10 minute read
ONE HORSE RACE
THE UGLY
The deadline day arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has gone down as one of the stranger pieces of Barcelona transfer activity in recent seasons. Aubameyang took the controversial step of flying himself out to Barcelona in the final hours of the winter transfer window, with the Arsenal squad away at a warm weather training camp in Dubai, as he tried to force through a move to the Spanish giants. However, despite the traditional back and forth on deadline day, Barcelona confirmed a deal was essentially done as the window slammed shut on January 31. Yet despite eventually securing his ‘dream’ move to Catalonia, the swirling story of his soap opera style exit from Arsenal has dominated the start of his new chapter in Barcelona. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta publicly took the captain’s armband away from the Gabonese international at the end of 2021, following repeated Covid-19-related rule breaks. Arteta’s hard-line approach extended to omitting him from his squad for over a month, before sanctioning a mutual consent departure for the 32-year-old. Arsenal will continue to pay Aubameyang’s eye watering salary until the end of the season, as the Gunners agreed a financial compromise with Barcelona to secure the deal. But despite an eventual untangling of their ties, Aubameyang was quick to indicate Arteta’s stance was the key factor in his exit from the Emirates Stadium. Barcelona head coach Xavi will hope the lingering animosity between Aubameyang and Arsenal reduces as he settles at the Camp Nou, but the experienced striker will be under immediate pressure to show his enduring class in front of goal and prove Arteta’s instincts wrong.
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FAR LEFT: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang secured a ‘dream’ move from Arsenal to Barcelona
ABOVE: Arsenal will be paying Aubameyang's salary until the end of the season
LEFT: Mikel Arteta publically removed Aubameyang's captain's band
TOP (OPPOSITE PAGE): Gaizka Garitano looks set to lead Eibar back into La Liga
BOTTOM (OPPOSITE PAGE): Alessio Lisci has been left with too much to do at struggling Levante
Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig was filmed autographing a pig while leaving training. No explanation was given but many observers noted it was simply another normal day at Barcelona, where things are a bit di erent to other clubs. The 22-yearold came through La Masia and made his debut for Barcelona’s first team toward the end of 2018, but he’s failed to establish a place in the side in the manner younger players like Pedri and Gavi have. Espanyol midfielder Sergi Darder has opened up about his struggles with mental health and depression in an interview with ESPN’s Sid Lowe with comments carried by Marca. “In 2020 I realised and accepted that I wasn’t well,” Darder said. “I’m not going to use the word depression because there are people who are having a hard time, they’re sick, but I needed help. I wanted to be a footballer, have a house, a car, a family, children. I had everything and I wasn’t happy. I had to change.’’
GOING UP
Eibar’s relegation from La Liga in 2021 hit hard among neutral fans in Spanish football, as the likeable Basque side saw their top-flight stint ended. However, they have shown resilience and adjustment in the Segunda Division under new boss Gaizka Garitano, and they should have enough in the tank to seal an immediate promotion.
GOING DOWN
Levante’s top-flight run of five seasons looks likely to end in 2022, after a disastrous managerial collapse at the Ciutat de Valencia. Paco Lopez’s sacking after no wins from their first eight league games was followed by no wins in seven for his replacement Javier Pereira, leaving third boss Alessio Lisci with too much to do to in 2022.
Camp Nou will be known as Spotify Camp Nou from now as music streaming platform Spotify has struck a €280 million endorsement deal with the Catalonian giants. This is the first time the iconic stadium went through a name change since it replaced Camp de Les Corts as Barca’s home ground in 1957. With Spotify's new deal, the club will finally get the income they need in order to attempt the transfers they want next summer.
TOP 6 LA LIGA WINTER SIGNINGS 2022
Mexican striker Jesus 'Tecatito' Corona poses for photographs during his presentation as new player of Sevilla FC
His time at Arsenal ended on a seriously sour note, but get him in the right system and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can still score goals. The Gabon international joined Barcelona on a free transfer, with Arsenal bearing the most of his salary till the end of the season. Beyond that point, Barcelona will assume full responsibility for his wage, but it will not be anywhere near the mammoth €415,000-perweek wages the Gunners used to pay him.
Anthony Martial had a dream start to his Manchester United career, but it didn’t quite work out in the end. Dropped from the Man United first XI, Martial was desperate to move on and agreed a loan to Sevilla with lower wages. The Frenchman is a talented forward and might rekindle himself in a di erent climate.
Although Ferran Torres did not blow us away during his spell at Man City, he was showing signs of developing into an extremely exciting centre-forward prior to getting injured in the Nations League. Barcelona did not make the best decisions in recent history, when it came to big money signings. But, spending €55 million for someone as promising as Ferran Torres appears to be a wise decision.
The name of Daniel Wass may not spark your enthusiasm at first glance, but the man has been a permanent La Liga fixture over the past eight years. Tactical prowess, versatility and endless work rate make the Denmark international a type of player every coach would like to have at their disposal. Atletico Madrid spent €2.7 million to bring the 32-year-old at Wanda Metropolitano.
Rafinha Alcantara did not reach the career heights his brother did. He has an impressive CV regardless, having past a liations with the likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. With Real Sociedad fighting tooth and nail to secure Champions League football for next season, having a player of Rafinha’s qualities should come in handy. The White and Blues will not pay any loan fee to PSG for Rafinha.
Since swapping Twente for Porto in summer 2015, Jesus Corona has been one of the most entertaining players to watch in European football, let alone the Primeira Liga. Sevilla sporting director Monchi managed to convince Porto to part ways with the Mexican striker in exchange of €3 million.
Atletico Madrid's midfielder Daniel Wass (C) participates in his team's training session at Wanda Sports City in Majadahonda
ABOVE (MAIN): Munich's Robert Lewandowski (R) celebrates with teammate Jamal Musiala after scoring the 4-0 lead during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Muenchen and VfL Wolfsburg
ABOVE (SMALL): Bundesliga Players celebrating after one of their leagueleading wins
a one horse race
WITH THE BUNDESLIGA TITLE RACE ENTERING ITS FINAL STAGE, MICHELLE OSEI BONSU TAKES A LOOK AT THE STATE OF PLAY
‘BAYERN MUNICH AVOIDED THE JANUARY SALES’
No club in any of Europe’s biggest leagues has ever won 10 titles in a row. Bayern Munich look set to do just that in May. As has been the case in prior campaigns, once the Bavarian titans have seized top spot, it is nigh impossible to dislodge them. This time around, Julian Nagelsmann’s side took charge on matchday four, and have not looked back since. They have not been flawless, but have generally looked relatively comfortable as they march on towards an unprecedented 10th consecutive league title. Key to their success, of course, has been Robert Lewandowski. Despite turning 33 last August, the striker continues to score goals at an outstanding rate. The Polish star lost out to Lionel Messi in the voting for the coveted Ballon d’Or prize in late November - raising quite a few eyebrows around the world - but has not let the disappointment slow him down one bit. Having broken Gerd Muller’s 49-year-old record for most goals in a single campaign by netting 41 times last term, Lewandowski is well on track
Nto win a fifth consecutive Torjagerkanone and tie with Muller for the most top scorer prizes won. Players like Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick and Borussia Dortmund’s Norwegian ace Erling Haaland are doing their utmost to force their way into contention. But barring a significant injury layo , Muller’s record of seven Torjagerkanone prizes will be matched by Lewandowski at the end of this season. While Lewandowski’s hot streak has obviously been central to Bayern’s success, other players have done much more than just make up the numbers. One such man is Thomas Muller, who has evolved from an outand-out goalscorer to key assist provider. For the past two campaigns, Muller has led the charts when it comes to assists, setting a single-season record of 21 during 2019-20. Given the rate he’s going at this time around, he looks certain to break that record by the time the current term ends. Meanwhile, Serge Gnabry continues to grow in influence for Die Roten this term. The 26-year-old marked a personal milestone on matchday 16, when he scored a hat-trick against boyhood club Stuttgart to take his tally to double figures for the sixth straight season. To put that into perspective, only
ABOVE: Bayern Munich are cantering towards another Bundesliga title
BELOW: Record-breaking Manuel Neuer looks as good as ever
BOTTOM RIGHT: Borussia Dortmund vs RB Leipzig
THE GAME CHANGERS
Michelle Osei Bonsu looks ahead to five key dates to keep an eye on in the latter months of the season
BAYERN MUNICH V BAYER LEVERKUSEN - 5 MARCH Facing Bayern is no small task, but Leverkusen will be motivated by more than just revenge for their humiliating 5-1 loss in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Die Werkself could still have an eye on second place when they visit the reigning champions in early March.
UNION BERLIN V KOLN - 2 APRIL With both teams potentially still in contention for Champions League football next season, this game could be crucial. Given how congested things are in the top half of the table, points gained or dropped in fixtures like this could ultimately decide who features in Europe next term.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND V RB LEIPZIG - 2 APRIL Leipzig have seen their fortunes improve following Jesse Marsch’s sacking and Domenico Tedesco’s arrival, and could challenge for a top-four berth. Die Roten Bullen are not a side to be underestimated and they have caused their fair share of trouble for Dortmund in the past.
BAYERN MUNICH V BORUSSIA DORTMUND - 23 APRIL While this game is highly unlikely to change the course of the title race, Der Klassiker is always unmissable. From Dortmund’s perspective, beating Bayern probably won’t help them in this season’s title race, but it could give them renewed belief for a tilt at the Meisterschale next term.
FREIBURG V UNION BERLIN - 7 MAY Based on the performances of both Freiburg and Union Berlin so far this season, this tie could be massive in the race for Europe. At the start of the 2021-22 campaign, few predicted that Freiburg or Union Berlin would be among the teams jostling for Champions League football, yet here they are.
