SOCCER
Today marks the official start of the soccer season for the power five leagues in Europe. I’m sitting here getting ready to watch Arsenal vs. Brentford along with Valencia vs. Getafe and I feel so grateful that it’s all back. The Olympics have been a nice bandaid, but I can’t comfortably live life without consistently watching fighting, soccer, or football. I start to feel light-headed and my existential dread flares up. I’m just looking to see some good competition wherever I can find it. That’s all I want, good comp. Simply put, the first two weeks of August are my personal hell every year. It’s over now. It’s over and I’m grateful to be here still with my wits about me writing about the power five’s big storylines of the year:
Ligue Un -
I guess I’ll start with the most imbalanced, yet, arguably most star-studded league in Europe. Sure, all the stars may be on one team, but there’s no denying that the names of Mbappe, Neymar, and Messi all call the French league home. Those are three of the four most important names in all of soccer and it’s going to be unreal to see them play together. I’m so ecstatic about it in fact that last night I was looking up Airbnb’s and plane tickets to Paris just to watch that three-headed monster. That team represents a lot of what’s wrong with the sport but, in the same breath, is easily one of the most spectacular monuments to the game. Obviously, I think PSG runs away with the title due to the team's immense talent, but also because they want some payback after losing the title last year to Lille. That was an incredible result for the humble side from the north, and I’m sure the powerful Pareseans are itching to once again establish themselves as the bosses of France.
La Liga -
If France is the least competitive league, then La Liga looks to be the league with the most parity. Any other year, I would say it’s the premier league, but La Liga has a completely new feel to it this year without Messi. Atlético are the reigning champions, Madrid and Barca look as weak as ever, Villarreal has an actual scoring phenom in Gerard Moreno, and Sevilla along with Valencia are always tough sides. This La Liga title race is wide open and I predict this is the year Joao Felix finally takes that step up in class and brings a repeat title home to Atlético.
Premier League -
All the big boys were active in the transfer market this summer. Arsenal with Ben White, City with Kane and Grealish, United with Sancho, Chelsea with Lukaku, Tottenham with Romero and Gil, Liverpool with Konate. On paper, it looks like a close, competitive season but I disagree. I don’t think either Tuchel or Ole have the experience on the pitch and as managers themselves to do anything about the Manchester City steamroller. City just added Kane and I don’t think people realize how much that changes everything. Harry Kane was a one-man wrecking crew at Tottenham. He pretty much single-handedly kept them relevant in title races and got them to a champions league final. He scored 25+ goals on teams with Wanyama and Harry Winks in the midfield. Not only did City just acquire that guy, they got the services of Jack Grealish who is arguably the best dribbler in the premier league. I hear people talking about Chelsea and Manchester United and I don’t hear it at all. Chelsea will definitely give City problems but I don’t think that team has enough depth in certain positions to stand up against Pep’s boys. Manchester United I have even less hope for simply because of their recent history. I feel like they’ve gotten so many things wrong that I just can’t trust any decisions made by the club. Finally, I think that Liverpool is once again just going to try and throw their front three at everyone and see if it works. Unfortunately, the numbers don’t lie, and the production of the front three has been declining for all members in the trio not called Salah. City runs away with it again.
Serie A -
Allegri is back, Dybala is a pivotal piece again, Ronnie looks happy, and Inter lost Lukaku - everything points to Juve reclaiming the title they held consecutively for so many years. Or is that just wishful thinking? I don’t think so. The only side that could surprise is Milan. They’ve been patient with their signings and I think Tonali along with Kessie make an amazing duo in the midfield. Seriously, I think it’s a top 5 center midfield combination. Just go back and watch Paqueta in this last Copa America. Nonetheless, Inter got weaker (also sold Hakimi) while Napoli, Roma, and Atalanta all struggled financially. Juve now knows what they have in Chiesa and Dybala which means bad news for the rest of the league and potentially all of Europe.
Bundesliga -
HAALAND! That’s all I can think about when I think of this year's Bundesliga race. He’s the kind of player that can win a year-long competition for you. I don’t know why but I just have this feeling that he’s going to score 35+ goals and somehow win the shield for the fans of the yellow wall. Bayern only lost Alaba and will undoubtedly be their same old highly competitive selves, still, I think Dortmund somehow wins it. Even if they lost Sancho, all it did was bring on the emergence of Reyna who I believe can be elite when he's on his best day. The kid is an opportunity machine, plays great on defense, and he’s American. Also, don’t forget that Jude Bellingham is flat out one of the most exciting prospects in world football. I like everything about the boys in yellow.