Spain: 2009-10 La Liga Preview

Earlier today Sports Illustrated soccer writer Grant Wahl mentioned on Twitter that he plans to watch every Barcelona and Real Madrid match this season. That's not a bad idea because following the two Spanish giants should give you the entire story of the upcoming La Liga season.

Depending on your perspective, the campaign will be a predictable two-team runaway or a compelling battle between two of the game's marquee squads. It's not like Real and Barca aren't accustomed to dominating the league. The rivals have combined to win 50 of 78 league titles and boast 12 European Cups between them. But this year the gap between the top two is even greater. Barcelona are fresh off a treble winning season, highlighted by a Champions League triumph over Manchester United, while Real Madrid landed the two biggest stars of the transfer season with the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.

The defending champs feature Player of the Year Lionel Messi, but their hungriest star will be Inter Milan transfer Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swedish international is eager to capture the European glory that eluded him at the San Siro, and how well he fills in for Samuel Eto'o will be a major factor in how much hardware the Catalans secure this season.

While many Real Madrid line-ups have looked unbeatable on paper, the results in recent years have been a mixed bag. Real's performance in Europe has been especially disappointing; the nine-time champs haven't been a factor since their last title in 2002. The current collection of Galacticos, including Lyon transfer Karim Benzema and national team goalkeeper Iker Casillas is designed to do what their rivals did last year. The stage is set for a perfect ending: Madrid could capture a record 10th European Cup on their home field next May.

As for the 18 other squads, they'll be jockeying for 2010-11 Champions League and Europa League slots. Among those in contention are Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Villareal and Valencia. How many points these squads capture in matches against Barca and Real will determine not only their own fate, but the detsination of the league crown.

Picking a winner is a heads or tails proposition, but Real has far too much talent not to be considered the favorites. They're my pick to win the league and I'll be surprised if they're not hoisting Europe's biggest prize at the Bernabeu at the end of the season.

Champions League Seeds are for the Birds

College football fans love to whine about the BCS rankings, especially the obscure computer rankings that spit out unpredictable results. But the co-efficients that UEFA uses to determine the seeds for the Champions League draw, being held today, might be even goofier.

UEFA uses past European performances to weigh the teams, then splits the 32 squads into four pots of eight teams each. The top eight ranked teams are one seeds, the next eight are two seeds, and so on. Each four-team group is supposedly balanced by including one of each seed. While this system takes away subjectivity, it fails to factor in the current squad. The flaw in this method is shown in the fact that AC Milan is a one seed and Real Madrid is a two seed.

AC Milan have been one of the more successful European sides of late, winning titles in 2003 and 2007 and finishing second in 2005. But the current squad has been lessened by transfers and will struggle to contend in Serie A this year. One of those key transfers? Kaka, who joins Cristiano Ronaldo at star-studded Real Madrid. But Real have been Euro duds since their last title in 2002, so one of the pre-tournament favorites find themselves in a pot with the likes of AZ Alkmaar and CSKA Moscow.

A system that incorporated some judging of the current roster's abilities would no doubt add controversy to the process, but if done in the name of common sense, the end result would enhance the group stages.

Transfer-Palooza

Each summer speculation around the European transfer market resembles the board game "Fact or Crap." There are an endless number of rumors, but those stories greatly outnumber the completed deals. Here's a look at some of the players and storylines central to this year's transfer gossip.

Carlos Tevez isn't exactly leaving Manchester United on good terms, taking some parting shots at Sir Alex Ferguson on his way out of Old Trafford. Oddly Tevez ruled out Liverpool as a destination because of their rivalry with ManU, but the Argentine now appears headed to crosstown Manchester City.

Inter Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovichas been the talk of a move out of Serie A, but Inter's asking price may be too high for potential suitors. In other Inter news, Brazilian fullback Maicon has been linked to a move to Chelsea.

Staying with Barcelona or heading to Manchester City are the two options for Samuel Eto'o. A two-year extension of Eto'o's current deal is the latest offer from the reigning European champs.

Xabi Alonso is the latest target of free-spending Real Madrid. Defender Alvaro Arbeloa could also make the Liverpool to Real leap.

Counting Down the Best European Cup Finals

Wednesday's Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona has the potential to be an all-time classic. All season long, ManU and Barca have stood out as the top two teams in Europe, so if you're not a fan of one of the two sides, you have to hope that Wednesday's meeting in Rome joins the list of great finals. Here's my take on the top 10 European Cup finals of all-time.

10) 1994: AC Milan 4, Barcelona 0: A meeting of the winners of three of the last five cups was noteworthy not for the match's close score line, but for the impressive manner in which AC Milan pounded the favored Catalans. Without star defenders Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta, the Rossoneri scored four times within the first hour en route to their fifth title.

9) 2006: Barcelona 2, Arsenal 1: An early red card against goalkeeper Jens Lehmann left Arsenal down to 10 men, but the shorthanded Gunners shockingly took the lead on a 37th minute goal by Sol Campbell and gamely tried to preserve the advantage. But two goals by Barca in the final 15 minutes- a 76th minute equalizer by Samuel Eto'o and the winner from Juliano Belletti four minutes later- gave the Spaniards their second Cup.

8) 1987: Porto 2, Bayern Munich 1: Just 12 minutes from time, a sublime back heel touch from Porto's Rabah Madjer erased Bayern's first half lead. Before the Germans could recover, Juary put home the winner two minutes later. It would not be the last time Bayern would be victimized by a pair of late goals.

7) 1967: Celtic 2, Inter Milan 1: Another match highlighted by a second-half rally, Celtic broke the 11-year cup dominance of Mediterranean sides, becoming the first British team to win the title. The Celtic roster, made up entirely of players from within 50 minutes of Glasgow, are still celebrated fondly as the "Lisbon Lions."

6) 1960: Real Madrid 7, Eintracht Frankfurt 3: While many consider this match the greatest final of all-time, the lopsided score keeps it from ranking higher on my list. This was, however, the Real Madrid dynasty at the peak of its power. Ferenc Puskas scored four times and Alfredo Di Stefano added a hat trick as Real captured their record fifth-straight title.

5) 1968: Manchester United 4, Benfica 1, a.e.t.: In front of a pro-ManU crowd at a packed Wembley Stadium, Manchester United found their second wind in extra time, scoring three times in a five-minute span to capture their first title. Bobby Charlton scored the Red Devils' first and last goals, while George Best put home the eventual game winner.

4) 1999: Manchester United 2, Bayern Munich 1: The ultimate late show saw Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both score in stoppage time to give Manchester United the treble. The shock ending lead to one of the all-time great broadcasting quotes from Clive Tyldesle: "What must Lothar Matthäus be thinking? Well, with the greatest respect, who cares?"

3) 1962: Benfica 5, Real Madrid 3: A meeting of the first six cup winners was a back-and-forth affair. Real took first half leads of 2-0 and 3-2, with all three goals coming from Puskas. After Benfica tied the match early in the second half, Eusebio netted a pair of goals to give the Portugese squad back-to-back titles.

2) 1956: Real Madrid 4, Stade de Reims, 3: The first European Cup Final set a lofty standard for future matches. Real rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits, with Marquitos scoring in the 79th minute to send the innaugural title to Madrid.

1) 2005: Liverpool 3, AC Milan 3 (Liverpool wins on PKs): The two games above were the only time a team had rallied from two goals. Never had a team recovered from a three-goal margin. That was the deficit staring Liverpool in the face at halftime of their final against AC Milan. But as fast as you can say Gerrard, Smicer, Alonso, the Reds leveled the match and hung on for PKs. Two years after sealing a shootout win against Juventus, Andrei Shevchenko saw his spot kick saved, giving Liverpool an improbable fifth title. The match was the highest-scoring European final in 33 years.

If you don't like my list, SI.com has its own take on the Top 10.

Champions League: Reds Remarkable Rout

"Liverpool return to Anfield protecting a 1-0 advantage over Real Madrid," read the previews to yesterday's Champions League match. That word "protecting" typically indicates that fans can expect a defensive struggle, and with Liverpool's history of stay-at-home, counterattacking football in European matches, there was no reason not to anticipate such a match yesterday. When a scoreless draw sees you through, it's common to take a defensive approach.

For that reason, Liverpool's display yesterday was even more inspiring. Rather than build a fortress around Pepe Reina, the Reds attacked from the opening whistle and secured passage to the quarterfinals within 30 minutes en route to a 4-0 win and a 5-0 aggregate victory. While the penalty call that lead to Liverpool's second goal was simply awful, the constant pressure from Rafa Benitez's men created the opportunity. Even at 1-0, with the way Liverpool were playing, it was hard to see a Real Madrid winning the fixture. If not for Iker Casillas in goal for Real, Liverpool could have won by six.

Liverpool showed how an attacking team at the top of their game can be a delight to watch. Now if only they could replicate this form against the Premier League's bottom feeders.

Let the Transfers Begin

With the focus shifting back to club sides, July will be a busy month in the transfer market. It's always a challenge separating truth from rumor, but here's a look at some of the names and possible moves to watch in the coming weeks.

• Deco to Chelsea: Done deal as of today, as the Portuguese midfielder follows Big Phil Scolari to Stamford Bridge


• Frank Lampard to Inter Milan?: Will Frank take all the pies with him as he re-unites with The Special One?


• Didier Drogba to AC Milan?: The Chelsea makeover continues. Drogba could end up with either San Siro squad, but his Champions League Final red card was most likely his final act for the Blues.


• Emmanuel Adebayor leaving Arsenal?: Chelsea, Barcelona and AC Milan have all been mentioned as possible destinations.


• Ronaldinhio to Manchester City?: Manchester's number two team has some cash to throw around, and although the Brazilian seems past his prime, this would elevate the squad's profile immediately.


• Samuel Eto'o leaving Barcelona?: With Deco gone, the likelihood that either Eto'o or Ronaldinhio stay put seems greater.


• Gareth Barry to Liverpool?: This one's been in the works for awhile. Let's get it done, please.


• Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid?: How will the soap opera play out? If ManU stick to their word, Ronaldo will be back in red this year.

England: The Latest on Cristiano

Thankfully Euro 08 has pushed this Cristiano Ronaldo foolishness out of the headlines for a few weeks. The world's two most prestigious clubs continue to grapple for the rights to the world's greatest player, but between Ronaldo, Manchester United and Real Madrid, only the European champs have any leverage. Assuming ManU aren't budging from their claim that Ronaldo will not be dealt under any circumstances, the player isn't going anywhere this off-season, which is what makes this saga irritating at best.

On Monday Manchester United registered a formal complaint to FIFA over Real's continued pursuit of Ronaldo. The episode shows why Europe could benefit from stricter tampering rules such as those used in American leagues. While Europe has policies against "tapping up," the process is frequently accepted with a wink and a nod. By contrast, if an American franchise so much as whispered the name of a player under contract to another squad, they'd face an immediate stiff fine. Real's coy pursuit of Ronaldo is beneath a club of their stature. On the other side of the Atlantic they'd be dealing with far more than just a tarnished reputation.

Spain: Nothing Clasico About It

Real Madrid celebrated their recently-captured La Liga title in front of the home fans with a 4-1 thrashing of Barcelona today. The win gives Real a season sweep of "El Clasico." Madrid led 2-0 before halftime on goals by Raul and Arjen Robbin and added tallies from Gonzalo Higuain and Ruud van Nistelrooy in the second half.

The loss ensures that Barcelona will finish outside the league's top two for the first time in five seasons, meaning they'll have to go through the Champions League Qualifying rounds next year. An offseason of change is already taking shape for the Catalans. Reports Tuesday from Spain indicated that former captain Pep Guardiola will succeed the outgoing Frank Rijkaard as Barcelona coach at season's end. Rumors have also abounded regarding the Barca roster.

Lionel Messi has been implicated in a megatransfer with Chelsea, but later reports indicated the Blues will look elsewhere. Ronaldinho has been linked with a transfer to AC Milan, but the Rossoneri's interest waned when they deemed the asking price to be too high. Now there are questions if the Brazilian is healthy enough to play at a top level. Thierry Henry was busy denying rumors this week that he would be leaving, stressing that he plans to remain with the club through the duration of his three-year contract.

Triumph for Bayern, Real

It wasn't pretty, but Bayern Munich wrapped up the Bundesliga today with a 0-0 draw away to VfL Wolfsburg. It's the 20th Bundlesliga title for the Bavarians and third domestic double in four seasons.

Later in the day, Real Madrid clinched their 31st La Liga title, coming from behind down a man to post a 2-1 win over Osasuna.

Inter Milan hoped to join the celebration Sunday, but fell in the Milan derby 2-1 to AC Milan. Saturday, a goalless draw against Nice kept Lyon from wrapping up a seventh-straight French Ligue 1 title.

Managerial Shuffle

With the summer approaching, the speculation as to which top managerial positions will become available is in full swing. While much will be decided between now and the Champions League Final in Moscow, there are no shortage of rumors and possibilities.

Barcelona's Frank Rijkaard appears to be a prime candidate to depart after the season. The Catalans La Liga season never really got off the ground and with a great deal of unrest on the Barcelona roster, the Dutchman's days seem to be numbered. It's hard to imagine Rijkaard being fired if Barcelona win the Champions League for the second time in three seasons, but anything less likely means he'll be ousted.

Barcelona may not be the only elite La Liga job opening at the end of the season. Another disappointing European campaign may cost Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster his job. While Real are all but assured of a second-straight league title, that wasn't enough to keep Fabio Capello around last year, and Madrid fans expect the team to make a bigger splash on Europe's biggest stage.

An elite opening in Spain could be very enticing to Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez. Although he has repeatedly expressed his desire to remain at Anfield, there's no telling what will come of chaos with Liverpool's ownership group. Benitez's stock will be extremely high if he leads Liverpool to another European crown and a top spot back in his home land may be tough to pass up.

It's tough to tell if Chelsea's Avram Grant will be back in charge at Stamford Bridge next season; the next eight days will go a long way in deciding his fate. Chelsea remain alive for a Champions League-Premier League double, but could also end the season empty handed. Grant has had a tough act to follow on the heels of the extremely popular Jose Mourinhio, but deserves a full season in charge to prove his abilities.

And then there's the matter of Alex Ferguson. Obviously the Old Trafford legend will be heading out on his own terms, but the team is already dealing with rumors about his possible retirement. If ManU were to capture a second Champions League title under Ferguson, he may find it's the perfect time to call it a career. If he does, former Ferguson charges Steve Bruce and Roy Keane, currently at Wigan and Sunderland respectively, may be among the candidates.

Finally there's Milan where rumors have surrounded both AC Milan and Inter Milan all season. On Monday, Inter decided they had had enough of the talk of Mourinhio replacing Roberto Mancini next season. If Mancini does return (he quit following Inter's Champions League loss to Liverpool, only to be talked back into his job later that week), he'll be under extreme pressure to improve upon Inter's recent run of poor showings in Europe.

Carlo Ancelotti has also been fighting the shadow of Mourinhio much of the season. The 2007-08 campaign has been a disaster for the Rossoneri, crashing out of the Champions League early and never contending in Serie A. Currently in fifth, Milan are in serious danger of missing out on Champions League football in 2009. But despite the downturn, Ancelotti remains poplar with Milan brass, and his departure seems unlikely.

La Liga Look In

Real Madrid's second consecutive La Liga crown is all but locked up, with the defending champions leading Villareal by 10 points with five games to go. Villareal hold a one-point edge over Barcelona for second and an automatic berth in the Champions League group stages. The battle for fourth is also tight with Atletico Madrid one point ahead of Racing Santander for a spot in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.