Statistically, Barcelona still has a better record in domestic competitions than Napoli, and if we judge in terms of squad depth, Barcelona is still superior, Xavi has a more balanced squad depth when compared to Mazzarri. In fact, there are many differences, but in terms of the current consistency of the two, They have recorded unsatisfactory results.

I think either Xavi or Mazzarri will make changes to their squad in an attempt to go further in the UCL this season. however, personally I predict that Barcelona with all its attributes will advance to the quarter finals, which does not mean underestimating the strength that Napoli has.

On other hand, reaching the UCL final this season is quite difficult for Barcelona, because there are still teams that are more consistent than them. as we know, Madrid, Man City and Bayern Munchen are the clubs that are the favorites to win the UCL this season. Barcelona will need a lot of luck to get to the final, But I don't think they will be knocked out by Napoli in the last 16.

I think I agree with you, if we assess Milan chances from a historical point of view, we have to put Pioli squad first, then Liverpool and Laverkusen. However, Milan failure to advance to the last 16 of the UCL shows us the fact that Milan this season is not that tough. It is true that the group occupied by Milan in the UCL is tighter, which we know as the hell group. So it makes sense that currently Liverpool and Laverkusen deserve to be placed on an equal footing, because their consistency and bargaining value this season means their chances of winning a trophy are quite big.

However, to be fair, I think Atalanta, who recorded an unbeaten run in the group phase, is also worth considering, there are only two clubs that were untouched by defeat in the group phase, namely Atalanta and Laverkusen. On the other hand, if you look at Atalanta performance in Serie A, it is not very promising, we certainly understand the level of competition there, but in the Europa League Atalanta is showing a different performance.

It's lucky for Bayern Munchen because they still have one match postponed against Union Berlin. I think if Tuchel squad can secure full points then they will collect 41 points, 1 point behind Laverkusen who are above them. Union Berlin have slumped very drastically this season, when compared to their performance last season, when they managed to finish in fourth place in the standings and appear in the UCL this season.

If there are no further schedule changes, the match between Bayern and Union Berlin will be held at the end of January. On paper I am sure Bayern will be able to finish the match easily. However, that doesn't mean ruling out the possibility of surprises, like the surprise experienced by Bayern previously against Frankfurt.

I agree with you, at the moment it is still very difficult to guess who will be on the podium at the end of the season, considering that there are still many matches left that have not been played. The consistency of Laverkusen and Bayern in the race to win the trophy is very fierce, so until the point gap becomes wider, it is still difficult for us to guess the chances of one of the teams winning the trophy.

That's right, Madrid biggest worry at the moment is their back line, Ancelotti had to use a very different strategy option, Tchouameni was plotted as a center back in the match against Alaves. However, I think in a high tension match like the UCL, that is not a wise rotation choice, because after all Ancelotti choice is very risky. Therefore, it would be wise for Madrid management to look for a solution in the January transfer window, at least looking for one pure center back.

I don't think Varane is the right choice, and I also think Man United don't want to let him go this season. in my opinion it would be better for Los Blancos to promote young players from the academy, it is very beneficial from many sides, as always in terms of regeneration and long term options it is a good idea.

If no recruitment and promotions are carried out in the January transfer window, then Ancelotti will only have the option of using the available players, experimenting again while waiting for Alaba and Militao to become available again. I think the storm of player injuries that hit the Los Blancos main squad, gave Ancelotti a headache and added to his work.

Juventus is trying to reduce the points gap with Inter Milan, and continue to compete for the Scudetto. Beating Roma is one of the main conditions at the moment, but it does not rule out the possibility that Jose Mourinho squad could trouble their steps. This means that Roma has the attributes that can create a surprise in the sense of beating Juventus this week. However, statistically, Alleggri's squad is of course superior and we have seen the level of consistency between the two clubs this season.

There is a possibility that the match between Juventus and Roma will end in a draw, but I tend to suggest that Juventus can secure full points, especially since Juventus will act as hosts in the match. Roma success in beating Napoli last week cannot be used as a full reference, because Napoli lacked 2 players due to red cards, so you could say that Roma won because of luck yesterday.

Apart from this, who knows, Roma may still be lucky, and they managed to steal points at home to Juventus, so they can get close to the top four in the standings. I think this is a match that demands a lot of consideration, if we want to bet on them.

I think the match between Madrid and Leipzig will not be easy, because we know that Leipzig will provide maximum resistance even though they themselves realize that Madrid will win. Los Blancos current player injury problems are indeed one of the factors affecting their performance, but considering that the match against Leipzig will take place in February, I think Ancelotti will not be too worried, because several key players will be available again.

We know that Leipzig is performing well in the Bundesliga, as is Madrid in La Liga, but in terms of statistics, Ancelotti squad is still superior. Apart from that, Madrid is one of the favorite clubs to win the UCL trophy this season, and of course the main requirement is to beat Leipzig first, to move on to the next round, namely the quarter finals. On paper Madrid is very superior in many ways, and I don't think Leipzig can beat Madrid by surprise.

Betting on Madrid winning might be the best choice, because they have the attributes and resources that can make us lucky. On other hand, Ancelotti contract will expire in June 2024, I think he is determined to present the UCL trophy at all costs at the end of the season.

It makes sense, regarding certain points of view we cannot influence personal parameters and opinions in relation to the best league, but I would like to invite you to look at the ranking below:

Source: https://www.teamform.com/en/league-ranking/world

The Premier League is still the best "League", regarding players, coaches and so on, perhaps other top leagues have it. I hope that little helps with the additional information.

The match had ended and Newcastle was humiliated by Nottingham 3-1, Chris Wood managed to score a hat trick. It really surprised me, how Eddie Howe squad lost their balance so quickly, they failed to focus completely even though they were eliminated in European competition. A reality that is very difficult for all their fans to accept, previously they looked like a promising club.

Newcastle did control the game with ball possession of up to 62%, but this was not effective in allowing them to secure full points. In terms of shots on target, they also managed to be superior, but in the end they were unlucky enough to overtake West Ham in 6th place in the standings.

I think the large number of players who were injured made Newcastle perform less than optimally, a total of eight players suffered injuries and some received sanctions. Going into the second half of the season, I am sure Newcastle will recover, as their key player in Eddie Howe lineup returns.

At first glance, we never know how long Ten Hag will be given a guarantee by club officials. It is possible that if they lose to Aston Villa, Ten Hag will be kicked out of Old Trafford. Some United fans are certainly very disappointed with him at the moment, although others are still optimistic that Ten Hag is not completely bad. I think that's a normal part of football, we'll wait to see how the game ends.

I think United match against Aston Villa will have a chance of being a draw. However, if we look at the statistics, Aston Villa chances are bigger even though I know the Red Devils will act as hosts. however, Unai Emery squad has a good chance of making the match end in a draw or even beating United at Old Trafford, because they are in their best form at the moment.

Ten Hag fate is hanging in the balance at the moment, the best hope now is to try to finish in the Europa League zone, because competition in the top four of the standings is very tight. even Man City is struggling this season, but in terms of poor performance Ten Hag is not alone this season, Pochettino fate is even more sad than his.

It's true, there is no clarity regarding Marseille acquisition of ownership until now, if that really happens then there will be competition in Ligue 1 with PSG, and we will see Zidane return to coaching. There is little chance of this scenario happening, I think it makes more sense if Zidane is recruited by PSG if Luis Enrique fails to win the UCL trophy this season. Because as a very rich club, PSG will be able to fulfill Zidane request, they will build the club according to Zidane wishes. Coaching one of the EPL clubs is no less challenging for Zidane, moreover it will create an axis of competition with Pep Guardiola. But as you said, it seems like Zidane has no interest in coaching any club in the EPL.

Manchester United vs Aston Villa is the most interesting match in week 19, Unai Emery troops have a big chance to add to the suffering experienced by United and especially manager Ten Hag. After losing to West Ham 2-0, of course, as usual, Ten Hag tried to bring the Red Devils back to their feet, but this really couldn't be trusted, because United likes to give false hopes to fans this season.

Aston Villa has the ambition to maintain its position in the top four of the standings, while waiting for the opportunity to experience leading the points table. Obviously statistically they have a better record compared to United, so I think this match is really worth waiting for, yes waiting to see how Ten Hag and his troops mark a turning point in their performance for the umpteenth time this season.

The Red Devils front line is very worrying this season, they don't seem to have a mainstay striker, Hojlund has not been able to be the answer to the team needs so far. Maybe tomorrow he will score his first goal in the EPL, because otherwise Hojlund will be in a serious crisis of confidence. Scoring 5 goals in the UCL is quite good, but now he has to do it in the EPL or he will be labeled as a fraudulent investment.

Al Ittihad chance to retain the SPL trophy is over, the difference in points with Al Hilal is already large enough to make it impossible to overtake them, but can only be reduced to finish in a more appropriate position. The addition of a former European player like Benzema does not have a big impact, perhaps management needs to recruit several other star players to be able to compete closely next season again.

The postponed match between Al Ittihad and Al Nassr is indeed very interesting, but in terms of the ambitions being carried out it is very different, but in essence 3 points is the goal here. I predict this match will end in a draw, even though most people definitely place Al Nassr as their favorite club, but I think this is a match that maintains prestige.

As the defending champion in La Liga this season, Barcelona is in a worrying phase, Xavi squad is a little unstable at the moment. However, Napoli fate is even more worrying, as defending champions in Serie A they have lost the opportunity to defend it. The current relevance to UCL matches is their performance in their respective domestic leagues, although it cannot be used as a complete reference, it can more or less influence their chances of winning.

I think Barcelona will have greater luck, I mean Barcelona chances are better and I predict Napoli will lose their chance to advance to the quarter finals. Of course, surprises can also happen, especially since the match will be held in February, both Barcelona and Napoli have plenty of time to improve their respective squads.

Regarding the Inter versus ATM match, yes, it is a match that is difficult to predict, because both clubs are fairly consistent. Statistically, Inter are better at the moment, considering that they were also runners up last season.

Betting on PSG winning is more promising and I think there is also a very big chance of beating Lens, Of course it can make us more relaxed and enjoy the game. Agree with you, PSG is favored in the match against Lens, But the match is still very long and if there is no change in the schedule for some reason, it will be held on january 15. It must be very boring waiting for the second half of the Ligue 1 season to start, and I think there will be many changes for each club in the future, considering that the transfer window will be an opportunity to strengthen the depth of their respective squads.

On  other hand, PSG is believed to have a big chance of retaining the trophy again this season, their goal record is quite significant and so far Mbappe and his friends have scored 42 goals. however, in terms of goals conceded, Nice is the team with the fewest goals conceded with only 9 goals, they are ahead of PSG in this regard. Mbappe top scorer is still unstoppable, he scored 18 goals and I'm sure he will continue to improve in the remaining 17 matches, if Mbappe doesn't move to another club of course.

That right, Inter Milan busy competition schedule is a gap for Juventus to make good use of. It will not be easy to continue to put pressure on Inzaghi squad, let alone overtake their position at the top of the standings, but there is no other way to end the season and win the Scudetto for Juventus at this time. the main scenario is very clear, Alleggri must be able to bring his fleet to a consistent performance and must not lose points in future matches.

There is still a chance for Juventus in its efforts to overtake Inter, being 4 points behind is still very reasonable to cut. there is no guarantee for Inter to continue to secure full points and not be defeated at all in the remaining matches, we know the competition here is only between Inter and Juventus. I think Milan will struggle to get back into contention, and put pressure on Juventus and Inter above them.

On other hand, the transfer window is getting closer and I think Juventus will do something there, Because they need to find players to replace the hole left by Pogba. I am very curious about which players they are targeting in the future, It is reported that Kalvin Phillips a Man City player, is one of the players targeted by Juventus management.

Zidane success in winning three UCL trophies in a row increases his bargaining value for clubs who want to get his services. I think there is a lot of speculation regarding his future. Previously, it was reported that Zidane was reluctant to coach an EPL club, in this case Man United, because of a language barrier. I think that now the problem in question is no longer relevant. Other clubs linked with Zidane are PSG and Marseille, but these are just unofficial rumors.

I think there are many reasons why Zidane hasn't coached a club, we only know what the media reports. However, there is great hope that Zidane can return to training soon, whichever club will be his next destination will be very lucky. Madrid will part ways with Ancelotti at the end of the season, it could be that Zidane will return to coach Los Blancos.

Stabilizing a club by performing consistently every season is not an easy thing, we certainly agree with that. Moreover, Xavi is faced with another reality, the financial crisis that hit Barcelona has had a huge impact on the development of the squad, so we believe that this is the main cause of the ups and downs in their performance this season which cannot be avoided. To the point that Xavi had to prepare the team to go on an impromptu tour and take part in a friendly match to America, in order to help their finances.

I think Barcelona is not completely bad, it would be very wrong if we view them that way, just because they lost points in just a few matches. Of course, as you said, improving performance must be Xavi priority now, to improve their position in the standings again. Xavi, as the person most responsible for this, must overcome the existing challenges in order to defend the trophy.

Despite the setbacks that have occurred within Barcelona, I think Xavi and his squad still have a chance to retain the trophy, yes I really understand the current competition, Madrid and Girona are two of the better teams. A difference of 7 points is still reasonable to pursue, if Barcelona fail, at least they will join in the competition for the trophy until the end of the season.

I agree with you, that Xabi deserves praise as a form of appreciation for his hard work in polishing Laverkusen into an unbeatable team so far. not only in the Bundesliga, the DFP Pokal and Europa League have not been touched by any defeats, a journey that we very rarely see at the moment.

The small difference in points with its closest competitor Bayern has not been able to make Laverkusen sit comfortably at the top of the standings, just losing points by drawing is enough for Tuchel and his fleet to overtake Laverkusen. everyone certainly agrees that breaking Bayern dominance is not an easy matter, and anyone who can do it deserves respect.

The competition in the second half of the season will continue to increase, along with the density of matches in each competition being participated in. I think both Xabi and Tuchel will increase their focus to remain consistent, and update their the strategy is again so that it is not easily read by other teams. apart from that, I am very curious about what Xabi and Tuchel will do in the january transfer window which is getting closer.

That right, Arsenal has prepared a better squad than last season, which is able to compete with other title challenging teams this season. Arteta recruitment of new players has been successful, their contribution looks more real in creating stable consistency, it is proven that now they have managed to collect 40 points and are in first place. Last season, Arsenal's biggest weakness was believed to be Arteta's rotation options, but now this weakness has been handled well.

Liverpool and Man City are other strong candidates on the list of clubs challenging for the title this season, the presence of Aston Villa adds to the fierce competition that I never expected before. On the other hand, Tottenham, who appeared impressive at the start of the season, even though they slipped, is still worth considering, the European competition is a little easier because Man United and Chelsea appeared a little disappointing, in fact most said they both had a bad season.

Week 19 marks the halfway point of the season, the current point difference cannot guarantee that each club is in a comfortable position. I'm pretty sure there will be another change of position, and the match between Man United and Aston Villa will be a big match, I think this match will be eagerly awaited by most EPL fans.

In my opinion, Brazil still has a solid team, they need a quality coach, reportedly Ancelotti will become their coach when his contract with Madrid ends in june 2024. I understand that Brazil is in a slump in the qualifying round, but mathematically they still have a chance to win qualify and appear in the next World Cup. on the other hand, I am sure they will not lack the best players because they still have 2 years left to develop their young players.

Neymar is the backbone of the National Team, and the absence of the Al Hilal player reduces the rhythm of attacks on the front lines, but as I said at the beginning there is still time for Neymar and everything will get back on track. Moreover, in the future, if Ancelotti really becomes the head coach of the Brazil squad, then their bargaining value will be even better at the World Cup. I think there will be a change regarding their mentality, so Brazil can talk a lot there.