The current European soccer season has offered all things to all fans.  While England is widely considered the best league in the world, there are reasons to pay attention to the other big leagues in UEFA.  Whether you are looking for an exciting attacking style of play (Spain), a true-Blue underdog story (Germany), a return to normalcy (Italy) or simple dominance (France), the European leagues offer it all.  I hope you enjoy this midseason round-up…

English Premier League

With multiple storylines dominating the Premiership this season, the most talented league in the world presents weekly contests that truly matter.  As we enter the January transfer window, the rumor mill is spinning as we are sure to see some changes, but who will win the transfer window war?! 

Liverpool has consistently found ways to win; some in dramatic fashion and some as emphatic as a No. 1 team should win.  Chelsea’s mastery of away ties only leads to the question, can they win at home?  The return of Nicolas Anelka to goal scoring form (League leading 14 goals) has helped, but their efforts at Stamford Bridge have let down the home supporters.  Manchester United has toured the world while winning the FIFA Club World Cup and qualifying through the Champions League.  In an attempt to hold the Premiership crown, they are 7 points behind Liverpool with two games in hand.  Aston Villa has unseated injury-prone Arsenal to upset the traditional ‘Big Four’ domination of the English top flight.  For Americans, the recent form of Clint Dempsey (Fulham) has pushed his squad to 9^th in the table; a dramatic departure from their miraculous escape from the drop zone last season.  The second half of this season should be interesting as the entire bottom half of the table, all 10 teams, are within 3 points from the drop zone!

Top of the Table

Liverpool (45pts)

Chelsea (42pts)

Manchester Utd. (38pts)

Aston Villa (38pts)

Arsenal (35pts)

The Cellar

Stoke City (20pts)

Blackburn Rovers (18pts)

West Bromwich Albion (18pts)

La Liga (Liga BBVA)

In the most basic of terms, Barcelona is the best.  The Catalans have simply dominated La Liga this season thanks to three of the top goal scorers in Europe.  Samuel Eto’o (15 goals), Lionel Messi (10 goals) and Thierry Henry (9 goals) have given their opponents nightmares on the back line and have scored their way to the top spot in Spain. Valencia has enjoyed a strong turn in form from last season’s 10^th place finish thanks in large part to Euro 2008 star, and highly coveted striker David Villa’s 13 goals. While Real Madrid has struggled, one could argue that a new head coach and fewer injuries could change all of that.

Villarreal (29pts) has fought to keep pace with the top 5 while New Jersey natives Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) and Jozy Altidore (USA) have troubled goalkeepers all season.  Altidore, only 19 years old, has worked onto the field for six appearances and scored his first European goal in November. 

This year’s La Liga Barcelona has become the team to beat, but it is doubtful that anyone can catch them.

Top of the Table

Barcelona (44pts)

Valencia (33pts)

Real Madrid (32pts)

Sevilla (32pts)

Atletico Madrid (30pts)

The Cellar

Espanyol (14pts)

Mallorca (14pts)

Osasuna (13pts)

German Bundesliga

In 2000, Hoffenheim won the Verbandsliga Norbaden.  For those who might not know, like myself, this is Germany’s fifth division soccer league.  Since then, they have worked through the ranks and currently are the best team in Germany’s top flight.  This improbable ascension has been capped by the Bosnian goal scorer Vedad Ibisevic (18 goals). Traditional powerhouse Bayern Munich, while suffering from a slow start, has come back to equal Hoffenheim’s point total while remaining in second due to goal differential.  It will be a tough task for Hoffenheim to hold off Bayern’s international line-up including Luca Toni (Italy), Franck Ribery (France), Mark van Bommel (Holland) and Ze Roberto (Brazil) among others. 

Americans are slowing earning their way into the German league, but are having a tough time of it.  Michael Bradley’s transfer to promoted Monchengladbach has been a disappointment as they sit at the bottom of the table, although he did score his first Bundesliga goal in November.  Landon Donovan’s recent loan move to Bayern Munich will be his third trip to the Bundesliga, while failing twice at Bayer Leverkusen.  Many suspect that this will materialize into a full transfer from the LA Galaxy, although the MLS contends Donovan will be back in 2009. 

Can Hoffenheim hold off Bayern Munich, or will they prove their mettle and win the Bundesliga?

Top of the Table

Hoffenheim (35pts)

Bayern Munich (35pts)

Hertha BSC Berlin (33pts)

Hamburg (33pts)

Bayer Leverkusen (32pts)

The Cellar

Energie Cottbus (13pts)

Bochum (11pts)

Monchengladbach (11pts)

Italian Serie A

The embattled Italian league has emerged from the match fixing scandals of 2005-2006 to see the traditional Italian powerhouse assume their positions as the teams to beat.  But Roma’s fall from the top may be the big story out of Italy so far this season.  Their second place form from last year has been replaced by a dismal 11^th place position currently. 

The past year has also seen nine managerial changes including, most notably, Jose Murinho replacing Roberto Mancini who had won the previous three league titles.  Murinho has maintained Inter’s dominance over Serie A, and look to be the favorites for the 2008-09 campaign. 

Top of the Table

Inter Milan (42pts)

Juventus (36pts)

AC Milan (33pts)

Fiorentina (32pts)

Napoli (30pts)

The Cellar

Lecce (14pts)

Reggina (13pts)

Chievo (9pts)

French Ligue 1

The French Ligue 1 has been rather predictable through the first half of the season.  Lyon, winners of the past seven French titles, are on pace to take this years trophy.  However, they are currently in a close battle with the other traditional forces for the crown.  Rennes has been particularly strong featured American defender Carlos Bocanegra.  Bordeaux, Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille round out the top five. 

The other American international in France, Freddy Adu, has struggled to find time while on loan at Monaco.  In his minimal playing time he has shown superior skill and devastating mistakes that typify his young career.  At only 19 years old, most are still optimistic of his development as an American international.

Top of the Table

Lyon (38pts)

Bordeaux (35pts)

Rennes (34pts)

Paris Saint-Germain (33pts)

Marseille (32pts)

The Cellar

Valenciennes (15pts)

Sochaux (14pts)

Le Havre (12pts)