After another choke from a listless Napoli, Juventus have all but won the Scudetto, while Barcelona and Real Madrid throw punches in a decaffeinated Clasico
Winners
Juventus
“This is the best Scudetto of them all. The most difficult and the most enjoyable”. Coach Massimiliano Allegri has no doubts: it’s the best for Juve. The seventh in a row, but also the most difficult, with a real opponent in Napoli. They even lost at home to the Partenopei. But the Bianconeri have the best squad, the mental strength to never give up and the most experienced coach. And the title is all but theirs after another Napoli stumble.
[fve]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IdfOObGEGM[/fve]
Arsene Wenger
A guard of honour from Burnley and Sean Dyche, as well as his players. His final game at the Emirates Stadium, that he essentially built. A demolition of one of the best clubs of the season as icing on the cake. Wenger leaves after 22 years, three Premier League titles, two doubles and the ‘Invincibles’. Merci Arsene!
Respect ?#MerciArsène pic.twitter.com/hGtp87WkPZ
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) May 7, 2018
Chelsea
It might not be as triumphant a season as the last one, but Antonio Conte has a final chance at giving Champions League football to the Blues. Olivier Giroud confirmed he’s the man of the moment as Chelsea made the most of a Liverpool side that showed once again just how inconsistent they can be. If Brighton beat the Reds, Chelsea can snatch a top four finish. Who would have thought?
Losers
Napoli
It’s all but over. The last hopes of somehow snatching the Scudetto away from Juventus were blown away by the home draw with Torino. It was a game in which the Granata had nothing to fight for, yet Napoli were unable to win. This means the energy is over: both physically and mentally. Not good enough today, but overall a round of applause is necessary for Napoli. Wonderful football played for most of the season and a Scudetto race in Serie A for the first time in years.
[fve]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlzaV0KdcG0[/fve]
El Clasico
Not that it hasn’t happened before, but for the biggest domestic footballing game to turn into yet another Royal Rumble is frankly something we should not have to watch. The two goals per side gave it spectacle, as well as the farewell for Andres Iniesta. The rest of it was a battle. A physical one, with little to do with football.
[fve]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPQbewtlChg[/fve]
Stoke City
What happened to “a cold Monday night at Stoke”? The magic has gone, and with it everything that the club stood for. The British footballing tradition could be always found at Stoke, but relegation to the Championship is deserved this season. It will be a long way back to the Premier League if things don’t change soon.
Liverpool
A Champions League finalist at risk of not being in the competition next season? Possible, especially for this Liverpool side. Jurgen Klopp played his ideal eleven, despite coming from the overall victorious European night at Roma, but it wasn’t enough at Stamford Bridge. Showing yet again how inconsistent Liverpool are. The side we have seen in the Premier League over the past month won’t be enough to beat Real Madrid in the final, the one that thrashed Manchester City and Roma obviously can beat anyone. Who are Liverpool?
