Mlu Mdletshe looks the state of play from around the best local and international soccer leagues following the World Cup.
With that inexplicable global interruption now behind us (Congratulations to Messi and Argentina), it is finally time to get back to club football action! With players getting a very short break (depending on their leagues), I can only hope that they are as hyped as I am for the return of league action. And just in case you (or they) have forgotten where your favourite club sits on their respective logs, here is a quick run-down.
DSTV Premiership (South Africa)
Resumes on: 30 December 2022
Current top four:
Mamelodi Sundowns (28 points)
Richards Bay FC (23 points)
SuperSport United (21 points)
Kaizer Chiefs (21 points)
No player from the PSL made the cut for their respective national teams to go to Qatar for the World Cup – a huge disappointment for one of Africa’s biggest leagues. Having been criticised for going on a break much earlier than normal (because of the World Cup), PSL clubs and players will have more than their physical fitness to prove when the league restarts as mental strength will also be tested.
With fixtures set to resume on Friday 30 December, all eyes will be on whether league leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns can make it six league titles in a row come the end of the season. Sundowns have had a great campaign so far – winning nine of their opening 12 games and losing just two.
They do, however, have Richards Bay, SuperSport and Kaizer Chiefs to worry about as well as Orlando Pirates – who they face when the league gets back underway. Meanwhile, speculation continues over where Thembinkosi Lorch will be playing when the campaign restarts, with reports linking him to Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs.
Where’s is Lorch.. is he still injured 🤕 💀💀 https://t.co/e9mIxd10gB
— Gretchy (@Gretchen_Ndou) December 20, 2022
English Premier League (England)
Resumes: 26 December 2022
Current top four:
Arsenal (37 points)
Manchester City (32 points)
Newcastle (30 points)
Tottenham (29 points)
In the English Premier League, it is a case of picking up where they left off for the Gunners who top the standings with 37 points. They face a fiery Newcastle side when the league resumes – with a lot riding on this fixture.
The Magpies are third and have lost only once this season while Arsenal will hope that the World Cup has not broken their momentum. Their season has already hit complications with injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson – prompting Mikel Arteta to look into the market in search of a replacement forward.
Elsewhere, Graham Potter’s Chelsea have reportedly sealed a deal to sign RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku at the end of the season as they look to bolster their squad.
Manchester United’s bid for an affordable Ronaldo replacement continues with French forward Marcus Thuram identified as a suitable option. Ironically, the Red Devils have also made an enquiry about the availability of Benfica and Portuguese striker Goncalo Ramos ahead of the January window.
Reports have also suggested that Barcelona’s Frankie de Jong is reportedly willing to join Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
🚨 Erik ten Hag has told Cody Gakpo he sees him as the perfect replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United - and he could even take the No.7 shirt.
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) December 18, 2022
(Source: @MullockSMirror) pic.twitter.com/9Kn2EaZk00
LaLiga Santander (Spain)
Resumes: 29 December 2022
Current top four:
Barcelona (37 points)
Real Madrid (35 points)
Real Sociedad (26 points)
Athletic Bilbao (24 points)
Second-placed Real Madrid are in search of a replacement for the injured Karim Benzema if they are to put up a challenge for the league title this season against Barcelona. The Blaugrana are looking to end a six-year drought and lift the league title but will first have to ensure they retain their top players when the transfer window opens.
They have been monitoring Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko – who is also a target for English side Chelsea. Moukoko (18) is out of contract in the summer and in talks over a new deal.
At the bottom of the table, Elche are winless in 14 games and will really struggle to avoid relegation. They visit Atletico Madrid when LaLiga resumes and will be lucky to walk away with a point against a side looking to close the gap at the top themselves.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid have made Joao Felix, Matheus Cunha, Felipe and Mario Hermoso available for transfer in the January window in efforts to balance their books by selling between three and five players. The club’s finances were hit by their early elimination from the Champions League.
🚨 BREAKING: Arsenal take the lead in the race to sign João Félix.
— Back Again W/Troopz Podcast (@backagain) December 12, 2022
[@marca] 🥇 pic.twitter.com/FVdbMzHKTR
Serie A (Italy)
Resumes: 4 January 2023
Current top four:
Napoli (41 points)
AC Milan (33 points)
Juventus (31 points)
Lazio (30 points)
League leaders Napoli are yet to taste defeat this season, having won 13 and drawn two of their last 15 encounters. Their perfect record has been attributed to fitness and a determination to shake their perennial bridesmaids tag. The pair of Giacomo Raspadori and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have been particularly instrumental this season
Reigning champions AC Milan trail by eight points. Former Liverpool forward Divock Origi scored a number of vital goals during his time at Merseyside but appears to be struggling to show what he’s made of for the Italian champions. He’s only scored one of their 29 goals in the league this season in 14 appearances.
Inter Milan are keen to land striker Romelu Lukaku on a permanent basis and are looking to use right-back Denzel Dumfries as part of the deal. The Belgian striker has netted once in four appearances this season.
At the other end of the table sit three teams battling for survival in Verona, Sampdoria and Cremonese – who host Juventus when the league resumes.
Inter director Ausilio: "Robin Gosens is not for sale. He will not leave in January, we invested on him and he will be part of the project", tells Sky. 🇩🇪 #transfers
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 20, 2022
"Romelu Lukaku is 100% focused on Inter now, World Cup is the past. He feels good, he's ready". pic.twitter.com/ycSr0lSiIu
Bundesliga (Germany)
Resumes: 20 January 2023
Current top four:
Bayern Munich (34 points)
SC Freiburg (30 points)
RB Leipzig (28 points)
Frankfurt (27 points)
Bayern Munich are stepping up their search for a goalkeeper during the break and have placed Yann Sommer at the top of their shortlist as a successor for Manuel Neuer, who suffered a leg fracture on a skiing tour after Germany’s elimination from the World Cup.
Their campaign gets back underway on January 20 when they visit RB Leipzig. Both teams haven’t lost in their last five matches and will look to restart the season on a high note.
The record Bundesliga champions are heavily linked with Spurs forward Harry Kane. Since Kane has less than 18 months left on his current deal at Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern is expected to test the resolve of the English club in the summer.
Dortmund will hope to hold on to two of their stars in Jude Bellingham and Youssoufa Moukoko who are both the radar of several big clubs. Bellingham has been in fine form this season, and in 32 appearances across competitions for both club and country, he has 10 goals and five assists.
Reports suggest that Liverpool have submitted an offer of £131m, with £26m included in the same as add-ons. If this is true, Dortmund are truly about to lose a gem of a player while the core of Liverpool’s team is all but set for the future
Yann Sommer is an option for Bayern as new goalkeeper to replace Neuer. Talks are ongoing - but not advanced yet. He's one of the names in the list. 🔴 #FCBayern
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 20, 2022
Inter are also interested in Sommer but to join as free agent for the next season. pic.twitter.com/bj9eyLn7X0
Ligue 1 (France)
Resumes: 28 December 2022
Current top four: Paris Saint-Germain (41 points)
RC Lens (36 points)
Stade Rennais (31 points)
Marseille (30 points)
It’s mixed news for Paris Saint-Germain as they feel optimistic over Lionel Messi’s future in the French capital, but there are rumours suggesting that Kylian Mbappe may request to leave. The French star will push for a summer exit and has interest from a trio of Premier League clubs.
PSG are having yet another excellent season, with 13 wins from 15 games and an impressive goal-scoring record. Five points behind them are Lens, who face ninth-placed Nice in their first game back before hosting the league leaders.
Marseille chief Basile Boli recently revealed that the club held talks with Cristiano Ronaldo during the summer transfer window – a move which could have boosted Igor Tudor’s attack massively.
Having just avoided relegation last season, Angers are rooted at the bottom of the log without a win from their last nine games. Having sacked their head coach Gérald Baticle in November, director of the youth academy Abdel Bouhazama sits at the helm until further notice, and may have a chance to turn their fortunes around when they face fellow strugglers, Ajaccio when the campaign restarts.
PSG president Al Khelaifi: “No decision will be made on Leo Messi’s contract before the new year. We are very happy and Leo’s very happy with us too”, tells Gazzetta. 🔴🔵🇦🇷 #PSG
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 18, 2022
“We will find the best solution together with Messi, we’re so happy and this is fantastic”. pic.twitter.com/MWpuCYBw7s
UEFA Champions League
On Tuesday 14 February, the UEFA Champions League returns as PSG face Bayern and AC Milan take on Tottenham in the first games of the round of 16.
Liverpool take on reigning champions Real Madrid in one of the matches of the knockout stages. The Reds scored just one goal in two games as they succumbed to the Merengues in the 2020/21 quarter-finals then drew a blank in last season’s showpiece in Paris, largely thanks to Thibaut Courtois’ heroics.
RB Leipzig will look to shock Manchester City again when they meet in February, but unlike last season, when Guardiola often operated with a false nine, Man City now have arguably the most prolific focal point in the game to finish off their free-flowing moves in Erling Haaland. They remain the strong favourites this season, especially with the Norwegian striker having missed the world cup in Qatar and fully fit.
Injured Bayern Munich and Senegal star Sadio Mane has started the recovery process by undergoing surgery but is unlikely to feature in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain in February.
Bring it on! 👊
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 7, 2022
Which tie can't you wait for?#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/tiWnYYTdXj
UEFA Europa League
With the new format of the Europa League, we now have a play-off between the eight teams who dropped into the Champions League and the eight runners-up from the Europa League group stage.
The undoubted tie of the play-off sees FC Barcelona face off against Manchester United in a repeat of the 2009 and 2011 Champions League final.
Other mouth-watering fixtures include Ajax v Union Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen v Monaco, Sevilla v PSV and RB Salzburg v Roma.
The UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League return on Thursday 16 February.
It's set! 🤩
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) November 7, 2022
Which tie are you looking forward to most?#UELdraw pic.twitter.com/OvquVAv4rL
