This undoubtedly has been one of the greatest years in the history of European soccer. In most European leagues there are no playoffs games. They only have what is referred to in the US as a regular season. Each team plays every other team once at home and once on the road receiving 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw. At times this has led to seasons were a clear champion pulls away early and the season becomes anti-climactic as late season games are meaningless in some cases. But this season has been one for the ages. In the English Premiere League Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea all are within 4 points of each other and all have a chance to win the title. This is the first time there has been a legitimate 3 team race for the title since soccer became regularly televised in the England in the 1980s. The top 4 teams in the Premiere League each season get to participate in next season’s Champions League, a competition featuring the best teams from each country in Europe, the following year. This year’s battle for 4th place is a tight race between Arsenal and Everton. Arsenal haven’t missed the champions league since the 1996 season, but after being in 1st place for most of the first half of the season Arsenal has fallen quickly into a battle with Everton the teams are separated by only one point. There is also a three team race for first place in La Liga, Spain’s top soccer league. Barcelona and Real Madrid have won every league title since 2004. But this season Real Madrid’s cross town rival Athletico Madrid is currently in first. No one thought Athletico had any chance this season but the heavy underdogs currently sit in first 3 points up on Real Madrid and 4 points up on Barcelona, who they play on the road on the final day of the season. The Champions League is currently in the semi-finals stage. Chelsea, who won the champions league in 2012, play Athletico Madrid. In the other semi-final match up Bayern Munich play Real Madrid. Bayern lost to Chelsea in the 2012 Final and won the Champions League in 2013. The Bayern Chelsea final went to penalty kicks as did a meeting earlier this season in the Super Cup. Any matchup between these two teams is must watch soccer. Bayern Munich won the German League and German Cup this season and last season. This season they set Germany records for earliest date to win the league, goals scored and allowed and most points earned in a season. This season’s Champions League truly features four of the best teams in Europe. The final few weeks of the soccer year will definitely be exciting. Then in June the world cup will start and all of the world’s best players will be on display in Brazil.
