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<p>As the lead commentator for ESPN’s coverage and a long-time world feed broadcaster of the German top flight, few have Derek Rae’s knowledge of the Bundesliga.</p>
<p>World Soccer Talk had the chance to have a phone call with Rae to break down his predictions for the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign. While not an official table, Rae did offer some insights into what the season may hold.</p>
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<h3>Derek Rae talks 2022/23 Bundesliga season</h3>
<p>The conversation touches on a variety of topics within the league. At the top of the table, Derek Rae does not see the monopoly of domination from Bayern Munich changing. Despite losing its talisman in Robert Lewandowski, the depth is simply too much to match as of now. Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, is already facing some poor luck. Sebastian Haller, the new striker replacing Erling Haaland at the top of the line, is set to miss time <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2022/07/19/dortmunds-haller-vows-to-come-back-stronger-after-testicular-tumour-diagnosis/">after the discovery of a tumor</a>.</p>
<p>The common focus of the Bundesliga is on Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. However, in Derek Rae’s Bundesliga chat, he talks about the battle at the bottom of the table, as well.</p>
<p>Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen make a return to the Bundesliga. Yet, safety is far from guaranteed. Derek Rae predicts that a number of teams could be under the microscope as they look to stay alive in the Bundesliga this season.</p>
<h5>ESPN coverage of the Bundesliga</h5>
<p>The interview above also touches on ESPN’s continued coverage of the Bundesliga.</p>
<p>Rae is the voice behind ESPN’s major weekend with the Bundesliga. Now in its third year of broadcasting the league, ESPN welcomes back the likes of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in a big way. With pitch-side coverage from Frankfurt and Dortmund on Friday and Saturday, respectively, the Bundesliga is officially back.</p>
<p>On both Friday and Saturday, Derek Rae is on the call. For Friday’s fixture, Bayern Munich, the “Rekordmeister” of the Bundesliga, takes on the 2021/22 Europa League champions, Eintracht Frankfurt. Coverage of Friday’s game is on <a href="https://go.web.plus.espn.com/mWebq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN+</a> and ESPN Deportes, exclusively.</p>
<p>Then, on Saturday, ABC is the channel of Derek Rae. He calls Borussia Dortmund’s battle hosting Bayer Leverkusen. The game on ABC is also available on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes.</p>


Derek Rae, ESPN's lead voice for its Bundesliga coverage, joins World Soccer Talk to break down his takes for the upcoming campaign.

Derek Rae previews the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign - World Soccer Talk

Derek Rae previews the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign

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<p>Rangers’ qualification to the Europa League Final represents one of the historic sides practicing something of a renaissance.</p>
<p>This season, the <em>Kings of Scotland</em> emerged as a nightmare to face in Europe. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men continue to remind the world about Rangers Football Club and their belonging amongst Europe’s elite. Following last season’s end to a ten year title drought, the 55-times champions of Scotland catch eyes and ears ahead of the side’s first European final since 2008.</p>
<p>With a historical semi-final comeback win in Glasgow, the Rangers advanced to the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/europa-league-tv-schedule/">2021/22 Europa League final</a> following a 3-2 aggregate win over RB-Leipzig.<br>
Like their previous elimination ties this season, the <em>Gers</em> refused to back down. In Germany, Rangers lost 1-0 in the first leg. Coming back to Ibrox, the boys from Glasgow needed a two-goal victory to advance without extra time.</p>
<p>An amazing start to the match saw Rangers up 2-0 within the first half hour. Of course, this left plenty of time for RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku to draw his side level. However, it developed into one of Rangers’ great nights in Europe. The Ibrox faithful grew enamored with John Lundstram after the clubs new darling grabbed the game-winner. His 81st-minute strike allowed Rangers supporters to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/05/05/rangers-roar-into-europa-league-final/">erupt in their renowned unity</a>.</p>
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<p>Now with redemption at a European cup final, Rangers eyes another German opponent. Eintracht Frankfurt awaits at the Estadio R. Sanchez Pizjuan in Seville, on May 18.</p>
<h3>Rangers set for Europa League Final</h3>
<p>Right-back James Tavernier is now the Europa League’s top goal scorer with 7 goals to his name. The 30 year-old Rangers captain has been a massive factor in the teams arrival to the final. What is more remarkable is how he earned the top spot among the Europa League’s goal-scorers. Tavernier scored each of his seven goals in Rangers’ eight knockout stage games.</p>
<p>The club’s two leaders up front, Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe, missed extended periods of time this season. Rangers players responded brilliantly with dividing up the responsibility in-front of goal. Morelos, a Colombian international, is indisputably <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12582974/alfredo-morelos-rangers-striker-to-miss-rest-of-season-after-undergoing-surgery-on-thigh-injury">out for the rest of the season</a> with a thigh injury. However, Roofe and Aaron Ramsey could well appear in the final. This would be a massive boost for Rangers against a strong Eintracht side.</p>
<h5>Return to prominence</h5>
<p>Throughout this journey to the final, Rangers forced the soccer world to take the Scottish side more seriously. Rangers knocked out Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade, SC Braga and now RB-Leipzig in the knockout stage. This exemplifies the growth in confidence of the Ibrox club. Having now knocked out two major Bundesliga sides, Van Bronckhorst’s men surely understand what awaits them.</p>
<p>The club last appeared in the final of this competition back in the 2007/08 campaign. That year, Zenit St. Petersburg defeated the Scottish side at the City of Manchester Stadium, 2-0. Rangers has the opportunity to restore the respect of Scottish soccer in Europe. A victory would automatically bring the Rangers back into the UEFA Champions League, which last hosted Rangers in 2010/11. Plus, it would be Rangers’ biggest European trophy in its storied history.</p>
<p>Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s club also has an upcoming <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/scottish-cup-tv-schedule/">Scottish Cup Final</a> against Hearts on May 21. If anything, that accentuates the rediscovered sense of belief and ambition in the Rangers camp.</p>
<p>Current Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard revived the excitement back into this football club. He led them back to a Scottish Premiership a season ago. Giovanni van Bronckhorst picked up right where he left off with the club. Rangers’ brilliant attacking play keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Rangers should have that on full display in the Europa League Final.</p>
<p><em>Photo: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images</em></p>


Rangers earned a spot in the Europa League Final for later in May. It is the resurgence of one of the most dominant sides in Europe domestically.

Rangers takes aim at redemption in Europa League Final - World Soccer Talk

Rangers takes aim at redemption in Europa League Final

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<p>Barcelona’s resurgence under Xavi seemed to reach a head in early April.</p>
<p>Barcelona defeated second-place Sevilla courtesy of a magnificent Pedri strike in the 72nd minute. The squad trotted around the field applauding fans. At the time, Barcelona shot itself into second in the LaLiga table, a far cry from where it was just six months prior. The win also came on the back of the club’s biggest result of the year.</p>
<p>Two weeks earlier, just before the March international break, Barcelona went to Madrid and dismantled its biggest rivals. As Piqué, one of Barcelona’s leaders, put it, “<a href="https://twitter.com/3gerardpique/status/1505664571138351105">we are back</a>.”</p>
<p>It was Barcelona’s first win over Real Madrid since 2019. The confidence and emotion on the pitch heavily contrasted just months prior. <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/barcelona-news-antoine-griezmann-messi-24888792">Lionel Messi and Griezmann left</a>, <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11833/12413637/ronald-koeman-sacked-by-barcelona">Barcelona sacked Ronald Koeman</a>. Now, Barcelona was on top of the world Barcelona was on top of the world, at least based on form and potential.</p>
<p>It would not be possible without the person at the helm. Xavi’s innovative tactics and calculated transfers revolutionized an awry Barcelona club. In just a couple months, he appeared to return the Catalan side to one of the better clubs in Europe.</p>
<p>However, what makes the extraordinary story even more unbelievable was what came before it. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/08/18/barcelonas-1-5-billion-debt-how-a-mega-club-fell-into-a-financial-black-hole-and-lost-its-star/">Billions of dollars in debt</a>, a self-inflicted storm nearly destroyed Barcelona.</p>
<h5>Koeman and chaos</h5>
<p>As a player, Ronald Koeman scored the game-winning goal for Barcelona’s first European Cup in 1992. Like other clubs in Europe, Barcelona sought to revitalize the squad’s energy with a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/11/17/gauging-the-success-of-former-players-as-managers/">former player as manager</a>. Understanding the history of the Blaugrana, Koeman had successful stints at Ajax and PSV in the Eredivisie.</p>
<p>Koeman started off poorly, as Barcelona looked like a shadow of its old self. Barca finished third, its worst finish in LaLiga since 2008, in 2020/21. In the Champions League, a 5-2 aggregate loss against PSG sent the club packing in the round of 16. Despite the struggles, Koeman maintained some hope by leading Barcelona to a Copa del Rey title.</p>
<p>Then, Koeman oversaw relative disaster at the club. Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann departed in the summer, much as a result of the Barcelona board’s irresponsible finances. Using a rag-tag squad of unproven players, Barcelona only brought in Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia to replace the outgoing stars.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, Barcelona floundered. It fell to an eye-opening ninth when Barcelona sacked Koeman.</p>
<p>They failed not only in Spain, but they did in Europe as well. They found themselves frequently <a href="https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2021/9/29/22700768/benfica-barcelona-champions-league-final-score-match-report-recap-reactions">outclassed by Benfica and Bayern</a>. Despite two wins against Dynamo Kyiv, it suffered relegation to the Europa League.</p>
<p>Koeman walked into the Camp Nou as a storied Barca star who had both Messi, Griezmann and more stars at his disposal. Following a string of mediocrity, disappointment, and heartbreak, Koeman left Barcelona as a frail shell of itself.</p>
<h3>Barcelona’s resurgence under Xavi</h3>
<p>Despite Koeman’s messy reign as Barcelona manager, Barca rebounded like no other. Appointing club hero Xavi provided glimpses of the Barcelona identity that players and managers like Johan Cruyff or Pep Guardiola helped to build. From matchday 18, Barcelona kept an unbeaten streak in league play spanning around four months.</p>
<p>Their recent results are thanks to the <a href="https://themastermindsite.com/2022/01/09/xavi-hernandez-fc-barcelona-tactical-analysis/">penetrative off-ball movements</a> and the <em>tiki-taka</em> playstyle Xavi perfected in his playing days. Instead of the quick, rapid-fire counter-attacks favored in modern-day football, Xavi, like prior iterations of Barcelona, elects for a possession-based offense complete with flashy wing play. His reliance on wingers and full-backs helps overwhelm opposing defense and get the ever-common goals Barca desperately needs.</p>
<p>Big wins over the two Madrid clubs accented Barcelona’s return to the upper echelon of Spanish football. In early February, Barcelona trounced Atletico Madrid 4-2 with the help of their explosive attack. Jordi Alba, Gavi, Ronald Araujo, and Dani Alves all found the net as Barcelona rocketed up the table.</p>
<p>In late March, Xavi and his squad headed to the Santiago Bernabeu looking to close a seemingly impossible gap with Real Madrid. While the league may have been out of reach, El Clásico is always a game to play for. Pride was also at stake, as Barca had previously dropped the last four games against Real in LaLiga play.</p>
<p>Barca showed they were a new team, reformed under the leadership of Xavi. Aubameyang’s brace, complemented by goals from Araujo and Torres, helped show Barcelona was nothing like what the world laughed at in November.</p>
<div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-356558" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20220425_WST_381411_Xavi-Unveiling.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=800" alt="Former Players as managers" width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/Xavi-Unveiling.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/Xavi-Unveiling-300x200.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/Xavi-Unveiling-600x400.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/Xavi-Unveiling-150x100.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/Xavi-Unveiling-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div>
<h5>Stumble near the end</h5>
<p>Barcelona’s rampant form hit an unpredictable and screeching halt in mid-April.</p>
<p>Eintracht Frankfurt, a mid-table side in the Bundesliga, beat Barcelona at Camp Nou in the Europa League. the German side advanced 4-3 on aggregate. Even more disheartening for Barcelona fans was the number of Frankfurt fans in the stands. White shirts stood out among the red and blue supporters.</p>
<p>Following this loss, two losses over Barca’s next three games transpired. Rather than losing to a club like Sevilla, Real Sociedad or another strong team, these losses came at the hands of teams in the bottom half of the LaLiga table. Cádiz and Ray Vallecano both won in Barcelona in monumental victories for those clubs.</p>
<p>It is more than likely that Barcelona gets back to the Champions League next season. That being said, there is still reason to compete in the league. Seeding in the Champions League is one thing, but qualification to the Supercopa de España provides financial support. Clearly, that is something Barcelona desperately needs.</p>
<p>Plus, the Catalans still must prove they can hoist the world’s biggest trophies without Lionel Messi. That starts in LaLiga.</p>
<p>Under this manager, it is achievable. Barcelona’s resurgence under Xavi will be under the microscope with slim margins and narratives at play.</p>
<h5>Fire in the market</h5>
<p>For a side that got crashes out of Europe, remains millions of dollars in debt, has an unproven manager in European soccer and plays a very particular style under said manager, Barcelona acquires interest from notable players.</p>
<p>This season alone, Xavi managed to acquire Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traore from Premier League clubs for a combined $60 million. Of course, Aubameyang and Traore came on free transfers.</p>
<p>The three of them have had ups and downs with Barcelona, contributing important moments along the way. Aubameyang has been especially impactful. Nine goals in 12 league games is a strong return.</p>
<p>The Gabonese attacker and legendary player rapidly fell out with Arsenal fans and Gunners gaffer Mikel Arteta. Disciplinary issues and a row with Arteta surrounding Auba’s messy exit from the Emirates.</p>
<blockquote><p>“My last few months at Arsenal were complicated, that’s football sometimes. For my part, I never wanted to do anything wrong. My problem was only with Arteta. I can’t say much more, I wasn’t happy. It was just him and he made that decision. He wasn’t happy, I can’t tell you more. He wasn’t very happy, I was very calm,” Aubameyang claimed.</p></blockquote>
<p>Journalists like <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1508556777201229828">Fabrizio Romano report</a> that Barcelona’s shopping in the transfer market is not over yet. AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie and Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen are set to play in the blue and red of Barcelona in the coming summer, and club president Joan Laporta says there could be more signings to come. That is notwithstanding the financial obstacles Laporta and company must overcome.</p>
<p>It is an encouraging sign for fans. Barcelona’s resurgence under Xavi comes as a result of pulling consistency out of what was a mediocre side. Now, it looks to form one of the most solid squads in LaLiga to rival Real.</p>
<p><em>PHOTO: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images</em></p>


Barcelona's resurgence under Xavi took a hit over recent struggles. However, the squad is in a comfortable spot to learn from this.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "eintracht-frankfurt"

Leagues: Bundesliga

Derek Rae previews the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign

Leagues: Europa League

Rangers takes aim at redemption in Europa League Final

Barcelona

Barcelona's resurgence under Xavi still strong despite struggles