MAY 2008
Europe’s Top Eleven begins with the finalists of the Champions League – Manchester United and Chelsea, who are also running 1-2 in the powerful English Premier League. Two other English clubs were selected with Arsenal at #7 and Liverpool entering the rankings at #9. Several league leaders are on the verge of clinching titles. Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Olympic Lyon will all be league champions this season and are obvious choices. FC Porto has already clinched in Portugal and wears #11. AS Roma move up to #4 and Barcelona drop multiple spots following elimination from the CL.
1. MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United are brilliant! Two wins away from the Premiership title and one win away from the coveted European championship. Manchester United have won 37, lost 7 and drawn 10 in all competitions this season. If they can get to 40 wins, they will have a magical double and a place in European lore. The 1-0 aggregate victory over Barcelona was a captivating encounter, where two giants showed their worth on the big stage. The stronger side survived and an all-English final awaits on May 21. Manchester United have not lost in the Champions League in all 12 match days, winning 9 and drawing 3 and will attempt to cap off a virtuoso season with a victory in Moscow.
2. CHELSEA FC
Chelsea Football Club is a championship side, now and for the past half decade. They have won many English trophies and are a constant in the Champions League knock-out phase. A European final has never been reached, until this season, when the boys from London solved the puzzle, knew the password and walked through the door to the final. All eyes will be on the Luzhniki Stadium where the continent’s two best teams will compete for European supremacy. In league play, Chelsea has not tasted defeat in 19 games, including a well deserved 2-1 victory over Manchester United that levelled the teams on 81 points. What a season it has been for the Blues and what better time to be fit, healthy and strong.
3. INTER MILAN
Inter Milan are still smarting from another pre-mature Champions league exit, but move up one place with a consistent month of football. A Serie A presentation ceremony beckons this week or next and Inter can be proud of its 16th league flag and third in a row. The Nerazzurri have created a constant stream of drama this season and are gifted in the area of “keeping it interesting”. A second Italian double in three years remains a possibility, but Inter will have to win away from home against Lazio on May 7 to book a place in the Coppa Italia final.
4. AS ROMA
AS Roma are second place in Serie A. Roma are leading 1-0 in its Coppa Italia semi-final with the second leg to be played May 7 versus Catania. Roma had a successful European campaign, reaching the quarter-finals for the 2nd straight season. A confident 4-2 win against Real Madrid was a treat to watch and followed a solid 2nd place finish in Group F behind a finalist known as Man United. Returning to the Coppa Italia, Roma are trying to get to its 15th final and are eager to play for its 9th Coppa Italia crown. It would be back to back after last season’s smashing 7-4 drubbing of Inter over the two legged final.
5. BAYERN MUNICH
Bayern Munich were stunned in the UEFA Cup semi-finals, going out amazingly to Zenit St. Petersburg. The loss is a shock to all of Europe; even Russians could not have dreamed of the 5-1 aggregate scoreline against the favored Germans. A victory would have lifted Bayern to #4 in these rankings. Instead, Bayern remain at #5 and will have to watch Zenit take its place in the final against Glasgow Rangers. Domestically, Bayern won the German Cup, their 3rd in 4 years with a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund. In the Bundesliga, Bayern are back on top of Germany after a 4th place finish last season. They will soon win the league and have a place in next season’s Champions League proper. In all competitions, Bayern have played 50 games and have 30 wins, 2 losses and 16 draws.
6. REAL MADRID
Real Madrid hold its place in Europe’s Top Eleven and with good reason. The Spanish league holders are poised for a second straight La Liga flag. Starting May with a 10 point lead, the title will be Madrid’s with games to spare. The Galacticos will be pleased to have hardware for the second straight year, but know that for a club of this nature, more is required. Real Madrid have not won a Copa Del Rey since 1993 and would dearly love a good run at it next season. In addition, with a seemingly stable front office, a call to arms regarding a berth in next season’s Champions League final is in the plans.
7. ARSENAL
Earlier this season, Arsenal flirted with the top of these rankings, but will finish the season in the #7 spot. Domestically, the league title slithered away from the London side during a string of draws in March. League losses to Chelsea and Manchester United killed off any stray hopes of a 14th Premiership title. In the CL quarter-finals, Arsenal and Liverpool treated fans of the beautiful game with 2 scrumptous encounters, filled with the highest entertainment value. Arsenal would fall 5-3 on aggregate, but this young team showed plenty of promise for upcoming versions of the planet’s premier club competition.
8. BARCELONA
Barcelona drop from #2 to #8, partly because they were overranked last month and mostly because they had a horrible April. At the most important part of the season, the Catalan side stopped scoring goals and for weeks before that, forgot how to win. Barcelona has only won 3 of its last 15 games in all competitions and have not won in 5 straight La Liga matches. Barcelona is hanging on to third place and will have to deal with two Champions League qualifying matches at summer’s end. One thing keeps Barcelona in the top eleven: even amidst the winning freeze and the scoring draught, Barcelona do not change their style. They remain a joyful build-up team to watch with generous amounts of imagination and patience. It is true that necessary changes are coming to Camp Nou, but in so many ways, we need Barcelona to always stay the same.
9. LIVERPOOL
During much of the season, Liverpool were absent from the First Eleven. A lack of domestic consistency was the main reason as Liverpool kept company with this season’s “middly” clubs rather than playing with the big boys at the summit of English football. With its European resume, Liverpool was always near by on the bench and not surprizingly pop into the starting eleven in May. Liverpool will not win a trophy this season, but showed again its immense European presence. Even with two unfortunate injuries to key members of the back four, the Reds pushed an excellent and healthy Chelsea club to the brink before losing out 4-3 on aggregate after extra time. The 2nd leg will go down as one of the games of the season and could get some votes for game of the decade.
10. OYMPIQUE LYON
Lyon of France is a regular in Europe’s Top Eleven and with good reason. Lyon plays positive, attractive football that usually results in 3 points. Entering May, Lyon are top of the Ligue 1 table (where else), 4 points ahead of Bordeaux with 3 games to play. A 6th league flag on the trot is imminent. Lyon have a great chance at the domestic double as they host the Coupe de France final on May 7 versus Ligue 2 side Sedan. In Europe, Lyon had another solid year, finishing 2nd in CL Group E (behind Barcelona) and qualified for the knock-out phase yet again. Losing out to this season’s Man United is nothing to be sad about and another CL run is likely next term.
11. FC PORTO
FC Porto are the class of Portugal and a treat for all connoisseurs of quality football. Amazingly, the Portuguese champions start the new month 23 points clear of second place Sporting Lisbon and already own its 22nd league title. FC Porto have also reached the final of the Taca de Portugal following a 3-0 victory against Vitoria Setubal in the semi-finals. They play Sporting Lisbon in the final. These two Portuguese powers have won the Cup 35 times between them. In Europe, Porto will not soon forget the penalty shoot-out loss to Schalke in the first round of the knock-out phase, but have the personelle to carve out another opportunity for continenal success next season.
