As United struggle, how are UCL hopefuls performing?
Champions League
By Chris
December 12 2013
Manchester United’s European form has overshadowed a disappointing Premier League campaign to date. As the Red Devils head for the competition’s knock-out phases, how are the other 15 Champions League hopefuls performing in their domestic divisions?
Sitting ninth in the Premier League with 22 points from 15 league outings, David Moyes’ men have not boasted a poorer record at this stage of the season since 2001.
However, an unbeaten Group A campaign on the continent has eased the pressure on United’s new manager, as the Red Devils’ hunt for a fourth European crown starts in strong fashion.
Ahead of Monday’s draw for the next round of the competition, ManUtdWeb takes a look at the respective form of the other 15 Champions League hopefuls.
England:
1 | Arsenal | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 35 |
3 | Chelsea | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 30 |
4 | Man City | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 29 |
9 | United | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 22 |
The Premier League boasts the joint-most representatives left in the competition. All four English clubs have progressed – and United are looking enviously up the table at Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City.
Arsene Wenger’s Gunners are the real success story of the league campaign so far, boasting a five-point lead at the top of the table, and a 13-point lead over United. Their London rivals sit third, with Roberto Mancini’s Citizens in fourth.
Germany
1 | Bayern | 15 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 41 |
2 | Leverkusen | 15 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 37 |
3 | Dortmund | 15 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 31 |
6 | Schalke | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 24 |
Last season’s finalists, Bayern Munich and Dortmund, have been joined by Leverkusen and Schalke in the knock-out rounds. The Bundesliga, with its very palatable model of modern football, matches the Premier League with four representatives safely into the latter stages.
Bayern have been on sensational, unbeaten form in their domestic league, with 13 wins and 2 draws. They lead Leverkusen by six points, with Dortmund in third. Schalke sit sixth, but already trail the league leaders by a hefty 17 points.
Spain
1 | Barcelona | 15 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 40 |
2 | A. Madrid | 15 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 40 |
3 | R. Madrid | 15 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 37 |
With Real Sociedad having bowed out of the competition, La Liga is left with three representatives – Atletico Madrid , Barcelona and Real Madrid, whom lost only one of eighteen games between them at the Group Stage.
The three clubs have dominated league proceedings in Spain so far, with Barca and El Atleti leading the way with 40 points from 15 games, and Real sitting three points behind.
Italy
9 | AC Milan | 15 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 40 |
With Napoli and Juventus missing out by narrow margins, AC Milan are Serie A’s only club left in the tournament, but their league form has proven far from clinical thus far.
Like United, Massimiliano Allegri’s side sit ninth, but are a whopping 22 points behind league leaders Juve. Sitting only five points above the relegation zone, the Champions League campaign is providing much-needed tonic for Milan’s supporters.
France
1 | PSG | 17 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 40 |
Ligue 1 has not boasted a Champions league win since Marseille’s triumph in 1992, but they lost all six of their Group F games, and with Lyon biting the dust at the play-off stage, Paris Saint-Germain are France’s only remaining representative this time around.
With just one defeat from 17 league games, the defending French champions will be hoping to replicate their domestic form on the continental stage. Laurent Blanc’s men have also comfortably out-scored everyone else in Ligue 1, with 39 goals.
Greece
1 | Olympiacos | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 40 |
Olympiacos are on stunning form in the Greek Super League, unbeaten from 14 games, having won 13, and leading the way by eight points.
Unseeded for the Round of 16 draw, Τhrylos will have to upset the odds to continue their continental adventure, but having edged out Benfica and Anderlecht in the Group Stages, and having conceded only four goals in the Greek Super League all season, they will be brimming with self-belief.
Russia
1 | Zenit | 19 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 40 |
Zenit St. Petersburg qualified for the last 16 whilst topping the Russian Premier League, but in a tight division, Lokomotiv Moscow and Spartak are hot on their heels.
They will need to improve if they are to prolong their Champions League campaign, having become the first team to make it through whilst boasting only six points, and completed Group Stage proceedings with a poor 4-1 defeat against Austria Vienna
Turkey
3 | Galatasary | 17 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 26 |
Galatasary qualified for the knock-out stages in dramatic fashion, with Wesley Sneijder – once heavily linked with a move to United – firing home the decisive goal in a winner-takes-all affair against Juventus.
The Istaunbul club, however, are certainly not having things all their own way in the Süper Lig, despite an impressive home record. Roberto Mancini's side sit third, one point behind Kasimpasa and some nine points behind run-away leaders Fenerbahce.
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If United win the Champions League and finish 10th - I would be happy this season.
Plus the FA Cup and the League Cup too!