The 2013/14 season was tipped to be Fiorentina’s return to prominence, and for all intents and purposes it started off that way. Guiseppe Rossi inspired La Viola to an impressive 11 wins and only four losses in their first 18 matches, scoring 14 goals in the process. His subsequent knee injury sidelined him for effectively the remainder of the season, and Fiorentina missed out on a Champions League spot by eight points.

This season they had nothing promising to look forward to. Rossi tore his MCL before the season started, offers were flying in left and right for Juan Cuadrado and newly acquired striker Mario Gomez suffered an injury that would sideline him for months. They only managed to secure three wins in their first 10 matches, scoring a measly 10 goals in the process. Things just weren’t going right for the uninspiring Viola until late November when they began scoring goals in droves. A 0-0 draw with Juventus in December boosted confidence and suddenly things started to click. The loss of Cuadrado to Chelsea was then softened by the arrival of a certain Egyptian winger.

Mohamed Salah has been an outcast during his time with Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. The season before his move to Stamford Bridge he had single-handedly knocked the Blues out of the Champions League, becoming a sought-after commodity in the process. His move to London has been unfruitful, however. His young career was stagnated by occasional appearances from the bench and rare starts in league cup matches. His loan to Fiorentina seemed like a win-win for both parties, especially considering Chelsea had just snatched up Cuadrado. It’s a little early to say whether or not Salah is Fiorentina’s savior, but since his arrival he’s made an instant and significant impact.

Statistics can be misleading, but in his seven matches for La Viola he’s scored six goals and assisted one. They are yet to lose a match he’s played in and Salah’s brace against Juventus in the Coppa Italia handed Juventus their first home defeat since Bayern Munich won in Turin in 2013. He’s four years younger than his predecessor Juan Cuadrado and has a whole lot more to prove. His determination to shine is evident every time he steps on the pitch and as of now he’s only gone 115 minutes in that famous purple shirt without scoring or assisting a goal. His lightning-quick pace, deadly left foot, passing ability and clever movement makes him arguably more dangerous than Cuadrado.

His immediate impact has been praised by head coach Vincenzo Montella, who hinted that Fiorentina did much better than Chelsea in the swap.

“Who did better out of the Cuadrado exchange? Fiorentina earned a lot of money and, on the pitch, they are similar players,” said Montella.

Striker Mario Gomez was also eager to heap plaudits on the speedy winger. “We’re still a team that likes to impose our passing game on opponents but with Salah we have another weapon; quick counter-attacks. And you saw that against Spurs,” the German said.

Salah doesn’t offer the versatility that Cuadrado does, as the Colombian frequently operated as a fullback in addition to a forward role, but his impact has been almost immediate. Fiorentina were unbeaten in six matches before Salah’s arrival and with him they have extended that run to 13. La Viola sit one point below third place Napoli, whose inconsistent form could see Salah’s invigorated side usurp them and claim a coveted Champions League playoff spot. At this rate it seems very likely that Fiorentina will banish the ghosts of seasons past and return to the biggest stage in Europe, either via third place in Serie A or by winning the Europa League.

There have been an array of top players to ply their trade in the top tier of Dutch soccer. Ronaldo, Robin van Persie, Zlatan Imrahimovic, Luis Suarez and Wilfried Bony, just to name a few. While the formerly mentioned Eredivisie top scorers went off to impress on bigger stages almost immediately, another former Golden Boot winner seemed to struggle in his first few seasons away from Holland, but is now raising plenty of eyebrows.

After winning the Bundesliga in 2008/09 VfL Wolfsburg began a downward spiral, finishing in eighth and then 15th place in the their subsequent campaigns. Top scorer Edin Dzeko left for Manchester City midway through the 2010/11 season and it was up to Mario Mandzukic to fill his shoes. The strong Croatian quickly became a fan favourite, but was snatched up by Bayern Munich before the start of the 2012/13 season. The Wolves signed Bas Dost from SC Heerenveen no more than a month before losing Mandzukic, and it was now up to the Dutch forward to replicate the form of his predecessors. His transfer came off of the back of an Eredivisie Golden Boot winning 32-goal haul, but we all know how misleading that title can be.

Dost found the back of the net eight times in the Bundesliga during his first term under Dieter Hecking. Respectable, but not exactly what the fans would have liked from a man so similar in stature to their beloved Dzeko. What’s important to note is that Dost recorded a shot accuracy of 63% and a conversion rate of 20% during this spell. The following year he fell into obscurity, making only 13 appearances in the Bundesliga due to injury. In those 13 games, however, he managed four goals form nine shots – a conversion rate of 44% and a shot accuracy of 67%. Starting to see a trend?

This season the imposing Dutchman has been a revelation, just like his high-flying team. Dost has scored 11 goals in 11 Bundesliga appearances and became the first player in 102 matches to bag a brace against Bayern Munich when his side pulled off a 4-1 victory over the reigning champions. He’s missed exactly half of the Bundesliga season, yet is still a viable candidate to win the league’s Golden Boot simply because of his efficiency in front of goal.

Dost is by no means the quickest or the most technical, but his positioning is superb and his calmness in the six-yard box is exactly what a good poacher needs. To say that he’s been clinical this season would be an understatement. He doesn’t shoot the ball much, but when he does it usually finds the back of the net. In fact, he’s currently on target 71% of the time and converts an astounding 46% of his shots. To put that in perspective, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have conversion rates of 31 and 28% respectively. It definitely helps having the likes of Kevin De Bryune and now André Schürrle putting the ball on a silver platter, but you’ve got to finish your dinner and we know plenty of frontmen who fail at doing just that.

It would be simplistic to credit Dost with Wolfsburg’s tremendous season, especially considering he’s missed half of it. However, since he’s come back into the side they’ve been more complete, and De Bryune has less weight on his shoulders. Thus far the Wolves have only lost three Bundesliga matches and each loss was by just a solitary goal. They’ve yet to lose a game that Dost has played in and have won every game he’s scored in. It’s highly unlikely that Wolfsburg will make up the eight points that separates them from first place Bayern Munich, but a Champions League spot for 2015/16 looks to be in the bag. Not to mention they’ll remain a force to be reckoned with throughout the rest of the Europa League campaign. Aside from two defeats to Everton they’ve outscored their European opponents 15-3 and will look to continue that great form when they face Sporting in Portugal. There’s no doubt that Dost will be the target man in that match, as he was in their first encounter and scored both of Wolves’ goals.

Going forward it will be difficult for opposing teams to deal with Dost, as he’s quite a handful at 193cm and wins an average of roughly four headers per match. He’s difficult to pick up on set pieces, shields the ball extremely well and although he only has one assist, he’s heavily involved in linkup play in the final third. It remains to be seen whether or not his current form can last or if it’s a one off, but if you’ve seen him during his Heerenveen days and paid close attention to some of his latest goals then you know he’s capable of brilliance. He’s got all the tools necessary to emulate the form of the Bundesliga’s best strikers and his Wolfsburg predecessors, but now it’s up to him to maintain this good spell and justify his price tag.

There’s another Spanish superstar in town and it isn’t David Villa. In the wake of NYCFC acquiring the former Atletico Madrid and Spain forward, the New York Cosmos signed his predecessor, Raul. The Real Madrid legend was Spain’s all-time top scorer before Villa broke his record in 2011, and until a few weeks ago he was the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League.

His pedigree is without question, but at 37 years of age one has to wonder what this signing really means for the Cosmos. They’re not in the top tier of US soccer, so is this move just to sell tickets and merchandise? Quite the opposite, in fact. Even if that were the motivation behind Raul’s move to New York that wouldn’t mean it’s ill advised. United States soccer is growing and so is interest in the sport. Raul’s presence on the team is a boost for the organization and US soccer as a whole.

He doesn’t need to score bundles of goals or make headlines, but his role with the team will certainly be one of a mentor. Having him in the New York area allows players from the New York Red Bulls, NYCFC and those in youth academies to monitor and study the Real Madrid legend. In fact, Raúl and head coach Giovanni Savarese noted the importance of developing youth and cited Raúl’s passion for teaching as the main source of motivation behind his move.

His unveiling at the Four Seasons Hotel’s Cosmopolitan Suite was exactly what a mature star footballer dreams of in an unveiling, and the legend was very relaxed and at ease in the presence of former Cosmos stars. It was here that I asked him and NY Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese a few questions regarding Raúl and the Cosmos’ latest undertaking.

I asked him why he decided to return to professional soccer after retiring earlier in the year following his stint with Al Saad and what brought him to the Cosmos.

“When my time with Al Saad was coming to a close, I received an increasing number of calls from Gio. After much discussion, he convinced me that the Cosmos was a project I’d be a perfect fit for, as I would have the opportunity to aid in the development of my teammates and academy players.”

“Football is my passion, being able to share my experience with other players is something I’m very passionate about and I’m excited to be part of a league that is more tactical and structured than people think.”

I asked Savarese what excites him most about having Raúl on the team and what their aspirations are going forward.

“There are plenty of names that come up and call us looking to play, but we’re not looking for names. We look for the right fit, someone who wants to be here to improve our game and someone who brings that passion like Raúl does.”

Raúl also stated that although his contract is set for two years, he is not sure whether or not he’ll be playing more or mentoring more. It all depends on how he feels physically.

The event concluded with going away messages from former Schalke teammate Julian Draxler and former Real Madrid teammates Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos. Credit to the NY Cosmos for bringing in a legend such as Raúl with the noble intention of growing soccer in the United States.

On Thursday, New York City FC (NYCFC) held an event in midtown Manhattan’s Terminal 5 to unveil their inaugural kit for the club’s first MLS season. Before the official business began, the floor crowded with supporters, press, and school children. Banners hung above the area showcasing the pride of New York, New Jersey and the official supporters club.

To kick things off, quite literally, NYCFC employed the services of freestyle champion Frankie “Flo” Gonzalez. With the ball at his feet, he captivated the cheering crowd—helping build the anticipation of the main event.

When his show was over, a few kids from P.S. 111 took to the stage in David Villa NYCFC T-shirts. Their entrance was followed by none other than El Guaje himself, who walked down the green carpet up to the stage in NYCFC’s official home kit, complete with boots. As he made his entrance, fans began throwing streamers and chanting “Villa, Villa, Villa maravilla!” The energy and passion were there, and then came the moment everyone was waiting for.

The audience counted down from 10 to 1. Then, a giant NYCFC shirt, which was hidden in the rafters, descended above the crowd. At first glance, one might mistake it for a Manchester City uniform but that’s to be expected as the Citizens are NYCFC’s proud parent club along with the New York Yankees.

Just when everyone thought they had seen the whole show, everyone was asked to open an envelope and look for a golden ticket —just like in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. Young Damian Delgado stepped forward and with his golden ticket claimed the first ever distributed NYCFC jersey. To put the cherry on top, it was signed by Spain legend and NYCFC’s star forward David Villa.

With the festivities coming to a conclusion, I had the opportunity to speak with Claudio Reyna, Tim Pernetti and David Villa regarding the new club and their ambitions.

I asked Claudio how he went about making the transition from a US soccer icon and former player to Director of Sport. I also asked him about the possibility of utilizing Manchester City youth players and the impact that could have on both NYCFC and MLS as a whole.

“This role is a little bit different,” said the former Manchester City midfielder.

“It’s not just being a Sporting Director because we’re all part of building a club from the beginning. The way I look at it is [that] we’re bringing in better people than me at every position and want to make sure that the environment is very player-centric, ensuring that they have the right environment to succeed, which is something that, as a player, I always asked for. So, for me it’s been a dream to be a part of this and being in the best city in the world is the icing on the cake.

“There’s so much talent at the club [Manchester City] and we’re always in discussions to see how we can integrate that talent. We have to see when’s the right time to bring player(s) over and when other players see that they can play with experienced guys like David Villa and Frank Lampard that it will be a great educational experience, but at the same time we have to make sure that any player we bring in can help us here in MLS.

“It’s a great resource. It’s part of the relationship we have with Manchester City and I’m in close contact with their coaches so eventually and hopefully we’ll have a player come over from Manchester City.

“The league has had partnerships with other clubs before, but this can be something new for MLS and the overall goal is to improve the quality of a league that’s getting better every year.”

I then caught up with NYCFC Chief Business Officer Tim Pernetti to get the inside scoop on when the away and alternate kits will be unveiled in addition to the inspiration behind the kit.

“We don’t have a timeframe yet,” said Pernetti. “We’re still trying to decide on that. But we’ve finalized the shirt and I can assure you it’s spectacular. We’re working with the league to come up with an appropriate time frame to roll it out.

“There’s a lot of opinion and debate when you’re designing a jersey, but the beauty of being part of a global organization and having sister clubs like Manchester City is that we can share resources and ideas. But here in New York, we’re building a club in New York City that’s for New Yorkers and being part of a global group has great advantages.”

Finally, I met David Villa and asked him what he thinks of MLS and why he chose to come play for NYCFC rather than taking his talents to another European club.

“I think MLS is a league that’s growing more attractive and to help grow this project by playing for NYCFC in New York is something new and exciting.”

New York is the perfect place for this club. Judging by what I’ve seen, it’s the culmination of hard work, dedication and, most importantly, passion. The club is tailor-made for the city of New York, its people, and its players.

The Ballon d’Or is perhaps the most prestigious individual award in the sports realm. Every player in the world is eligible to be nominated, and any of these players can win so long as he fulfills one requirement: be the best player in the world the previous year.

All players have that mindset. They want to be the best at what they do, but some are just destined to shine. And their hard work, raw talent and dedication puts them above the rest. This is a competition designed for heroes of the game, but where there is a hero, there is always a villain.

Over the last four years the players, coaches and journalists have voted Lionel Messi the world’s greatest player four years in a row; a feat that had never been achieved. During those 4 years the last person to win the award before Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, came in second 3 times and has been cast as somewhat of a villain. There has been a tireless debate amongst soccer analysts, fans, players, legends, and pundits regarding the little genius and the sultan of the step-over. This argument concerning which player is better transcends the rivalry of their respective clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid and overshadows the blatant fact that we are witnessing two phenomena in action the likes of which haven’t been seen since Pele and Maradona.

Many would describe Ronaldo, the mercurial Portuguese forward, as arrogant, selfish, a diver and a pretty boy. While there is a certain air of arrogance to him, this is something that comes with the territory of being a living legend and he has surely earned the right to stick his nose in the air a little.

Nobody in the modern game works as hard as Ronaldo. The skill was always there, but when the slim 18-year-old joined Manchester United from Sporting CP in 2003, he began to undergo a series of developments that would bring out the player we have come to know today. Ronaldo honed his skills while playing alongside the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Roy Keane, who helped the young star to find composure. He slowly filled out his 186cm frame without sacrificing his speed or quick feet, and a physical specimen was born within just a few years of his Red Devils career.

In 2006 he broke onto the top-scoring scene as the league’s third highest scorer with 17 goals. And in the subsequent year, he exploded with 31 goals, which led the league. In 2008, he scored 18 goals, which was second in the league and he hoisted his 3rd consecutive league trophy as well as winning the Ballon d’Or before leaving on a record setting transfer to Real Madrid.

Since 2009, Ronaldo has scored 30+ goals every season and has scored 50+ goals three years in a row. He was the first player to reach 40 goals in two consecutive years. He’s the fastest Real Madrid player to reach 100 goals and he has taken the 7 shirt from legends such as Beckham and Raúl. He has won the league once with Madrid and has amassed a mind-boggling amount of personal accolades. Simply put, he is an astounding player and one of the most complete players to ever play the game. He, like Lionel Messi, is light years ahead of his fellow footballers, but he has been unfairly judged by fans, pundits and even the president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, whose comments about Messi being a “good boy” and Ronaldo being a “general” and spending more time on his hair weren’t received well by Portugal and Real Madrid’s president Florentino Perez.

On the other side of the debate, we have Lionel Messi. Rarely do the press or players scrutinize the little Argentine with the exception of a couple of alleged outbursts and the whole tax evasion issue. But the focus should be solely on the player and the magnificent things he has achieved since Barcelona began paying for his medical bills to treat his growth hormone deficiency. At the tender age of 11, the scouts of La Masia noticed something special in the young Messi and he relocated to Barcelona where a legend would be born. He began tearing up the competition in Barcelona’s youth academy. And in 2004 then manager Frank Rijkaard handed Messi his first professional start at the tender age of 17 years and 114 days, which, at the time, made him the third youngest player to start a game for Barça. The Dutch manager, who was one of the best defensive midfielders to play the game, noticed Messi’s gift early on and is credited for helping to launch Messi’s career, as he showed so much faith in the young star. Messi became a regular in 2006 and was fortunate to play alongside legends such as Ronaldinho, Iniesta, Xavi, Deco, Van Bronckhorst, and Thierry Henry over the next few years.

Unlike Ronaldo, Messi doesn’t have the physique that poses multiple threats, but the little genius is so aptly named because he sees things on the pitch that no one else does. His vision is almost frightening and there’s no doubt that playing with pass masters Xavi, Iniesta and Ronaldinho have helped to groom that vision. His excellent understanding of the game is complimented by a technique that cannot be taught. There have been many skilled dribblers to grace the beautiful game, but few have ever been able to run with the ball like Messi. His low centre of gravity allows him to make quick cuts and the ball seems so stick to his feet. He’s extremely agile, has great acceleration, can beat you with his speed and seems to show up everywhere on the field. While he’s a centre forward by trade, he can play in any attacking position and some of his goals and style of play bear an uncanny resemblance to fellow Argentine legend Diego Maradona. As far as numbers go he has been putting on a clinic since 2008. He has scored 38+ goals each of the past five seasons and has assisted 24+ goals in two of those seasons as well as scoring over 50 goals a season over the last 3 years. He broke Gerd Müller’s record of 85 goals in a calendar year with 91 goals in 2012. He has won the league six times and, like Ronaldo, has won an insane amount of personal awards.

The argument over who is the best player in the world seems to boil down to goals, assists and public image when decided by the Ballon d’Or voters. Barcelona fans believe Messi to be the best, and Real Madrid fans believe Ronaldo to be the best. A good deal of these fans unfortunately take away from the brilliance of the two players by spewing ignorant remarks about the opposition and the amount of Messi vs Ronaldo debates is truly tiring.

What’s certain is that both of these players are truly spectacular and we are privy to two of the greatest players to step foot on the pitch. There are a host of brilliant footballers in the world, and even past Ballon d’Or winners are still playing with absolute class. There is much to talk about in soccer, but the two superstars Messi and Ronaldo are on another planet, and until someone catches up there will be little opposition for the two of them. Neymar has demonstrated that he will be the next big thing, but he is still very far from those two giants. And with Messi sidelined, this will be his chance to strut his stuff prior to the World Cup, which takes place on his home soil.

Over the last few years there hasn’t been anyone else outside of Messi and Ronaldo who could realistically pose a threat to those two superstars in terms of Ballon d’Or voting. While Franck Ribéry was hotly tipped to win the award earlier this year because of his instrumental play in Bayern Munich’s treble, it seems that his efforts will fall by the wayside, which is extremely unfortunate since he quietly has been one of the best players in the world for the past few years. FIFA controversially extended the Ballon d’Or voting to go through the end of November as opposed to mid November and this allowed voters the chance to take in Ronaldo’s latest performances in La Liga and against Sweden in the World Cup Qualifying Playoff where he scored all four of their goals and booked Portugal’s ticket to the World Cup while shoving Sweden and Zlatan Ibrahimovic aside.

With Messi out injured, it seems almost certain that Ronaldo will win his second Ballon d’Or, but will this impending victory for Ronaldo shake up the debate over who is the best remains to be seen?

Whether you prefer Messi or Ronaldo, you have to appreciate what they’ve done for the game and disregard what they do outside of football because we are truly lucky to have both of these players competing at the same time and allowing us to make these comparisons that are more hotly debated than a host of political, religious and economic issues. The beautiful game has brought us many great rivalries in the past, and Messi vs Ronaldo is only the latest in a long line of legendary feuds that will be talked about as long as the game exists.

With that being said whom do you think will win the Ballon d’Or? Will Ronaldo run away with it? Will Messi win his 5th? Will Franck slip by and surprise us all or will it be someone else? Vote your conscience, and share your opinions in the comments section below.

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The Bundesliga has been owned by Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund over the past four years and in that time the top 4 has rotated with Munich winning the league twice and Dortmund winning the league in back to back campaigns in 2010 and 2011. Schalke has graced the top 4 three times in the last four years and Bayer Leverkusen has made two appearances in this group while Werder Bremen poked its head in during 2009, and Hannover 96 snuck it’s way into fourth in 2010.

In 2011, Borussia Mönchengladbach made a rare top 4 finish, which they hadn’t achieved since 1995. Currently Mönchengladbach sits in fourth place with 31 points and is behind Borussia Dortmund only on goal difference.  With 33 goals scored, they’ve scored the fourth most goals in the league behind Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim. With 17 goals allowed in 16 matches they have the fourth least goals allowed in the league. A deeper look at the makeup of this team reveals just why they’re doing so well this year and every player has been contributing and putting in great performances that are part of Die Fohlen’s revival.

Mönchengladbach were a powerhouse in the 70’s and became the first team to win three consecutive titles, but since that golden decade they’ve been far from the high-flying, pace infused side that ruled the disco era. Die Fohlen experienced the pain of relegation in 2006, but clawed their way back into the Bundesliga the following season. In 2010 they were almost relegated again, but managed to stay afloat and in 2011 they finished in fourth place after a strong campaign and brilliant performances from Marco Reus and Marc-André ter Stegen.

This year they’re at it again and are beginning to resemble the side that garnered so many plaudits. Their recent success starts at the back with their keeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who has been the club’s keeper since 2011. The 21-year-old German international kept 9 clean sheets in 34 caps last season and in 15 matches this year he’s already recorded 6 clean sheets, which is second only to Manuel Neuer’s nine clean sheets. The confident young keeper has great positional awareness, controls his box well and is capable of making acrobatic saves. His performances have attracted the attention of major clubs and he is likely to leave Mönchengladbach for Barcelona within the next year, but as of now he provides a great last line of defense for Die Fohlen. Although he’s put on brilliant performances in the Bundesliga, it should be noted that in his 3 starts for the German national side he conceded 12 goals and lost all three matches so he really needs to strengthen his game if he wants to be considered as a viable second option in place of Neuer.

In front of ter Stegen are a handful of defenders who have been efficiently navigating the defensive channels of a very physical style of play in the Bundesliga. The likes of Swedish left back Oscar Wendt, German right back Tony Jantschke, Spanish centreback Álvaro Domínguez and Austrian centreback Martin Stranzl have been fantastic. The entire back line are adept passers and are completing 83%, 90%, 91% and 90% of their passes respectively. They all have great concentration, hold onto the ball extremely well, have superb vision and are defensively sound. They are competent with short passes and have the awareness to clear the ball when necessary, as many defenders hold onto the ball too long these defenders are very rarely subject to that gripe. In fact the four of them have only been dispossessed a total of 8 times, which shows just how careful with the ball they are. With that back line in front of a rising star in ter Stegen it’s no wonder that they’ve conceded the 4th fewest goals in the league.

In front of that solid back line are some very talented midfielders that are beginning to attract a lot of attention in their own right. Christoph Kramer has been excellent in central midfield as a holding midfielder. At 189 cm and 82kg the on-loan 22-year-old German poses a threat in all aspects of play. He’s winning 2.7 headers per game, is completing 91% of his passes, is making 3 tackles per game, is dribbling past 2 opponents per game, is making 2 interceptions per game and has recorded a goal and an assist in his 15 caps. He plays his role to the tee and his strengths in passing, winning headers; interceptions, tackling and layoffs make him a perfect central midfielder that is capable of breaking up play and starting the counter attack. Next to him is 21-year-old Swiss international Granit Xhaka, who also fills that central midfield role extraordinarily well for such a young player. He is similar in stature and production to Kramer, which is a big reason for Mönchengladbach’s possession stats. They currently average 56.3% of possession in their games, which is second only to Bayern’s whopping 71.1%. Xhaka has been superb in central midfield like his counterpart, Kramer, and has been completing 88% of his passes, is winning 1.8 headers per game, is making 2.5 tackles per game as well as making 2.3 interceptions per game and 2.4 effective clearances per game.

Passing is certainly a strong suit of this exciting team and Xhaka is no exception. While he fouls often he is adept at breaking up play and makes 10 accurate long balls per game, which helps to fuel the counter and allows his attacking players to get into space. His recent form has drawn attention from Liverpool, who are looking at “young Einstein” as a potential long term replacement for their talisman Steven Gerrard. Xhaka is a special player for sure and can play anywhere in the midfield, as he has a tireless work rate, excellent positioning and tackling skills and passes very well. Though he’s been utilized as more of a holding or defensive midfielder he shows the capability of playing as an advanced playmaker or deep lying playmaker, as he’s made an assist and 10 key passes in his 14 caps.

Outside of Xhaka and Kramer are Juan Arango and Patrick Herrmann who play in left and right midfield respectively. At 33 years of age the Venezuelan attacking midfielder, Juan Arango, is widely regarded as the best player Venezuela has ever produced and he brings a huge threat to Mönchengladbach, who he has been with since 2009. In 2012 he scored the Bundesliga goal of the season with a ferocious left-footed volley against Wolfsburg. This year he’s been an integral part to the squad with his trademark left footed free kicks, long passing and venomous shots. In 15 appearances he’s scored 4 goals and recorded two assists while completing 74% of his passes and making a key pass per game. He poses an immense threat from set piece situations, wins 3.7 headers per game and his great vision allows him to supply his teammates with well time passes. He is dangerous from all areas of the pitch due to his awareness and powerful long strikes and he provides this relatively young side with a veteran presence that every team needs. Opposite of Arango is Patrick Herrmann, who at 22 years of age is certainly looking to emulate his wide counterpart. The young German has already made 100 appearances for Die Fohlen and has represented the German national team at every level of youth football from U16 to U21.

This year his partnership with Arango, Xhaka, Kramer and their forwards has been lucrative. In his 15 starts he’s scored 3 goals and assisted 5 while completing 82% of his passes, completing 2 dribbles per game and making 1.5 key passes per game. He passes with great accuracy, holds onto the ball very well and is a skilled dribbler. His pace on the right side of the pitch forces defenders to pay more attention to him, as he poses a threat on the counter and likes to engage in quick one touch passes to get up the field. Though he is a good passer of the ball he struggles with crosses, which takes away his ability to be a duel threat as a winger and an attacking midfielder. With his inability to whip in a dangerous cross it is up to Arango to pick up his slack and that limits their attacking options. His positional awareness is also lacking and because he likes to drift forward he sometimes finds himself alone in space with no help, though it is interesting to note that he has only been caught offsides three times in league competition.

Ahead of that versatile midfield are Die Fohlen ‘s joint top scorers Max Kruse and Raffael. The 28-year-old Brasilian forward, Raffael, has been in great form this season along with his 25-year-old German striker partner Max Kruse. Both of them have 8 goals and 4 assists in their 15 starts and are completing 85% and 83% of their passes respectively. Both forwards are weak in the air, but their skill on the ball and ability to pick out a key pass more than make up for their lack of aerial superiority. Raffael has been averaging 1.8 key passes per game while Kruse has been averaging 2.7 key passes per game so it’s quite clear that they have a good vision up front. What makes them even more dangerous is that fact that Raffael is right-footed and Kruse is left-footed, but they have scored with both feet so showing either forward onto their weaker foot wont make them shy away from taking a shot. With two forwards who are skilled dribblers, pose threats from set pieces, are proficient at picking out key passes and can finish with both feet it’s no wonder that their offensive production has been so high. Their 8 goals apiece are only 3 behind the league’s leading scorer Robert Lewandowski.

Overall this team has been performing exceptionally well this term. They’ve been holding onto the ball with great care, are second only to Bayern Munich in passing accuracy and possession and are second in interceptions per game behind Mainz 05. They also average the most dribbles per game and complete more long balls than any team in the league. They prefer to attack from the left so it’s usually Arango and Xhaka who are creating for Die Fohlen, but if any team thinks that they can ignore the right side then they’ll be punished by Raffael, Herrmann and Jantschke who have combined for 11 goals and 10 assists. When a team plays possession football correctly it is often a joy to watch and Mönchengladbach have been that this season. They’re comfortable controlling possession in their own half and when they get the lead it’s very rare that they give it up. With Schalke and Dortmund underperforming there is a great chance that Mönchengladbach will finish in the top 4 this term and they could push even higher if things go their way. They’re definitely a team to watch out for this year, as they’re only 5 points behind Bayer Leverkusen and are level with Borussia Dortmund on points.

Editor’s note: For the latest German news, analysis and opinion, visit the Bundesliga page.

Liverpool is one of the most storied clubs in the English football. They’ve won 18 league titles, 8 League Cups, 7 FA Cups, 5 Champions League titles, 3 Europa League titles and 3 Super Cups. They’ve had a host of brilliant players don their traditional red kit but as of late they’ve been flat. They haven’t won a league title since the 1989 season and they’ve made a host of awful transfers that have plagued the team and left fans burying their heads.

Last season was experimental for sure but the sublime form of Luis Suarez was one of the few talking points of an otherwise disappointing season. With the January purchases of Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge, the Reds found a new playmaker and a strike partner for Suarez. These two showed great understanding of manager Brendan Rodgers’ philosophy of play and put in some very strong performances towards the end of the campaign, which gave the Kop something to look forward to for the 2013/14 season. This year, the Reds have given their faithful something to be happy about for the first time since the 2008 season when they finished in second.

Currently Liverpool sit in second with 30 points from 15 games and are above Chelsea on goal difference while trailing the Gunners by 5 points. They’ve scored the second most number of goals in the league, and are tackling better than any team in the top 4. Again it’s been Luis Suarez at the helm of their attack. And with a brilliant start to the season, there is a lot to look forward to. Currently they’re playing some of the best possession football in the league, but many problems are still plaguing Rodgers’ side.

Recent injuries to Sturridge, Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson will force Rodgers to tinker quite a bit with his formations and we could be seeing more of the young Raheem Sterling and Luis Alberto due to these injuries. Defensive woes also trouble the Reds, as Rodgers has struggled to find a consistent back line and has experimented with 3, 4 and 5 at the back. Though they’ve been able to score plenty of goals, there have been a host of individual errors and complacency in the second halves of games that have allowed their opposition to mount second half attacks on numerous occasions.

Fortunately their home form has been superb and Anfield is once again a feared location, but with difficult fixtures coming up before the January transfer window, the Reds will have to maintain their composure in order to keep their top 4 position. In their next 4 matches, Liverpool are traveling to face Spurs, Manchester City and Chelsea. All of these matches will test the resolve of a thin Liverpool squad that is currently being carried on the back of their prolific Uruguayan marksman. It certainly looks like Liverpool has it in them to claim a top 4 spot this term especially with the dreadful form of last year’s champions Manchester United. Gerrard has been fantastic, but with him sidelined for a month, Coutinho, Allen and Leiva will have to control the midfield.

This really is the strongest side Liverpool has boasted since their 2008 season and although they may not win the league, they are certainly in contention to do so, as are the Blues, the Citizens, the Gunners and even the Toffees. If Sturridge comes back from his injury and picks up where he left off then I think there is a great chance that Liverpool will finish in the top 2, but regardless of that I feel very strongly that the Reds will book their ticket to next years Champions League competition because of the brand of football that they’ve been playing.

Last season they struggled to hold onto a lead and it was only Suarez supplying them with the goals. This year they’ve been better at protecting their lead and with the blistering form of Sturridge and Suarez, I don’t see any shortage of goals for the Reds this year. This season the team effort has been spectacular and 12 players have assisted goals thus far while 8 players have scored. They pose an immense threat from set pieces with the options of Coutinho, Gerrard and Suarez. And with Moses and Sterling offering great pace and trickery on the wings, there is much to be excited about. In previous seasons the body language and attitude of Liverpool players suggested a lack of drive, but as of late they’ve looked motivated and are striving to improve upon each and every performance. With this newfound grit and tenacity, I feel that Liverpool will make a very strong case to return to prominence.

With the January transfer window coming up, the speculation of Suarez departing has once again reared its ugly head, which will surely irk Liverpool and their fans. Their lack of depth up front is concerning, and though Suarez claims he is happy at Anfield and has no intentions of leaving, there is always the possibility of that happening, as it happened to Fernando Torres midway through the 2010 season despite Hodgson’s claims that the Spaniard wouldn’t be sold. Liverpool are in a good position to challenge for the top 4, but they will face great adversity against the high powered offense of Manchester City, the return of the Special One at Stamford Bridge, the well oiled Gunners, an invigorated Everton and a surprising Southampton.

Liverpool have the talent to finish top 4, but they must make sure that they keep hold of Suarez and get he and Sturridge some assistance, as they simply cannot do it alone. With Manchester United struggling under Moyes and Tottenham failing to impress, it stands to reason that the Reds can recapture some of their former glory and this term they make a great case for a top 4 finish.

What do you think the top 4 will look like at the end of the year? Will Liverpool be in contention, or will they slip? Share your opinions in the comments section below.

Editor’s note: For the latest Reds news, analysis and opinion, visit the Liverpool team page.

Plenty of teams loan out players so that they can gain first team experience. This is often a way for younger players to develop when they have that certain something, but aren’t quite at the level required to make first team appearances. While most teams will loan out their players to a host of different clubs, in recent years Chelsea has been using Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem as a farm system for a good amount of their loanees.

This season the Blues have loaned out six players to Vitesse and three of those players have made appearances in 7+ matches this term with two of those players being regular starters. With the departure of Wilfried Bony to Swansea and Marco Van Ginkel to Chelsea, it looked like last years fourth place team would struggle a bit, but 13 games into the season, they’re atop the table by a point and Chelsea’s loanees have been instrumental in their form. Four of the six players that Chelsea has loaned to Vitesse are under the age of 23, and among those young talents are some players who have garnered plenty of attention in their own right before being purchased by Chelsea and shipped out to the Eredivisie. These young players are a great fit for an exciting Vitesse team that only has three players on the roster older than 26.

Among those players is the 19-year-old Brazilian Lucas Piazón, who has drawn comparisons with 2007’s Ballon d’Or winner Kaká. Since his days at São Paulo, the young Brazilian winger has gained critical acclaim for his passing ability, shooting, finishing, vision and flair. Though Piazón does not see the resemblance between he and Kaká, their similarities do extend beyond their physical appearance and the fact that they both played for São Paulo. Like Kaká, Piazón has excellent vision and fantastic technique and finesse. He plays in a more advanced role than Kaká and can sit behind the striker or act as a second striker where he is able to make short and quick passes rather than holding onto the ball. While he has the technique and elegance of a Brazilian player, he employs a rather direct style of football, which likens him to that of a false 9. So far this term he has started 11 of 13 matches, scored 5 goals, recorded 4 assists, dribbled past 2 opponents on average per match and has averaged 3 key passes per game. With the prolific Wilfried Bony and creative Van Ginkel gone, it has been Piazón at the forefront of Vitesse’s attack. He is leading his team in goals and assists and is surely making Mourinho and other managers take notice of what has been an excellent loan spell thus far.

Patrick van Aanholt has also made 11 appearances for Vitesse this term and the 23-year-old Dutch left back seems to have finally found a home after Chelsea loaned him out to four different teams before settling on Vitesse. At 175cm, the quick left back operates as more of a wingback, but has been quite solid in defense. While he certainly wont find a place to start at Chelsea because of Ashley Cole and Ryan Bertrand, he may opt for a permanent move to Vitesse where he can play in his native Holland. The young Dutchman is a smart defender, who passes very well, likes to dribble and holds onto the ball extremely well. He’s scored a goal and recorded an assist and averages the second most tackles on the team at 2.4 per match. He is completing 84% of his passes and winning 68% of his duels while creating a chance per game. He’s been quietly lifting his side from the back and could even be played as a defensive midfielder. While the chances of him finding first team football at Chelsea are quite slim, it certainly doesn’t hurt his stock to be playing as well as he has been and his form could prompt interest from other clubs.

Another notable on loan Chelsea player is 22-year-old French winger Gaël Kakuta. In 2007 Kakuta was signed by Chelsea to play for their youth team and he quickly impressed. He was named Academy Scholar of the Year and Academy Player of the Year and scored 12 goals in 24 appearances for the youth side. In 2009 he became the youngest Chelsea player to appear in Champions League competition and then manager Carlo Ancelotti tipped the young winger to be the future of Chelsea and praised his performances throughout the season.

Like Van Aanholt, Kakuta has been subject to a long series of loans and has been with 3 different teams before settling with Vitesse where he has been since the 2012 season. He’s failed to impress with Vitesse this term and has fallen out of favor. So far all 7 of his appearances this year have been as a substitute. In the last 4 years he hasn’t had much playing time at all and hasn’t played more than 60 matches, which has caused him to criticize Chelsea’s loan system. The most appearances he made in a season were 26 and that was last season with Vitesse where he scored a goal and had six assists. The former 2010 Golden Player of the U19 Euros has found it difficult to find the form that had gained him so much acclaim, but if he can do so then Vitesse will have a great raw talent to work with, as he has been praised for being “the complete package” but this remains to be seen.

The other three players on loan from Chelsea are Christian Atsu, Sam Hutchinson and Cristian Cuevas. These three players have only made six appearances in total with five of them coming from the diminutive Ghanaian winger Christian Atsu who has scored a goal and made an assist in those caps.

The recent amount of loans to Vitesse has caused great unrest in the Eredivisie and harkens back to when Watford signed 10 players on loan from Udinese because the two clubs shared the same owner. Chelsea’s loaning spree to Vitesse could prompt probing from Dutch football chiefs if the English club does decide to loan out three more players to Vitesse in January like they are planning to. Currently there is no restriction on the number of players a Dutch team can sign on loan from other leagues, but this could very well change in the coming months. Chelsea’s owner, Roman Abramovich, is known to be very close with Vitesse’s former owner, Merab Jordania, and this could be a reason for the large amount of Chelsea players being loaned to Vitesse, though it is worth nothing that a few weeks ago the club was sold to Aleksandr Tsjigirinski. Regardless of the scrutiny from other Dutch clubs, this partnership seems to be working out quite well for Vitesse and Chelsea.

If the Blues do wind up shipping out another 3 players in January then Vitesse could have up to 6 of their 11 starters being Chelsea products, which begs the question is Vitesse slowly becoming Chelsea’s B team? Over the last two years Vitesse has made approximately £25 million selling Alexander Büttner, Marco Van Ginkel and Wilfried Bony to Manchester United, Chelsea and Swansea respectively. They do produce talented players, but their involvement with Chelsea could stunt the development of their homegrown players in the long run.

If they want to keep their run of good form going, their next match is against 12th place Go Ahead Eagles and this should be an easy win for Vitesse, who have beaten Ajax, Groningen and Heerenveen while keeping some of the league’s best scorers in check.

Editor’s note: For more news, opinion and analysis of the Blues, visit the Chelsea team page.

Next summer’s World Cup tournament brings soccer back to Brazil, where legend after legend has emerged and stamped their mark on the beautiful game. The greatest international competition is going to provide the world with a plethora of superstars fighting for supremacy, but two of the world’s biggest talents have to battle it out for a place in Brazil. And unfortunately, only one of these legends will be able to play.

One of the biggest stories surrounding the approaching Word Cup is the tie between Portugal and Sweden where two giants in Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimović will square off to try and book their ticket to Brazil. Ronaldo and Ibrahimović are arguably two of the best players in the world and their attacking talent is without question.

Ronaldo won the Balon d’Or in 2008 and has come in second in the running a whopping four times since 2007, along with winning multitudes of personal accolades, multiple league titles and racking up goals and creating highlight reels on a weekly basis. At 28, the mercurial Portuguese attacker still has some great years left to play especially considering his physical shape and intense dedication to the game. But he’s not getting any younger and with emerging sides like Belgium, the competition is only getting fiercer and his chance to win with Portugal may be slipping by the wayside.

His counterpart, Zlatan Ibrahimović, is 32 and produces the spectacular on a regular basis and even has a word named after him in Swedish. Zlatan has won 10 league titles, scoring titles in Serie A and Ligue 1 and is widely regarded as one of the top footballers in the world, certainly one of the top 5 strikers in the world. At 32, this could possibly be his last World Cup while Ronaldo certainly has another left in him. It seems almost unfathomable to imagine a World Cup without Ronaldo or Zlatan in their current form, but Sweden was edged out of the World Cup by Portugal in 2010 so this predicament has been faced before. The absence of either player will be a shame so it is unfortunate that only one of them will have the opportunity to play, but the competition would be that much sweeter if we were able to watch Zlatan conjure the spectacular while Ronaldo does what he does best.

Read: Schedule of Soccer Matches During International Break On US TV and Internet

Two of the finest players in the world who have yet to hoist a World Cup trophy for their countries face a difficult battle beginning November 15 when they meet each other for the first leg of their playoff spot competition. The big Swede and company will look to upset Ronaldo and his boys in what is sure to be a thrilling contest between two of the fiercest competitors in the game.

Programming alert: Portugal vs Sweden will be televised in the United States on Friday live at 2:45pm ET on ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN.com. The second leg will be shown on Tuesday at 2:45pm ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN.com.

With either Ronaldo or Ibrahimović missing out on the World Cup, we will certainly be missing an extra dynamic to the competition. Portugal are the favorites to emerge from this playoff victorious, but shutting down Zlatan has been difficult to do and there could be a bit of a shootout between the two sides as they’re fighting for glory and Sweden are surely itching to set the record straight after being knocked out by Portugal by a single point in 2010 qualifying. Whatever the result of the competition only one thing is certain; football loses out.

If you had to choose between Cristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which one would you pick? Share your opinion in the comments section below. And don’t forget to cast your vote.

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Every season, there continues to be a debate over what team has the deadliest strike partnership. While many are convinced that the days of a two striker formation are numbered, they seem to be proven wrong on occasion by a handful of exceptionally talented players who just cant stop scoring regardless of the league they play in.

At the forefront of this striker debate are Paris Saint-Germain. The Parisian giants bought the outspoken Zlatan Ibrahimovic last season from AC Milan for a fee of around 20 million euros and he has consistently proven to be worth his price tag, as he scored a league leading 30 goals in his first Ligue 1 season, which hasn’t been done since 1989. This season they’ve purchased another top striker in Edinson Cavani, who led Serie A in scoring last term with 29 goals.

These two are without question the top striking partnership in the world. They both have undeniably good goal scoring records, and it seems that they’re both in their prime even though Zlatan is now 32. Cavani has scored over 20 goals in his last three seasons for Napoli and has been a top 3 goal scorer in Italy for those 3 seasons having only been outscored by Diego Milito, Zlatan and Di Natale. Zlatan has scored 28 or more goals in the past two seasons and while he only scored 14 goals in 2010 he also recorded 13 assists. The two forwards have proven that they can score in any situation. They score on headers, they score on free kicks, the score with both feet, they can dribble past opponents and they have the awareness to make key passes and unselfish plays to better their team. Coming into this season there was speculation that Zlatan would leave PSG because he didn’t want to play second fiddle to another striker, but through 10 games the two strikers have worked exceptionally well together and their class is undeniable. Cavani has scored 6 goals and made 6 key passes while Zlatan has scored 5 goals, recorded 3 assists and has made 15 key passes. They’re both averaging a shot accuracy of around 50% and they’re winning about 60% of their duels. These two prolific goal scorers are the reason that PSG are sitting atop League 1 with a goal differential of +13 while Monaco sits in second with a goal differential of +11 thanks to their striker Radamel Falcao.

The difference between PSG’s striking partnership and all other partnerships is that these two forwards are the two of the most complete pure strikers in the game with Zlatan arguably being the best pure striker in the world. On numerous occasions the football world has been rocked by the goals he’s scored whether they were for Ajax, Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Sweden, Inter or PSG. Tae Kwon Do inspired goals and acrobatic scissor kicks and bicycle kicks seem to occur regularly for Zlatan who is truly a human highlight reel. His strike partner, Cavani, has been thoroughly impressing over the last few years and has been amassing some great highlights of his own. These two have the strength and speed to make runs in behind the defense. They have the height to take advantage of set piece situations. They’re clinical finishers who can score with either foot or their head and they score just as often for country as they do for club. It doesn’t matter what system you put these two in; they will get results and score plenty of goals. What makes this partnership even more deadly is the fact that they seem to be having a competition for the team and the league’s top scorer. When Ibrahimović scored that unbelievable back heel volley against Bastia to open the scoring before scoring another goal in the first half he sparked something in Cavani, who was subbed on for him in the second half. Cavani responded with a brace of his own and scored an impressive goal where he dribbled past a few defenders and then put the keeper on his backside before finishing from a tight angle. His goal received applause from Zlatan who watched from the bench. It’s a bit difficult to stop PSG when they have strikers capable of making defenses and goalkeepers look foolish on a regular basis regardless of the quality of their opposition.

PSG’s mercurial forwards put on another impressive display in their last Champions League fixture against Anderlecht, who were unable to cope with their class. Although Cavani did score a goal in their 5-0 rout of the Belgian side it was Zlatan who once again stole the show with his 4 goal performance. The big Swede was unstoppable and a word inspired by him; Zlaterna, a Swedish word that means, “to dominate”, can only describe his performance. In the 17th minute Zlatan started his rout with an easy tap in, but the quality of his goals would only get better. In the 22st minute he scored again, but this time with a cheeky backheel that left Proto flatfooted. In the 36th minute Zlatan scored an absolute screamer from outside the box to complete his first half hat trick. Cavani got himself on the score sheet in the 52st minute after a defensive error, which left him 1 on 1 with Proto. Zlatan added his 4th goal of the night in the 62nd minute with a fantastic shot from a very difficult angle. Many will be quick to point out that this performance was against a weak Anderlecht side, but the quality of the goals is unquestionable. In 3 Champions League matches, Zlatan has scored 6 goals and Cavani has scored 2. Most sides are lucky to have one forward with an eye for goal, but when a side has two who are arguably top 5 in the world that’s something else altogether.

As the League 1 season and Champions League progress we are going to see a lot more of these two and it’s not crazy to think that they will both finish the 2013 campaign with 20+ goals.

When Shinji Kagawa joined Manchester United in 2012 from Borussia Dortmund, many United supporters were ecstatic upon hearing the news. Kagawa was instrumental in Dortmunds’s back-to-back Bundesliga titles and was the creative force behind their electrifying play. The attacking midfielder scored 21 goals in 49 appearances for Die Schwarzgelben as well as scoring a goal and providing an assist in Dortmund’s 5-2 victory over Bayern Munich in the 2012 DFB-Pokal Final, which secured the double for them.

The Japanese international formed a brilliant partnership with Nuri Şahin, Mario Götze, Jakub Błaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski, which made the German side extremely formidable save for their form in the UEFA Champions League. His creativity, pace and skill were attributes that United and their fans wanted.

Sir Alex Ferguson rarely made a bad purchase, so when a player of his ilk begins to struggle, one must wonder what went wrong. Last season Kagawa only made 20 appearances, as he was struggling through injury, but in those 20 appearances, he averaged a 90% pass accuracy, scored 6 goals, assisted 3 goals, made 16 key passes and had a shooting accuracy of 75%. Those are quite good numbers for a player who missed just about half of his first season in the Premier League.

He was excellent at finding space and releasing players with accurate and well timed passes. And he worked tirelessly to fit into the team. Supporters of the Red Devils must have been pleased with Kagawa’s output in such a short span of time, and Sir Alex Ferguson definitely saw Kagawa in his first team plans.

Some would say that his fallout this season has to do with his physical conditioning and that he is not cut out for the rigors of the Premier League. This is simply not true. During his spell in the Bundesliga, Kagawa set the standard for physical conditioning. He covered more ground than any player in the Bundesliga by averaging 12.36 km per 90 minutes.  Admittedly he’s not the best defensively, and he’s slight of stature, but there are plenty of hard tacklers in Germany, and he’s not a defensive player, so it’s unfair to judge him on those criteria.

Kagawa excels at playing in the number 10 role. He sits behind the striker, makes quick one-two passes with wingers and forwards, floats in and out of space and has an eye for goal. While he is a versatile player, he has been misused at Manchester United. He is by no means a winger, and for him to succeed and bring the most he can to a club he must be played in a central position so that he can orchestrate the attacks and dictate the pace of the game.

While he has the calibre to be a central attacker in the Premier League, it seems that his time at Manchester United is coming to an end. With Dortmund he was receiving deep passes from his defensive midfielders and even his defenders, which allowed him to run at opposing defenders and find pockets of space to exploit. Without service like that, he has been forced to backtrack with United, and has been playing more defensively than he should be. United’s style favors play on the wings and counter attacks through the middle, hence why Kagawa has been playing in unfamiliar territory. He is used to being the catalyst for his club so when he is not involved in every attacking movement, he is not being played to his strong suits.

This season he has only made one appearance in the Premier League and has only played for 45 minutes. The arrival of Marouane Fellaini from Everton has pushed Kagawa further down the pecking order and it seems that the Belgian will be a staple in United’s lineup this season. With fewer chances on the pitch and fewer touches on the ball, it stands to reason that unless he produces the spectacular in the little time he’s given, he will be shown the door, which is unfortunate for the Red Devils.

Any team looking for a world-class attacker should stay on red alert, as Kagawa would provide that special something for any team who would give him chances and the freedom to play at his best.

Six games into the 2013 La Liga season, and the top of the table seems about right. Barcelona have won all six of their matches with a goal difference of +17, while right behind them are Atletico Madrid with six wins and a +13 goal difference.

Real Madrid have gotten off to another slow start in La Liga. Los Blancos have started off the 2013 season in better form than the 2012 season in which they were 2-2-1 through their first five matches.

But the story of the season so far is the blistering form from Atleti. Last year they were 5-0-1 through 6 matches and that was with Radamel Falcao. This season, they’ve been perfect and have allowed five goals while scoring 18, only four less than Barcelona.

Coming into the 2013 season, it was thought that Atletico Madrid would face great challenges without their prolific goalscorer Falcao, who scored 52 goals in 68 appearances for Los Colchoneros. Their first 6 matches have proved otherwise. Atletico made some fantastic moves during the summer transfer window that have strengthened the team and all but erased the despair of losing Falcao. Diego Costa and David Villa have effectively replaced the Colombian hit-man and have combined for 9 goals through 6 games, 7 of those goals coming from Costa, who in doing so has equaled Falcao’s tally through 6 games last season. The striking pair has also assisted one goal each throughout that 6-match span.

Young Spanish midfielder Koke produced 80 chances last season, resulting in 3 goals and 9 assists while maintaining a pass accuracy of 81%. This season he has recorded 2 goals and 5 assists while passing with 85% accuracy through just six matches. The young Óliver Torres has made two appearances as a substitute and the young midfielder, considered to be a creative mastermind in the passing game, has averaged an 85% passing accuracy in those matches. His wonderful showing with the Spanish u21 side gives Atletico and their faithful a lot to look forward to, as long as Barcelona doesn’t snatch him from their grasp as they’re keen to do so.

On August 31, Atletico acquired Belgian centerback Toby Alderweireld from Ajax, who snubbed Liverpool in the process. Alderweireld is a strong and versatile defender who can play in the center or on the right and is known for his physical prowess, ball playing ability and passing. He has yet to make an appearance for Atletico, but when he does find his way into the first team he will be sure to make a difference. Arda Turan has continued his playmaking influence this season by recording 1 goal and 2 assists as well winning 59% of his duels and passing with 80% accuracy.

Thibaut Courtois, last year’s Zamora Trophy winner, is off to another great start in La Liga. So far he has only conceded 5 goals, kept 2 clean sheets and has only allowed 2 goals on one occasion. He’s averaging 100% claim success, 60% distribution success and 1.33 saves per match, which shows that his side is protecting him quite well.

At this pace it stands to reason that Atletico will finish in the top 3 yet again and if they can continue this blistering form then there is a chance, albeit a small one, that they could take the second spot. Atletico’s next match is against local rivals Real Madrid, who are looking to set the record straight after losing the Copa del Rey in May. This will prove to be a real test for Atletico, as Real Madrid now have Isco and Gareth Bale at their disposal and will surely look to grab a convincing victory at home.