6. Spartak Moscow – 22
After spending more than a decade and a half in the wilderness (of trophylessness) Russia’s most successful club are back after pulling back the teams that have dominated the modern Russian football scene – Zenit St. Petersburg and CSKA Moscow. Led by the inimitable Massimo Carrera, ‘the People’s team’ are now firmly back at the summit – having won the Russian Premier League by a comprehensive 7 points over CSKA – Dutchman Quincy Promes’ 11 goals and 10 assists leading the way.
5. Bayern Munich – 27
Surprise, Surprise, Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga. For the fifth time in a row. Over the past half-a-decade everyone else in Germany has been left fighting for second-spot due to the Bavarians sheer dominance at the top. Carlo Ancelotti took off from where Pep Guardiola left it and despite a couple of stumbles here and they never looked like they were going to loosen their stranglehold on the competition.
It looks hard for anyone, from surprise newcomers RB Leipzig to youth-packed Borussia Dortmund, to usurp the German throne just yet.