European football leagues (La Liga, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Serie A, etc.) 2024-25 Discussion Thread

[Cricket Warrior]

In the 2024 season, La Liga is as competitive as ever. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid remain the dominant forces with both clubs investing heavily in new talent. Atlético Madrid also poses a strong challenge aiming to break the duopoly of the two giants. The league has seen a rise in young Spanish talents adding excitement and unpredictability to the season.

Ligue 1 continues to be dominated by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) who are the defending champions and remain the team to beat. However, other clubs like Olympique de Marseille and AS Monaco are making significant strides aiming to close the gap. The league is showcasing emerging talents and has a reputation for high-scoring matches and exciting football.

Serie A in the 2024 season features a thrilling race at the top with Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Juventus leading the charge. Inter Milan is particularly strong, bolstered by significant investments and a solid squad. AC Milan and Juventus are not far behind, making the title race highly competitive. The league is also noted for its tactical battles and passionate fan base.

The Bundesliga continues to be a showcase for attacking football. Bayern Munich remains the dominant force, but clubs like Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are pushing hard to challenge their supremacy. The league is known for its vibrant atmosphere and the development of young talents who often make a significant impact.

Overall, the 2024 season across these European leagues promises an exciting array of footballing talent, competitive matches, and memorable moments.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

European Leagues FT Scores (18-08-2024)​

 

[Cricket Warrior]

European Leagues FT Scores (19-08-2024)​

 

[BouncerGuy]

Leverkusen to retain title or will Bayern bounce back?

Bayer Leverkusen's record-breaking title win last season was a breath of fresh air for the Bundesliga.

The fact Bayern Munich's seemingly iron grip on the trophy was finally broken raises hopes the upcoming campaign and following years in Germany will be competitive.

However, despite their struggles last year, Bayern go into the 2024-25 season - which kicks off on Friday with Leverkusen at Borussia Monchengladbach - as favourites once again.

The record 33-times champions, who had won 11 titles in a row before Leverkusen's historic unbeaten league campaign, have made some significant changes, including hiring Vincent Kompany as their new manager.

While the former Burnley boss may not have the typical track record of a Bayern manager, he has impressed in his first weeks in charge.

His possession-based brand of football, which was evident during his time at Anderlecht and his first year with Burnley in the Championship, suits Bayern and their identity well.

Plus, Kompany has had the joy of welcoming a few major signings during the summer - most notably Michael Olise and Joao Palhinha.

Interestingly, Palhinha was the player Kompany's predecessor Thomas Tuchel desperately wanted last season before a proposed deal with Fulham fell through.

Palhinha has now been signed as the Bavarians' holding midfielder and looks set to be the most dominant player in front of Bayern's backline since Javi Martinez a decade ago.

Will Leverkusen's late heroics continue?

One player who might not end up at Bayern before the summer transfer window closes is Jonathan Tah.

The 28-year-old German international was on the verge of moving from Leverkusen a couple of weeks ago, but the two clubs have not managed to reach a deal.

Even though Tah's contract expires in 2025, Leverkusen are loath to lose their defensive leader.

To this point, the reigning champions have been able to keep all their key players from last season.

Leverkusen's core group - including Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo - have all decided to stay and attempt to defend the title under the tutelage of Xabi Alonso.

In fact, Leverkusen have been able to strengthen their squad. Midfielder Aleix Garcia, signed from Girona, looks to be Xhaka's new midfield partner, while defender Jeanuel Belocian and winger Martin Terrier have been brought in to give Alonso even more options.

Leverkusen showed one of their main characteristics at the weekend against VfB Stuttgart in the German Super Cup, managing to score a last-gasp equaliser despite being a man down.

Leverkusen eventually beat Stuttgart on penalties to secure the first piece of silverware of the 2024-25 campaign.

But it is unlikely Alonso's players can achieve as many last-minute wins as last season - having scored at least 17 goals in the 90th minute or later across all competitions.

The prospect of at least some drop-off in performance is likely, but that does not necessarily mean Leverkusen will be unable to challenge Bayern and others.

Alonso's side did, after all, finish 18 points above third-placed Bayern in 2023-24 and 17 points ahead of runners-up Stuttgart.

Can Sahin get new-look Dortmund to gel?

In the slipstream of Bayern and Leverkusen are two other teams with ambitions of competing for the German championship.

The first are Borussia Dortmund, now coached by Nuri Sahin following the departure of Edin Terzic.

Dortmund reached the Champions League final under Terzic last season, but club power-brokers were concerned about the lack of overall progress.

Dortmund ended the season fifth in the Bundesliga - 27 points behind Leverkusen - and only reached this year's Champions League because of the altered format, which granted the German league five spots.

Sahin is even less experienced than Kompany and Alonso, but the general hope is the former Liverpool midfielder could improve Dortmund's possession game to dominate play like Bayern and Leverkusen.

Dortmund were even more active in the transfer market, signing Germany internationals Pascal Gross, Waldemar Anton and Maximilian Beier, while Manchester City's Yan Couto and Serhou Guirassy from Stuttgart also arrived.

Guirassy was second in the Bundesliga scoring charts behind Harry Kane last season and has essentially pushed Niclas Fullkrug, who has joined West Ham, out of the door.

It is up to Sahin to put the pieces together effectively. Unlike Terzic, the new manager cannot count on moments of brilliance from a few attacking players, especially now Jadon Sancho has left the club once again.

Leipzig with an outsider's chance

The fourth Bundesliga contenders in 2024-25 look to be RB Leipzig.

Despite losing Dani Olmo, manager Marco Rose has a familiar group of core players, including Xavi Simons who has remained on loan from Paris St-Germain for another year.

The biggest headache for the 47-year-old manager might be his midfield injury woes, as Xaver Schlager and Assan Ouedraogo will miss the start of the season - with the former being out for a considerable amount of time.

But regardless of that, Leipzig boast an outsider's chance of challenging at the summit during the upcoming campaign.

Leverkusen's stunning triumph last season ended Bayern's Bundesliga monopoly. And the league could be set for another exciting title race with multiple teams, charismatic managers and talented players.

It is truly a breath of fresh air.

BBC

 

[The Bald Eagle]

European Leagues Full Time Scores (24-08-2024)

 

[Cricket Warrior]

European Leagues FT Scores (25-08-2024)​

 

[Cricket Warrior]

European Leagues FT Scores (26-08-2024)​

 

[Cricket Warrior]

 

[Cricket Warrior]

 

[Cricket Warrior]

 

[Cricket Warrior]

 

[The Bald Eagle]

FT Score in different European league matches (31-08-2024)

 

[Cricket Warrior]

European Leagues FT Scores (01-09-2024)

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[The Bald Eagle]

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli, both clubs have announced

Napoli said the deal lasts until the end of the 2024-25 season and that Osimhen has also agreed a one-year contract extension with the Italian club to June 2027.

The 25-year-old had been a target for Premier League side Chelsea before the English transfer window closed on Friday, with Saudi club Al-Ahli also interested, but has moved to Turkey instead.

Osimhen scored 76 goals in 133 games for Napoli and played a key role in their 2022-23 Serie A title win with 26 goals.But he failed to maintain the explosive form that made him one of the most coveted strikers in Europe, scoring 15 times in Serie A last season in a disappointing campaign for Napoli in which they finished 10th and went through three managers.

Former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte took charge for this season and signed Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, 31, from the Blues for £30m.

Source: BBC​

 

[The Bald Eagle]

European Leagues FT Scores (14-09-2024)

 

[BouncerGuy]

Kylian Mbappe scored his third Real Madrid goal in two games in a hard fought victory over Real Sociedad at Reale Arena.

The Frenchman opened his La Liga account before the international break and coolly sent Alex Remiro the wrong way from the penalty spot late in the second half after Jon Aramburu stood on Vinicius Jr's foot.

Vinicius opened the scoring for Madrid in the 58th minute, also with a penalty, after former Manchester City left-back Sergio Gomez handled Arda Guler's powerful hit.

Brazilian Vinicius made no mistake as he scored his second La Liga goal of the season.

Sociedad may have wondered how they had not taken the lead after hitting the woodwork three times - twice in the first half and once in the second.

Keeper Thibaut Courtois could only watch as Luka Susic’s powerful strike from the edge of the box rattled the crossbar in the 25th minute.

Madrid were saved by the woodwork again 10 minutes later. Dani Carvajal lost possession deep in his own half and Sheraldo Becker’s left-footed strike spun off the bar.

Croatian Susic perfectly opened up his body 20 seconds into the second half to slide a left-footed effort past Courtois, but he could not beat the base of the post.

England international Jude Bellingham remained on the sidelines after injuring his calf before the international break, although he has returned to training.

Madrid are unbeaten after five league matches but remain a point behind leaders Barcelona despite having played a game more.

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Harry Kane scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich took just 13 seconds to open the scoring against newly promoted Holstein Kiel, returning to the top of the Bundesliga with an emphatic win.

Kane nodded on for Jamal Musiala to run clear and score Bayern's joint second-fastest goal in the Bundesliga era.

Kane scored twice in a rampant first half either side of an own goal from Nicolai Remberg, with former Crystal Palace forward Michael Olise grabbing his first Bayern goal after the break.

Kane then scored a penalty in stoppage time to wrap up victory and a fifth hat-trick for the club.

Vincent Kompany's side have won all three league games while Kiel - in their first Bundesliga season - have yet to record a point.

Harry Kane has scored 40 goals in 35 Bundesliga games for Bayern Munich

Only striker Giovane Elber has scored a faster goal in the Bundesliga for Bayern than Musiala, the Brazilian netting after 11 seconds against Hamburg in 1998.

Musiala made no mistake after two defenders collided before former Tottenham and Fulham man Lewis Holtby gave the ball away and Musiala teed up Kane for the second.

Kane has now scored against all 18 teams he has faced in the Bundesliga, and after Remberg turned into his own goal the England captain curled in a fine second from 20 yards.

Olise swept in a rebound after Alphonso Davies had a shot saved to put Bayern 5-0 up, but Armin Gigovic gave the home fans something to cheer when he headed in a late consolation, their first goal at home in the league.

There was still time for Kane to win - and convert - a spot-kick in added time.

BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

European Leagues FT Scores (15-09-2024)​