Opinion

This year looks like being the year Middlesbrough will finally return to the Premier League after seven seasons in the Football League Championship. Boro ended last season with a crushing playoff final defeat against Norwich City.

Aston Villa were relegated from the Premier League on Saturday, after losing 1-0 at Manchester United. The Villans have been deemed as doomed for a long time, but the defeat made it mathematically impossible for the side from the Midlands to survive.

Premier League title-chasing Tottenham face a tricky trip to Stoke on Monday night. By the time Spurs kick-off they could be ten points behind league leaders Leicester, who host free-scoring West Ham at the King Power Stadium in one of Sunday’s early kick-offs.

Liverpool progression into the last four of the Europa League has been the high point of the campaign. The Reds have endured a strange campaign, as they made it to the Capital One Cup final but their form in the Premier League has been very inconsistent.

Liverpool’s incredible 4-3 victory over Dortmund in the Europa League quarter-final second leg was yet another crazy European night for the Merseysiders. Jurgen Klopp’s side claimed a 5-4 aggregate victory to set-up a semi-final meeting with Spanish side Villarreal.

For nearly decade possession-based football has been en vogue at the top level of football, but this season has rather proven that having possession is not always the most important aspect of a winning team.

Newcastle moved one step closer to relegation from the Premier League on Saturday with a 3-1 defeat at Southampton. The Magpies are six points from the safety of 18th place in the English top-flight and look to be heading into the Championship with a whimper.

Kevin De Bruyne has established himself as a crucial player for Manchester City since signing for the club last summer. The 24-year-old Belgian international signed for £54 million from Wolfsburg, becoming City's most expensive signing. His performances have had a big impact on his team and his first season has been justifying his hefty price tag.

Spanish giants Real Madrid were perceived to have been handed an easy draw when they drew German side Wolfsburg in the quarter-final of the Champions League. Most football predictions had this tie down as an easy Real Madrid passage to the last four.

The Europa League returns on Thursday with eight teams competing in the quarter final, first leg. This round offers four scintillating match-ups that will ensure an evening of lively football. Some big names were knocked out in the last phase and the remaining sides will have to be focused.

Barcelona’s39-game run in all competitions ended on Saturday night, as arch-rivals Real Madrid won 2-1 at the Nou Camp, despite being reduced to ten men.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has stated he believes any of the top seven teams in the Premier League can win the title this season. Whether the Argentinian is attempting mind games or attempting to quell expectations at his club he surely cannot really believe that. 

The Barclays Premier League resumes this weekend after a week of international fixtures. It is a time when jet-lag and fatigue can take its toll and turn out some unexpected results. The big teams traditionally feel most impact due to having a high number of international players. It is a round of fixtures where form is a less reliable indicator of victory.

Aston Villa’s season has just gone from bad to worse, after French boss Remi Garde left the club by mutual consent. The former-Lyon boss won just twice in his four months at the club.

In a season for the underdog, FK Rostov are cooking up a storm in the Russian Premier League. The team hail from the Russian port city of Rostov-on-Don. With forty-one points Rostov are in second place and only two points below leaders CSKA Moscow. They beat Moscow 2-0 at the Olimp - 2 Stadium earlier this month, cementing their title credentials. Their position is surprising considering the club have been fending off bankruptcy for several years and have had difficulty paying their player's wages on time.

Romania claimed a goalless draw with European champions Spain on Sunday night, which means they are 16 games unbeaten and have suffered just one defeat in their last 21 games in international football.

England recorded a remarkable 3-2 win against world champions Germany on Saturday, after coming back from two goals down.  The Three Lions all defied football predictions of a home win.

The international break lets us reflect on a truly extraordinary campaign in the Premier League. Surprise package Leicester look to be holding their nerve at the top of the English top-flight and one of the keys to the Foxes good form has been the form of England striker Jamie Vardy. 

With eight or nine games remaining, teams near the top of the English Championship are jockeying for position in a thrilling race for promotion. The Premier League is the lucrative prize for the top two and a third place for the winner of the playoffs. These teams stand to make millions from television revenue for making the step up.

West Ham are enjoying a great season in the Barclays Premier League. It has been a crazy year in the top division with Leicester City leading the pack ahead of the final run-in. The Hammers are in fifth position on fifty points with eight games remaining.