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As the year 2014 comes to an end, we take a look back at the best teams from the top 5 leagues (EPL, Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1) from the past 12 months of football. The criterion for selection is not just winning trophies, but upsetting the natural order with a new brand of football. The usual suspects are all on the list – Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich – but there are a few surprises as well!On that note, here are the best teams of the year gone by:NOTE: The order of the teams has been decided using the Win% in the year 2014. The list is in descending order of Win% for all matches played by a team in the calendar year 2014.
#10 Liverpool
Competition Overview
EPL: 2nd place in 2013, 11th in 2014/15*
FA Cup: 5th Round in 2013/14
League Cup: 3rd Round in 2013/14, Semifinals in 2014/15*
Champions League: N/A in 2013/14, Group Stages in 2014/15
- * denotes ongoing competition
2014 Performance Review: Played: 47, Won: 27, Drawn: 8, Lost: 12
Overall Win%: 57.45
Top scorer: Daniel Sturridge (16)
- Liverpool make it to the list of top 10 teams by virtue of their stellar performance in the second half of the 2013/14 season i.e early 2014. The Reds went on spectacular run of 11 consecutive wins to almost snatch the EPL title from Man City’s grasp.
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Under Brendan Rodgers’ management, Liverpool played arguably the best football in the EPL, and their attack-attack-attack mentality won them quite a few fans around the world.
A disastrous start to the 2014/15 campaign has seen the Reds slip down to 11th in the table and get knocked out of the Champions League at the Group Stage itself.
To give you an idea of how badly the current season has affected them and how well they performed in the first half of 2014, here’s a stat – The Reds had a win% of 77.2 in the first half of 2014, second only to Juventus!
#9 Atletico Madrid
Competition Overview
La Liga: Winner in 2013/14, 3rd in 2014/15*
Copa Del Rey: Semifinals in 2013/14, Round of 32 in 2014/15*
Champions League: Runners-up in 2013/14, Knockout stage in 2014/15*
- * denotes ongoing competition
2014 Performance Review: Played: 56 , Won: 35, Drawn: 11, Lost: 10
Overall Win%: 62.5
Top scorer: Diego Costa (13)
A historic 2013/14 season saw Atletico Madrid break the duopoly of La Liga by claiming the title on the last day of the season. Los Colchoneros also made it to the final of the Champions League, only to lose out to rivals Real Madrid via a late goal.
Diego Costa was the star man for Simeone, scoring 43 goals in all competitions in the 2013/14 season.
This season, Atletico are in third place in La Liga, trailing Madrid by 7 points and are already through to the knockout stages of the Champions League. With a win% of 62.5 it was overall a spectacular 2014 for Atletico.
#8 AS Roma
Competition Overview
Serie A: 2nd in 2013/14, 2nd in 2014/15*
Coppa Italia: Semifinals in 2013/14
Champions League: N/a in 2013/14, Group Stages in 2014/15
- * denotes ongoing competition
2014 Performance Review: Played: 46, Won: 29, Drawn: 6, Lost: 11
Overall Win%: 63.04
Top scorer: Gervinho (12)
Under manager Rudi Garcia, Roma endured a fantastic 2014, starting with a second place finish in the 2013/14 season. Garcia brought out the best in players like Gervinho and Adam Ljajic and with Totti rolling back the years, Roma’s total of 85 points was quite an achievement, bettered only by an inconquerable Juventus side.
In the 2014/15 season, Roma have picked up where they left off last season and look good value to end the season on a high. Although they crashed out of the group stages of the Champions League, fans will be hopeful of their team mounting yet another title challenge.
#7 Manchester City
Competition Overview
EPL: Winner in 2013/14, 2nd in 2014/15*
FA Cup: 6th Round in 2013/14
League Cup: Winners in 2013/14, 4th Round in 2014/15
Champions League: Round of 16 in 2013/14, Knockout Stages in 2014/15*
- * denotes ongoing competition
2014 Performance Review: Played: 53, Won: 34, Drawn: 9, Lost: 10
Overall Win%: 64.15
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero (30)
The blue side of Manchester has well and truly established itself as a force to be reckoned with. The Blues cantered to the EPL title in the 2013/14 season, and were easily the best team in the league. Manuel Pelligrini’s men also picked up the League Cup trophy in 2014 to complete a worthy double.
This season, the men from City sit comfortably in second place in the league and are through to the Champions League knockout stages after failed attempts in previous seasons. With Sergio Aguero leading the line, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see City lifting the EPL trophy in May 2015.
#6 Paris St. Germain
Competition Overview
Ligue 1: Winner 2013/14, 2nd place in 2014/15*
Coup de la Ligue: Winner 2013/14
Coup de France: Round of 32 in 2013/14
Champions League: Quarter-finals in 2013/14, Knockout stages in 2014/15*
* denotes ongoing competition
2014 Performance Review: Played: 52, Won: 35, Drawn: 11, Lost: 6
Overall Win%: 67.31
Top scorer: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (29)
Paris St Germain have already consolidated their position as the top dogs of France; now they are gunning for Europe. Laurent Blanc’s men have been dominating French football for the last couple of years, and 2014 was no different in terms of the success they had.
2014 saw another Ligue 1 title and Coup de la Ligue trophy win for the capital club, and with Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading the line, PSG are expected to soon start dominating Europe.
#5 Barcelona
Competition Overview
La Liga: Runnerup in 2013/14, 2nd place in 2014/15*
Copa Del Rey: Runnerup in 2013/14
Champions League: Quarterfinal in 2013/14, Knockout stages in 2014/15*
* denotes ongoing competition
2014 Performance Review: Played: 56, Won: 38, Drawn: 9, Lost: 9
Overall Win%: 67.86
Top scorer: Lionel Messi (48)
A closely fought title race saw Barcelona pipped to the post by a resurgent Atletico Madrid side in the 2013/14 season, despite Lionel Messi’s outstanding individual performances. Despite that loss, Barcelona still performed better than Atletico in the year 2014, winning more matches.
The 2014/15 season saw the arrival of a new manager in the form of Luis Enrique, and his presence has been felt. Defensive sturdiness has reappeared at Barcelona after a couple of years of a soft rearguard. The Blaugrana will be looking to return to winning ways in the 2014/15 season with the new man at the helm.
#4 Chelsea
Competition Overview
EPL: 3rd in 2013/14, 2st in 2014/15*
FA Cup: 5th Round in 2013/14,
League Cup: 5th round in 2013/14, Semifinals in 2014/15*
Champions League: Semifinals in 2013/14, Knockout stages in 2014/15*
- * denotes ongoing competition
2014 Performance Review: Played: 53, Won: 36, Drawn: 10, Lost: 7
Overall Win%: 67.92
Top scorer: Eden Hazard (13)
Jose Mourinho’s side progressed significantly in the year 2014, and the transformation is evident. The Blues almost made it a three-horse race for the title, and derailed Liverpool’s ambitions of a league trophy, all the while growing rapidly.
This season, Mourinho’s men sit atop the EPL table and are already through to the round of 32 in the Champions League. The little horse has sprung to life, and it would take a brave man to bet against Chelsea winning the EPL title in the 2014/15 season.
#3 Juventus
Competition Overview
Serie A: Winner in 2013/14, 1st in 2014/15
Coppa Italia: Quarterfinals in 2013/14
Europa League: Semifinals in 2013/14
Champions League: Knockout stages in 2014/15
- * denotes ongoing competition
2014 Performance Review: Played: 50, Won: 35, Drawn: 8, Lost: 7
Overall Win%: 70
Top scorer: Carlos Tevez (23)
Juventus won the Serie A title in 2013/15 after notching up a stellar 102 points in the league, and were easily the best side in Italy. Even the Europa League saw progression to the semifinals. Under Antonio Conte, Juventus were once again a world-class side.
Massimiliano Alleagri’s appointment was met with mixed emotions, but the new management hasn’t altered Juventus’s fate. The Old Lady are going about their business in the same manner, and curently sit atop the Serie A standings. In the Champions League, they have progressed to the knockout stages with ease and remain a formidable side to face in the tournament.
#2 Bayern Munich
Competition Overview
Bundesliga: Winners in 2013/14, 1st in 2014/15*
DFB Pokal: Winner in 2013/14, Round of 16 in 2014/15*
Champions League: Semifinals in 2013/14, Knockout stage in 2014/15
- * denotes ongoing competition
2014 Performance Review: Played: 52, Won: 40, Drawn: 6, Lost: 6
Overall Win%: 76.92
Top scorer: Muller (15)
Pep Guardiola’s side continue to be one of the most complete sides in modern football. Capable of possession-oriented football designed to run the opponent ragged and rapid attacks that leave opponents dumbfounded, Bayern Munich’s legend goes stronger with each passing day. 2013/14 saw yet another Bundesliga title for Bayern, but old foes Real Madrid put them to the sword in the Champions League.
2014/15 has started on the same note, as Bayern occupy the top spot. This time, the German giants will be aiming to go the distance in the Champions League.
A stunning win% of 76.92 sees Bayern occupy the second spot on our list.
#1 Real Madrid
Competition Overview
La Liga: 3rd place in 2013/14, 1st place in 2014/15*
Copa Del Rey: Winner in 2013/14, Round of 16 in 2014/15
Champions League: Winners in 2013/14, Knockout stages in 2014/15*
- * denotes ongoing competition
2014 Performance Review: Played: 58, Won: 48, Drawn: 4, Lost: 6
Overall Win%: 82.76
Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (46)
A dramatic late goal saw Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid to claim the all-elusive La Decima. Carlo Ancelotti delivered the prize that the Bernabeu had been craving for the past decade.
Despite a third place finish in the 2013/14 season, a host of new signings and a more settled team meant 2014 was a successful year for Real Madrid. Currently, the club are on a record-breaking run of 21 consecutive wins in all competitions, and are without a doubt the best team in world football.
