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The major leagues across Europe are drawing to a close. This season has been lit across the leagues with great displays by some clubs and managers. Some clubs have taken the fight to their rivals and given them a run for their money while others have remained favorites in some of the leagues.

We’ll be taking a look at the table toppers across the leagues so far this season with more emphasis on their managers. The top seven leagues comprising of the PL, Laliga, Bundesliga, Portuguese Primeira Liga, Eredivisie, French Ligue 1 and the Serie A. Only the league leaders in the English Premier League have a new manager in Antonio Conte.

The PL has Antonio Conte and Chelsea leading the title charge so far
The Laliga has Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid leading the title charge so far
The Serie A has Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus leading the title charge
The French Ligue 1 has Leonardo Jardim’s Monaco leading the title charge
The Eredivisie has Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s Feyenoord leading the title charge
The Bundesliga has Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern leading the title charge
Finally, the Portuguese Primeira Liga has Rui Vitoria’s Benfica leading the title charge

We’ll be taking a look at these managers and how well their teams are doing with emphasis on their numbers so far this season.



LEORNARDO JARDIM

MONACO / LIGUE 1

The manager that has embraced youth this season as he parades a team of excellent young prospects who are in the limelight and being targeted by Europe’s biggest clubs. A very composed attacking minded team. Leonardo Jardim’s predominant formation is 4-4-2.

30 games played.
22 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses
Sit top with 71 points to 2nd placed PSG’s 68
87 whooping goals scored! The highest across Europe’s top leagues.
26 goals conceded.



Jardim’s side have been a revelation this season, giving PSG a run for their money all through this season right to this moment. Let’s see how far they can go as the season draws to an end. Their attacking numbers are excellent.



ANTONIO CONTE

CHELSEA FC / PL

The Italian arrived Stamford Bridge in the summer to manage the English team who had ended up being in line for the worst defensive champion ever in the league. His favorite tactical 3-4-3 formation was being analyzed by fans and pundits alike. Prior to his arrival to the club, there was this myth about the 3-4-3 formation not being feasible in the league. However, he arrived and adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation in his first few games till the drubbing by Arsenal which caused him to fall back to his 3-4-3 basics.

Currently plays a 3-4-3 formation
This resulted in Chelsea’s run of 13 consecutive wins which was halted by Spurs in a 2:0 defeat.
They are on a current run of 6 wins and 2 draws
22 wins in 28 games played
3 losses and 3 draws
59 goals scored and 21 conceded
Currently sit top of the table with 69 points, 10 points off second placed Tottenham with 59 points.

Decent contribution and impact by Conte so far.



ZINEDINE ZIDANE

REAL MADRID / LA LIGA

The Frenchman took over the Los Blancos last season and commenced the 2016/2017 season on a high. He has given opportunities to the promising youngsters to make a case for themselves and has also taught Madrid to win games in Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence.

He varies his formation from time to time depending on the opponent. Adopts 3-4-3,

4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 respectively in relation to the quality of the opponent

Started the season on a high and went on a 16 game run of 12 wins and 4 draws which was halted by Sevilla in a 2:1 defeat
27 games played, 1 less than the 2nd placed side. 20 wins, 5 draws and 2 losses
71 goals scored and 28 goals conceded
Currently sit on top with 65 points, 2 points off a red hot pursuing Barcelona

We’ll see if Zidane’s Real Madrid can maintain their consistency and land their first Laliga title since the 2011/2012 season



MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI

JUVENTUS / SERIE A

The Italian champions made a shaky start to the season by their standards in recent times but have pulled together to stretch their lead at the top of the table. Allegri also varies his formation from time to time. He adopts a 3-4-2-1, 4-3-2-1, 4-3-3 etc. No predominant formation on paper. He strategizes weekly based on the opponent.

They are on a current run of 9 wins and 1 draw in 10 consecutive games in the league
29 games played
24 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses
59 goals scored and 19 goals conceded
Sit top with 73 points, 8 points off second placed AS Roma

They’ve owned the league title for many seasons now. Your guess is as good as mine on if they’ll win or not.





CARLO ANCELOTTI

BAYERN MUNICH / BUNDESLIGA

The Italian took over the helm during the summer. His side had a torrid start to the season as newly promoted Leipzig gave them a run for their money. However, they’ve bounced back and sit comfortably at the top of the table with a massive double figure point advantage.

Predominant formation deployed by Carlo is 4-2-3-1 on paper
Started the season with a 10 game unbeaten run of 7 wins and 3 draws which was ended by Dortmund
Currently on a 14 game run of 12 wins and 2 draws
61 goals scored, 13 goals conceded
Sit pretty comfortable on top with 62 points, 13 points off 2nd placed Leipzig
25 games played, 19 won, 5 draws and 1 loss

Just give Carlo Ancelotti’s men the title already



GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST

FEYENOORD / EREDIVISIE

The former Dutch player led side has given Ajax and PSV a run for their money all through the season.

Started on a high with 9 wins and 2 draws in 11 consecutive games which was ended by Go Ahead Eagles in a 1 nil defeat
Predominant formation is 4-3-3
27 games played, 22 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses
Sit top with 69 points to second placed Ajax’ 63
68 goals scored and 17 goals conceded

Let’s see how far they can go to spoil the party for the likes of Ajax and PSV



RUI VIITORIA

BENFICA / PRIMEIRA LIGA

The Portuguese manager’s Benfica is being hotly chased by rivals FC Porto in a hotly contested league title run. He varies his formation. So far, He has deployed 4-1-3-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 etc.

No significant run of wins yet as compared to others
26 games played.
20 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses
64 points garnered, 1 point off a hotly pursuing FC Porto
56 goals scored, 13 conceded.

Rui Vitoria will have to ensure his team remains consistent with more variance in tactics as this may go down to the wire.

What of the Nigerian Professional League? I was coming here to check that.

Lifestone:
What of the Nigerian Professional League? I was coming here to check that.

No qualms.. Next article will contain the Nigeria Professional Football League info

Footiehound89:


No qualms.. Next article will contain the Nigeria Professional Football League info

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