So how much better can the German teams get? Munich appear to be on the rise following their signing of Mario Götze, the young Dortmund starlet, for €37 million, and with rumours linking them to Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, the Munich outfit could be going from strength to strength this summer. Bayern won the Bundesliga in mid-April and are currently 20 points ahead of second placed Dortmund. They have lost just one game all season and conceded only 15 goals. Munich have been well know for being a hard working, industrious side with powerful attacking skill and a solid defence, but after this runaway reattainment of the league and places in the Champions League and German Cup finals, how much better can they get? On top of this season's success, next season will see a new manager at the Allianz Arena, Pep Guardiola. In his career at Barcelona, Guardiola won 14 trophies and had a 70% overall win rate. With the players at Bayern, there could be no limit to what they might achieve. However, a 1-1 draw between Bayern and Dortmund last weekend could give hope for Jurgen Klopp's side. Borrusia Dortmund narrowly avoided being on the wrong end of one of the greatest Champions League comebacks ever at the hands of Real Madrid last week. A Lewandowski quadruple (and a Ronaldo goal) gave them a 4-1 lead going to the Bernabéu, where they eventually lost 2-0, going through by the skin of their teeth. A second place finish in the Bundesliga may have disappointed Dortmund - who had won it two years in a row before this season - but a Champions League final place is hard to achieve and it may crown a decent season for Klopp and his players. But could this be the last time for a while that they find themselves doing so well? With the losses of Shinji Kagawa to Manchester United and Mario Götze to Bayern Munich recently - and maybe more on the go (Lewandowski?) - the future isn't looking too bright for Borrusia Dortmund. Although they do still have some quality in the team e.g. Reus, Hummels etc. Watch this space...
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| Götze has already gone, who could be next? |
On a larger scale, leagues such as the Spanish La Liga and the English Premier League may be starting to look obsolete in comparison to the Bundesliga's general style of play. Barcelona and Real Madrid were embarrassed by the German sides and England's representatives in the Champions League this season (Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal) were relatively unsuccessful, with United getting the furthest - being beaten by Madrid in the last 16. However, La Liga's 'Big Two' turned into a 'Big Three' this season, with the inclusion of Atlético Madrid, so it will be exciting to see how the other Madrid outfit fare in the Champions League next season. And with the race for fourth still ongoing in the Premier League and the relegation battle as tight as ever, England's league is still proving to be one of the most unpredictable in the world. Furthermore, the summer transfer window could prove to be beneficial for many clubs around Spain and England. With rumours that Neymar could be moving to either of the big Spanish clubs (Barcelona and Real Madrid) constantly floating in and out of the back pages, and players such as Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo rumoured to be coming to Old Trafford in the window, you're never too far away from a big transfer story. In recent years, teams like Barcelona, Madrid, United and Chelsea have been transfer wizards (with the obvious exception of Torres to Chelsea), and signings such as Pique (Manchester United to Barcelona, 2008), Ronaldo (Manchester United to Real Madrid, 2009), Hazard (Lille to Chelsea, 2012) and van Persie (Arsenal to Manchester United, 2012) have shown real intent from Europe's top clubs to expand and fill up their trophy cabinets. After a poor English representation in the Champions League knockout stages this season, the top four teams in the Premier League will be looking to make an impact on next season's competition, but do the English squads have the quality to take on top European teams like they used to? Recent form - with the exception of Chelsea's Champions League victory last season - suggest not. Manchester City's bottom place finish in their group this year shows how weak the Premier League must be in comparison, for the champions to be knocked straight out of the competition at the first stage is a harsh reminder of how far behind other countries we actually are.
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| City took an early exit this season, can they do better in the next campaign? |
Italy, Turkey and the Netherlands all had their champions confirmed last weekend - Juventus, Galatasary and Ajax respectively - and they could all be looking from a bit more from their Champions League efforts this time round. Galatasary and Juventus both enjoyed a decent campaign this season, as they both reached the quarter-finals. Could they improve on that next year? The chances look slim, but the mega-bucks Turkish side could make a big transfer this summer to boost their squad and Italian champions Juventus are being linked to Manchester United winger Nani. However, even with any big signings they might make, I doubt these clubs will have what it takes to challenge the likes of Bayern and Dortmund at the top, but only time will tell...
Overall, I'm predicting some German dominance for the next few years, most likely coming from Munich. If there are major transfers in the summer however, Spanish and English teams could pose a threat to the next Champions League holders. A challenge from outside the main three leagues looks unlikely, although there is usually an unexpected run of wins for one team in the competition. Either way, the footballing community is looking forward to the new season of European football, so roll on September.
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