February 2017 has a decidedly different outlook from how 2016 ended. At the beginning of January, Bayern Munich had a narrow three-point lead over Leipzig, having just gained the advantage by virtue of a victory against them at the Allianz Arena.
Liverpool were hot on the trail of league-leaders Chelsea, fresh off the back of a hard-fought win against City and looking forward to the new year with hope. OGC Nice led the table in Ligue 1, prompting questions regarding the wisdom of Liverpool letting Balotelli leave.
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Now, however, even with just a five-point lead, Bayern leave hardly any doubt regarding the likelihood of them being champions; Liverpool had a horror January and find themselves scrambling in a top four race; Monaco have displaced Nice at the top of Ligue 1, and with PSG close behind, a fascinating title race is shaping up.
That is, of course, why we love this game – the sheer unpredictability of it, and its uncanny tendency to make attempts at predictions seem hysterically out of place in hindsight. Yet, with a bold roll of the dice, we take a look at certain things we can expect in club football in 2017 – just don't return to this article 10 months later!
#1 Chelsea to win 2016-17 PL – and how the rest will respond
This has the tone more of an inevitable eventuality than that of a prediction – it is fairly certain that Chelsea will remain consistent enough to take home the Premier League title this season. Instead, what would be fascinating is to see how the rivals will respond next season.
Manchester United would be active in the transfer market again, probably poised to break the world transfer record again to land Griezmann. Wenger seems likely to leave, prompting a season of uncertainty yet, newfound promise. Klopp, Pochettino and Guardiola will all be wiser for one more season in England with their teams.
It has been eight years since a team successfully defended the Premier League title – Conte would have to conjure up something special to emulate what only Ferguson and Mourinho have managed since the turn of the century.
#2 Tuchel's toddlers to grow up but Bayern to prove too strong for them
It is almost as if Bayern just wanted us to think there was a title race in Germany for once. Pre-season hype-generators, Dortmund, and surprise package, Leipzig, have given way to Bayern, and they top the table by a comfortable margin yet again. The Bundesliga 2016-17 title is not going anywhere, it will remain where it is – in Munich.
What about next season? Will "Tuchel's toddlers" – Dortmund's handpicked squad of the best talents across Europe – grow up enough to provide Germany its first proper title race since the days of Klopp?
Alas, it will perhaps come too soon for them – this squad and its young manager will probably require a couple of seasons before they are primed for a head-on clash with one of the strongest squads in European football.
#3 PSG to reassert dominance in France
Time to wake up, PSG. Having won the title by perhaps too comfortable a margin under Blanc in 2015-16, PSG have found dominance much harder to come by this term. A title win remains a very likely possibility, of course – three points to the top is hardly an insurmountable margin – yet even if they win the title, there is a case to argue that the owners would not be too impressed by the domestic performance.
PSG have grabbed attention in the Champions League with their thrashing of Barcelona and may go on till the later stages of the competition. Yet, expect heavy investment in the squad yet again in the summer in a bid to reaffirm their status as the sole contender in the one-horse title race in France.
#4 Real Madrid to win La Liga, Barcelona to change coach
It is amazing how Zidane's managerial career has remained pretty much under the radar – perhaps people don't appreciate how unlucky Madrid were last season to lose the title to Barcelona by a single point. Had they toppled the Catalans in the league as well, that would have been quite a double for the managerial debutant – perhaps his contributions might have been better appreciated at least in that case.
This season, the Los Blancos have set the pace with Zidane in charge from the beginning – and with the persistent setbacks Luis Enrique has had, it does not look like Barcelona will prove too much of a hindrance in the way of Real's La Liga pursuit.
Sevilla and Atletico Madrid are good, but not consistent enough yet. It is clearly time for Real's first league title since the days of Mourinho.
Barcelona are hardly going to sit back and watch – some tough questions will be asked over the summer, especially about the meek exit from the Champions League for two years in a row (if they fail to overcome the 4-0 deficit). Enrique will be replaced, perhaps by Jorge Sampaoli, but whoever it is, it will be interesting to wait and watch his signings and how his approach to the talents from La Masia will be.
#5 Champions League to change hands again
It has not happened for 25 years, and for at least one more term, it does not look like the Champions League will be retained by a team. For all their quality, Real Madrid do not seem invincible – and with quality teams like PSG, Atletico and Bayern contending, there are several formidable hurdles in the way of Zidane's team if they are to create history.
After three years, the Europa League will have a new winner this term as well. Manchester United are heavy favourites, but it would still be rather unwise to overlook quality teams like Roma and Ajax. Yet, with an easier route to the Champions League on offer, expect Manchester United to make the occasion count – and take home the Europa League title.
