Zapping Eleven World Eleven Request – LOSC / Stade Rennais: European battle?
La Liga, Eredivise, Liga NOS, MLS, Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, and even Ligue 1 are now victims of the epidemic raging in the world is more precisely in Europe, the coronavirus. Its pandemic led governments and sports authorities in each country to suspend various competitions to reduce the risk of contamination. Before that, certain teams remained on a bad dynamic. This forced break could therefore be beneficial to them.
Renewed confidence in Real Madrid?
PSG, Real Madrid, Barça … the canvas ignites for the postponement of the Champions League+15
Betis Sevilla against Real MadridCredit Photo – Icon Sport
Before the club’s quarantine, the suspension of the La Liga and the postponement of the Champions League, the players of Zinédine Zidane remained on a bad dynamic. Indeed, the Merengues came out of a defeat against Betis Seville (2-1). A poor performance allowing Barça to regain the lead in La Liga after losing the Clasico 2-1 a week before. This is not all, the club of the Spanish capital is also badly embarked for a qualification in quarterfinal of the Champions League having dropped at home against Manchester City (1-2). Thus, the temporary cessation of the Spanish championship and the C1 could allow Sergio Ramos’ teammates to re-mobilize to avoid a white season and allow some players to regain self-confidence like Dani Carvajal or Karim Benzema. In addition, Thibaut Courtois and Marcelo could also be recovered in time from their contracted injuries before the postponement of the competitions if they resume. Same story for Marco Asensio, injured since last summer
Make Messi breathe and resolve internal problems
PSG, Real Madrid, Barça … the canvas ignites for the postponement of the Champions League+15
Lionel Messi against Real MadridCredit Photo – Icon Sport
On the FC Barcelona side, this break in the football world could be an opportunity to ease internal tensions between the Bartomeu-Abidal duo and their team. Catalan captain Lionel Messi, who reacted on social networks, did not like the declarations of the former French international implicating the players in the dismissal of Valverde. Worse, El Confidencial unveiled a heated discussion a few days ago between the Pulga and the former defender pushing the rest of the workforce to intervene. Not to mention the controversy around Josep Maria Bartomeu accused of having called on a communication company to discredit some of his players like Lionel Messi or Gerard Piqué. At the sporting level it is hardly better, the game proposed by FC Barcelona remains laborious in front of recruits with irregular performances like Antoine Griezmann or Frenkie De Jong. An animation often carried by a single man, the sixfold Ballon d’Or Lionel Messi, decisive but displaying in recent days a certain tension. Physically dull, the Argentine prodigy could therefore take advantage of this halt to the meetings against the Covid-19 on the one hand to re-energize and on the other hand to hope for a sacred union between the club and the team.
Get Tottenham out of a bad streak
PSG, Real Madrid, Barça … the canvas ignites for the postponement of the Champions League+15
Tanguy NdombeleCredit Photo – Icon Sport
8th in the Premier League and eliminated from the Champions League in the last 16 by Leipzig, the Spurs plunged into a crisis before the suspension of the Premier League and the postponement of C1 and C3. Mourinho’s players remain 6 games without a win in all competitions. The temporary cessation of world football therefore seems to be very timely for the teammates of Hugo Lloris who must now focus on the English championship and remaining 7 points from 4th place occupied by Chelsea. The opportunity also for José Mourinho to re-mobilize his troops after his scathing criticism after the elimination against Leipzig. “All the players who were on the Leipzig bench on this match would have been in my team at the moment,” he said. The symbol of this sick team is also Tanguy Ndombele most expensive rookie in the history of the club and remaining on a catastrophic performance against Burnley (1-1). There is no doubt that the former Lyon midfielder will be keen to come back stronger and more efficient if the championship is resumed.
Maintenance operation for Saint-Etienne
PSG, Real Madrid, Barça … the canvas ignites for the postponement of the Champions League+15
Claude PuelCredit Photo – Icon Sport
Like a sunbeam in an ocean of clouds hovering over Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne qualified a few days ago for the final of the Coupe de France against Rennes (2-1). What give a smile to the Greens authors of a season more than complicated in the championship. Claude Puel’s players could not hope for better than the current maintenance of 17th with 3 points ahead of the Nîmes roadblocker. Suffice to say that this football break in the face of the spread of the Covid-19 could do good, be it on a sporting or institutional level. The media release of Ruffier’s agent followed by his sidelining or the departure of David Wantier, director of the club’s recruitment unit does not really help the situation. If the championship resumes, there is no doubt that the Stéphanois will be keen to surf this qualification for the final of the Coupe de France to hope to instill a positive dynamic synonymous with assured maintenance.
