To fans of European soccer, the arrival of spring means that it will soon be trophy time. All of Europe’s top soccer leagues are entering the final quarter and the battle to win the prestigious domestic crowns in England, Italy, Germany, and Spain is heating up.
Soccer fans who follow the European action will be closely watching the latest highlights and catching up on the important team news. Soccer bettors are also busy at this time of year, regularly checking the odds on Stakers.com given to the potential winners of Europe’s biggest leagues, often combining several selections in a potentially lucrative accumulator. For soccer lovers and sports bettors alike, here’s a guide to the teams fighting for European domestic glory.
Premier League
Pundits were predicting a close Premier League campaign this time around, but in the event, one team has left the others standing. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were not the finished article last season, but the Spanish guru has finally managed to drill his side in his methods, and this time around, their combination of high-energy pressing, possession play, and spatial awareness has proven to be irresistible. Boasting the best attacking and defensive record in the Premier League, City hit the top in September and have stayed there ever since, opening up a double-figure lead over their nearest challengers Manchester United and Liverpool.
La Liga
Spanish domestic soccer is often a two-horse race between Real Madrid and Barcelona, but that hasn’t quite been the case this season. While Barça, under the guidance of Ernesto Valverde, have returned to the tiki-taka style that took Europe by storm and are undefeated domestically, they are being pursued by Atlético Madrid and a resurgent Valencia, along with Real Madrid, who are beginning to find their form. With crunch games between Barça and Real and Valencia and Barça to come, La Liga could yet produce a thrilling finish.
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich went into the 2017-18 campaign aiming to record a historic sixth consecutive Bundesliga triumph. However, after winning only four of their opening seven games, Carlo Ancelotti was sacked and veteran coach Jupp Heynckes took over, producing an immediate improvement. In 19 games under his guidance, Bayern have dropped just four points, and they are currently cruising towards another German title, with a 20-point gap over Schalke, their nearest rivals.
Serie A
Juventus have been used to having things all their own way in Italy in recent seasons, but this time they have been pushed hard by Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli. Playing an enterprising, thrilling brand of soccer, Napoli have led the league for most of the season, while Juventus have taken time to get into gear. With the season entering the closing stages they are neck and neck, and April’s showdown between the two rivals in Turin promises to be a fiercely fought and potentially decisive encounter that shouldn’t be missed.
European domestic soccer is followed by hundreds of millions of fans around the world, and as these high-class leagues featuring some of the best players on the planet reach their climax, US soccer lovers will be eagerly following all of the action, dramatic twists, and excitement as the Bundesliga, Premier League, Serie A and La Liga reach their climax.
