben and if both of them stayed healthy, then the Bavarians would be good enough to win the title. The problem is they can never stay healthy for a whole season and their replacements are never good enough.
Bayern have improved from last year, especially in defence, but in my opinion they are still not good enough at the back to become champions. Manuel Neuer is an amazing goalkeeper and he will improve the back line, but ever since Daniel van Buyten lost his pace and his place, Bayern have not had a defensive general. And they will miss one.
3. Werder Bremen
Last year, they endured a miserable season, after dealing with one of the worse injury crisis ever seen, leading to a disappointing 13th place finish in the league. However, assuming many of their top players stay fit this season, then Bremen will be back where they feel they belong – fighting for the title. Marko Marin is one of the top attacking midfielders on the planet and he will inspire this team to a top three spot.
4. Wolfsburg
They were nearly relegated last year but this season it will be an entirely different story. With Felix Magath having had the time to rebuild the team, I expect Wolfsburg to have a very good season. Don’t forget, they won the title only three years ago and many of those championship winning players are still around at the Wolkswagen Arena. Patrick Helmes was a great signing from Leverkusen and if Diego recovers his best form, then anything is possible.
ITALIAN SERIE A
1. Milan
The Rossoneri enjoyed a renaissance last season, winning the title for the first time since 2004. Almost all of the same ingredients are still in place at the San Siro and manager Maximiliano Allegri should be able to prepare another title winning recipe. Milan actually got better with the signing of Phillipe Mexes, a top defender, to fill in for the ageing Alessandro Nesta. With Alexandre Pato continuing to develop and the ageless Clarence Seedorf pulling the strings, this team will have enough quality and depth to win the Scudetto once again. This is despite Zlatan Ibrahimovic being incredibly unpredictable and Andrea Pirlo departing for Juventus.
2. Roma
A summer revolution has taken place in the Italian capital. Roma have a new owner, a new manager and surely a new system. Obviously the jury is still out on Luis Enrique, the new coach, but judging from what I have seen from him, I believe he will be the catalyst of a new winning cycle at the Olimpico. Francesco Totti is still around and he will help the transition to an era that will see fresh faces making an impact at the club.
3. Inter
So successful with Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho, but Inter will struggle to win the title over the next couple of years. This is a team that is getting older and many veterans are struggling to stay motivated, after recently winning everything there is to win at the club. I get the impression that president Massimo Moratti knows he has to rebuild the side and bring in hungrier players, that is why he may consider cashing in on Sneijder and even Samuel Eto’o over the next 12 months.
4. Juventus
Following a disappointing season in which they finished 7th, a lot of heads rolled in Turin. The manager, Luigi Del Neri, was sent packing and changes were also made at board level. With Antonio Conte, a new young coach who knows the club, taking over I get the impression that Juve will improve significantly this season. It will help to have an experienced player such as Pirlo calling the shots in midfield. The additions of Arturo Vidal and Mirko Vucinic also give the coach a lot more depth in the squad.
SPANISH LIGA
1. Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho has never failed to win a league title in his second season in charge at a club, and I think that streak will continue at Real Madrid. Having worked with most of his players for over a year, the Portuguese manager will have injected his winning mentality into ever single one of them. With Cristiano Ronaldo improving every day and scoring goals for fun, Real will be good enough to win their first title in four years.
2. Barcelona
It is easy to forget that Barca’s players are human. They have won so much and so often that we just take it for granted. However, they are human, and they are entitled to have a season in which they fail to live up to expectations. I think the Catalans will still play fantastic football and will still challenge for the title until the last day of the season, but for some reason I just feel they won’t win it this year. Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi just can’t keep doing it day in and day out. Surely they will pick up small injuries and miss key games? And surely without them Barcelona will struggle? I still pick them to win the Champions League, but I think they will finish second in Spain.
3. Valencia
They surprised a lot of people by finishing third last season after losing both David Villa and David Silva. Led by the goals of Juan Mata and Roberto Soldado, and the scintillating midfield displays of Ever Banega, Valencia were pretty impressive. In fact, if Real and Barca weren’t the two best teams on the planet, then surely in another era they would have challenged for the title? With the addition of a couple of quality players like Sergio Canales and Pablo Piatti, they should be good enough to finish third again.
4. Atletico Madrid
After a tumultuous season in which manager Quique Flores lost the plot, Atletico are ready to return to winning ways. The new manager, Gregorio Manzano, is extremely experienced, and even if they have lost Sergio Aguero, they still have a quality squad and if they play like a team they will be among the best in Spain this year. I am sure the club will spend some cash to get in another top striker and they still have Diego Forlan around. He is getting older but he is still a fantastic player. Watch out for young forward Adrian. He could be the next David Villa.
Interesting Predictions, I'm interested to know what you think Wengers boys will do this year.
Thanks
for mourinho to win he will have to sort out the tactical questions regarding kaka and ronaldo on if they can play in the same set up.
I wouldn't jump into conclusions making predictions at this stage. I rather wait for the transfer window deadline. That's what I will do Mr. Pinto.
I think you're absolutely wrong about the English Premier League....did you deliberately leave Arsenal out of the loop. I don't Man City making it to the top 5 this season.
Interesting, but even if there's just room to mention four teams in each country, it's unreal to not mention Arsenal in the Premier League. It's like talking Politics and forget to mention Obama.
Mr.Pinto you're absolutaly wright about the EPL,Serie A and bundesliga, but I think that Barcelona will win their 4th leauge title in a row.Because real madrid will struggle against some lower teams, just like past seasons.I don't see barca winning it, because no team has won it 2 consecutive seasons..
premier league: chelsea; bundesliga: bayern; serie a: milan; la liga: real.
Dude, please, stop trying to predict in football, maybe you are good at something else, in football though, you former "predictions" proved to be wrong, your success average was null! That you still try is ridiculous...
I understand all of that... but what about the ultimate team: Benfica?
Unless Arsenal spends big before the end of this window its hard to see them finishing in the top 4. With the money Liverpool has invested they will certainly put up a fight for that champions league place. In regards to Man City I think Mancini has spent wisely but must really buy a world class central defender. With all that said Man utd will surely win the title.
Way too many people put too much faith in Mourinho. And you have too.
Barca will lay waste to everone again.
i know players are humans but I am sure that Barcelona will win again and again.
Premiership:
Man U.
Man City
Liverpool
Chelsea
Arsenal
Seria A:
Inter
Milan
Roma
La Liga:
Real
Barca
Valencia
While I agree with some of the predictions (excluding EPL), does the writer of this watch football? The reasons explained for these picks are virtually unexplained. But, this is CNN, not espn i suppose.
Interesting analyses on Barca, you "hope" they will loose!!!!!!!!Barca is a well oiled machine. You play according to a system that is in place for years or you are out of the team. Surely the "old gang" Messi, Xavi etc.. could have insuries but Barca has more than enough talents in the pipe line.Good luck to Mourinho. I go for Barca which is based on facts and not hopes or statistics.Talk to you in May 2012.
Have a nice day
HAHAHAHA
leave Arsenal out... really Mr. Pinto?
I think retirement looms.
I think its pretty close picks for the EPL – but I think it will 1. Man U, 2. Arsenal, Man City 4. Chelsea. But maybe my gunners can pull it off!
the world knows that USA will win the debt champion in many years.
Do you really think you will keep up with your stats by excluding Arsenal?! Mate, they are about to win the EPL and yet you tend to neglect that 🙂 I find it funny and see this article prepared by a new author next year.
"It is easy to forget that Barca’s players are human."
Don't journalists fact check any more? 😉
Do you need to put question marks at the end of sentences you dont know about?
Wrong about Italy.
Rome is selling the best players...positioning for an eight place....Napoli is better equipped then Juventus...Lazio can be a surprise.
I do not think you watch a lot of Calcio
Manu will lose the title to someone else
winning all pre-season games mean nothing
...i see a trophy coming towards arsenal, but i am not certain that Jose Mourinho has gotten the key to destroy barcelona to stay at the top
...interesting predictions – sloppy research...
Wolfsburgs Helmes and Diego are on their way out respectively. Helmes, because Magath doesn't rate him at all, whereas Diego walked out of the pre-match team-meeting in the build-up to the last game of their season (they were still trying to avoid relegation). Magath has tried to get rid of him ever since, even telling him/the press he's willing to let him rot in the reserves, if no buyer comes along. Leverkusen might be a more realistic choice for a top 4 finish, imho
I think Real cannot forget its tittle more because have many experience with manager and too many key player in the world are in Real, but Real can win must win Barcelona first.
nice predictions and totally agree with that of laliga .told barca fans that jose will take something from them last season and he did.good job pedro
Premier Liga:Chelsea,Bundesliga:Bayern Munich,serie A :Juventus,La Liga for another 10 yrs :Barcelona,thnx
For ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool
For SPANISH LIGA: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Yellow Sub, Valencia
For ITALIAN SERIE A: Milan, Inter, Roma, Napoli
For GERMAN BUNDESLIGA: Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen, Borrussia Dortmund, Wolfsburg
For CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Man City
Wait a minute, what about Malaga in Spain? With new owners and cash to burn, they are the team to mount a challenge to Barcelona and Real's Duopoly. I agree with his analysis of the Premiership to a large extent, asides from a few off comments e.g Man Utd 'contending' with the top teams on the continent – they have been dominant in Europe for years. Admittedly a midfield injection is needed, but of more defensive ilk. Its a fools errand to try and out-create Barcelona, they need to stopped from playing football in a very ugly and efficient manner like Mourinho tried to do in the CL semis and probably would have done if not for the dubious red card Pepe received.
I certainly think Arsenal will come unstuck this season. Without Fabregas and possibly Nasri they will be made to look very average and with their record against mid-table teams like Stoke, that might just be where they end up; sad really!
My bet is on Villareal finishing third in La Liga. They play marvelous attacking football (they're the weaker version of Barcelona) have quite a few good players. Though we could also see Malaga bursting onto the scene.
So there'll be repeat winners in 3 of the 4 big leagues, a 1-2 reversal in Spain, but Barcelona will retain the Champions League. May as well not bother with this season then, let's just skip right on to 2012-2013 and save ourselves some time and money. Predictions are a mugs game. I don't know why journalists even bother making them. If the pros on the inside don't know who's got it in them to win there's no way that some web surfing hack with his nose pressed up against the training ground gates can know. But at least if you MUST predict go out on a limb to make things interesting. My picks. BPL – Swansea. La Liga - Malaga. Serie-A -Novara. Bundesliga – Augsburg....Complete nonsense but just as valid as your picks right now because we all know nothing!
Predictions are all fine and dandy but let me forewarn of the next Barca to surprise all of Europe this year (well not much of a surprise because they've consistently proven what they can do) .... FCPorto! Preview Aug.26.2011!
Where my Arsenal?,,,,.....Trophy comes toward Arsenal...I'm sure...
@Alehandro: Given the right information, historical and otherwise, it is possible to make an informed guess by assigning a probability to an event. Your predictions are like closing your eyes and picking a random number or worse still picking the event with the lowest probability. In this universe, Swansea, Malaga, Novara and Augsburg don't win titles. Remember there are over 30 games in a season, they can win a one off game against a good team but as the number of games played increases, so the probability of their continuing to win decreases.
Your comment is almost like saying 'we can't be sure of anything so religion, science pick your poison, no one knows for sure anyway'. Not quite, we can be surer of something than other things.
I always value your contribution pedro but you forgot to mention arsenal in top four for EPL just don't be forced to swallow your words.
@Femi. Picking the traditional favorites shows no insight at all. You're simply playing the safest odds and backing tradition. You don't need to be an expert to do that, as a result, you're telling the reader nothing with your predictions so why bother? On the other hand, any expert who had enough inside knowledge to suggest why a non-traditional champion might win a title (like anyone who picked Borussia to win the Bundesliga last season) would be worth our attention. Clearly, as in religion and science, there's no such thing as a dead certainty in soccer, but what I look for from a pundit is informed conjecture, not a statement of the patently obvious, i.e that the big clubs with the big players who usually win the big trophies probably stand the best chance of winning them again. Duh!
@Femi.. Oh, and my predictions of Swansea, Malaga, Novara and Augsburg were a joke! Once again, duh!
Barcelona wont win coz there players are human! What about Mourinho, he will always do better in his second season? I bet the author does not think his human like Barca players.
Barca will win and real will be runner up. Our midfield is more robust now with Thiago and Cesc reducing the pressure on Xavi and Inesita. Villa and Affelay will have better second seasons. Pedro has honed his goal poaching skills. Our defense is not at its best but will be better than last season as several midfielders have proven to be reliable CBs plus the injection of fresh legs from Barca B.
Real Madrids problem will be with there aging defense and will drop a lot points against weakers teams. General Real are fast of the mark but lose it in the mid of the season.
Enjoy being second best in Spain Jose Mourinho.
barcelona for the league not madrid.since xavi, inesta and messi are still in the squad
Yes! It's just prediction anyway. Logical reasons were given for EPL, Serie A, & Bundesliga winners but a dumb and lame one for La Liga – "It is easy to forget that Barca’s players are human." I know Mou is your compatriot maybe your cousin and perhaps want him to win something this coming season. Listen why Barca would win – 1. team still very much intact with no key player(s) leaving. 2. Injection of one of the hottest properties in world football (Sanchez) and just maybe Fab joining. 3. Hunger, desire, drive against Mou, Cr7 and the Madrid fraternity. 4. Football finest – MESSI. Check my facts against yours.
i think barca we still win laliga for like 3yrs b4 we can talk of madrid,u know what madrid have lost it seen they sold makele they,ve not be themselves again i think they need to ask for makele to forgive them for what they did to him,he play more game than every player and he was the lowest pay player then so they need God on the side to win barca bcos barca have God on there side
u can see what madrid doesnt have in barca,family thats what make barca great team they love each other and they dont blame themselve when they lose ball,thats what make great family and wt what they did during abida illness so how close andlove they have for each other which we dont see in madrid
I think the Spanish Liga prediction is essentially wrong. Maybe Mou guys will perform greatly this year, but I still think Barça is superior in the long run. While I think Valencia has a great squad and a great coach, I can hardly believe Atletico de Madrid can perform better than Villarreal or Sevilla. Colchoneros still need good midfielders and a good striker to replace Kun.
Does Pedro Pinto understand anything about football? Does he read what he writes before he presses send? Or maybe CNN need to employ a good editor!
In his first paragraph about Manchester City he complains that Mancini keeps on buying forwards instead of improving the centre of the defence. Firstly, this is not true – he bought Savic. Secondly, City had the best defence in the Premier League last season and in all competitions had a total of 18 clean sheets.
Then, in his second paragraph, after complaining that Mancini doesn't buy more defenders, he says that City need to be more offensive. Can't he make his mind up?
After such a display of journalistic ineptness, I couldn't be bothered to waste my time reading the rest of his "analysis".
Well I have a hope dat chealse will still make it wit those old men however I love some part of ur pridiction it exelet,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
After watching first RM-FCB game (2-2 tie), seems it is anyone's guess whether FCB or RM will win LaLiga. My guess is Messi-Xavi-Iniesta combo will continue to dominate; addition of Alexis was masterful choice to strengthen mid field and give Xavi a rest. Alexis played a wonderful game tonight! Both FCB goals made when Xavi was on the bench!
As for Mourinho winning the second season championship with every team he has ever coached, remember: he never had to face FCB until this second season. IMO, FCB will win LaLiga again this year!
In Spain it will be a straight fight: Senhor José versus Pep.
In England: Sir Alex v/s Andre.
City, Gunners, Liverpool, Spurs and Stoke will try and make things complicated for the two front-runners in the EPL.
The Bundesliga and Serie A as usual will throw up many more title contenders as the season progresses just like in the Dutch Ere Divisie, Belgian Jupiler League and in Le Championnat in France.
I'm not surprised on this predictions.Talking of the spanish league,Winning a lot by Barca's players doesn't & won't stop them from being confident for winning more.If you must know Xavi,Messi & Iniesta doesn't make the full Barca's squad.Even their second 11 consist of active players eg.Keita,Adriano,Tiago & Fabregas has just been added.To me,I forsee a great season not just by Barca/Madrid domination,but others as well.Your predictions will prove you wrong.& don't be surprised if Madrid struggle to even qualify for CL.In my local slang(pidgin)we call this Madrid's attitude "Initial Grah Grah"
commenting on your remarks regarding the English & Spanish league winners, i wonder, are Real n Man united also not just human as u have noted. Will they also not have injuries all Season ?
You did not even mention Arsenal. watch this space.
FM
Its true that after winning so much, some players are hard to motivate! However, nobody does that better then Pep, the coach, and what a better motivation then to beat Madrid and Co!!
what absolute tripe do any of you watch any football before spouting this nonsense, man utd will be lucky to get into the top three if the display against west brom was anything to go by,
epl man city
2 chelsea
3liverpool.
serie a inter , milan, roma,
la liga real, barcelona, malaga
bundeslige dortmund, bayern, bremen
This season is madrid cos berca my think that they too good enough they will start benching xavi and inesta for cesc
Not bad, i hope it will be Liverpool, Barca, Milan and anyone other than bayern. [HOPE}
I like it, ws so intrestn. I put barca to more improvemnt nd more trophy title.
Mourinho is biggest drawback to Real Madrid winning La Liga. He can't beat Barcelona and has proven it. Barca is a better team than last year.
England :Man U
Italia: Rossonero
Dutchland: Bayern Munchen
España: Vamos Badajoz Carajo!!! 😀
your predictions on la liga shows that you dont like or appreciate the good work of almighty fc barcelona in todays football. so its only barcelona players are prone to injuries? real players that plays without brain and skills dont sustain injuries? or their legs are made with irons? in football, we says let the better side win, and barcelona is the better side today in the whole world, so they will continues to win.
I fail to see how anyone can think Real will take the League over Barca. Just nonsense. And anyone speaking about Arsenal may have missed the news. But just so you know........everyone has left and there is a young developing team there that is going to need to show a lot of improvement fast in order to make it into the top 4.
Atlético de Madrid sold Forlán to Inter, they barely have Falcao. Also, Villareal not in the list?
Way off on calcio as well.
Good luck with Mourinho ; )
pedro u r just a bad football analyst,,so u r wishin almighty Barca injuries right so that real will come up,,let me ask u,,supposin if non of barca players got injuries what will happen then,,the la liga goes to barca,,i understand one thin here,,real will be waitin only when barca players have injuries so they can win the title,,now i tell u that it wont happen rather all real players will sustain injuries that will last for 12 months startin from CRonaldo to benzima to di maria then let me see how they will even qualify for next yr CL,,,,,messi just won europe best player 2010-2011 today,,,go go go barca
there is no way that real madrid can finish ahead of barcelona as messi and co. looks invincible and with the reinforcement of fabregas and alexis, they will be even stronger than last year and i cannot see anyone getting their hands on the primera liga and champions league, WHETHER ONE LIKE IT OR NOT, PERIOD! SO DREAM ON MOURINHO, REAL MADRID AND ALSO MANC. UNITED. and yes, looking at this manc. united team, i would be shocked if they dont get another humilliation from barcelona and it seems laughable that some manc. united (not all, only some dumb ones) loves talking about the pre-season friendly in the united states as referral of how it will be different this year.
as for the english premier league, people are talking about liverpool finishing 3rd or 4th and looking at the first 2 matches and with them can only getting a lot better with more football for their newly assemble players and the immenient coming back of Gerard, they can win this year premiership. i thought Jose enrique looks very strong at leftback and they have an abundance of good midfielders to choose from with adams, henderson will only get better and once carroll back in full force with his heights quality and of course, suarez, possibility one of the best thing that happen to liverpool in the last 25 years or so, they look a champion material. yes, liverpool ahead of manchester city, chelsea and the hardly impressive manc. united (mark my words about this manc. united team)
dortmund winning the german bundesliga, ok, i agreed and seria a, not interested with those boring football, can't be bothered.
for those who do not follow serie a.......the classification will be:
milan
napoli
inter
lazio
Roma will go to the serie b
Mr. Pinto, Ibrahimovic might be unpredictable (rarely), but He's the most dominant player of the Italian Serie A, yet from your article it looks like he's one of AC Milan weaknesses. The guy has won 8 consecutive League Championship...unpredictable...be serious man
Sara,
you still want to now what Pedro Pinto think about the Wenger boys after 8-2?!!