As most Americans are watching the movie, Pitch Perfect, the rest of the world is watching a pitch and cheering on their favorite soccer team. The main attraction in the soccer world currently is the Champions League where clubs from countries all throughout Europe go head to head in an effort to hoist the Champions League Cup over their heads at the end of the day at Wembely stadium.
Currently, there are 8 teams remaining in the tournament has it goes into its final stages. PSG, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Malaga, Galatasaray and Bayern Munich are the final teams that are duking it at for places in the semi-finals.
Games so far have not exactly gone as planned. Early in the tournament Bayern Munich lost to the underdog English team, Arsenal, 3-0 on March 13, but nevertheless are still surging forward and are favorited as a team that will go far in the tournament because of there resounding prominence in the German league, Bundesliga. Another team snapping at the heels of Bayern in the German League is Borussia Dortmund. They are also favorited to go far in the tournament. Until April 3, Dortmund was the only team to go undefeated in the Champions League. While they did not loose they surprisingly tied 0-0 with overall cup underdogs, Malaga. Malaga, a Spanish team that stands in the shadows of other Spanish powerhouses like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, are fighting to make a name of them self amongst that of the European giants that are currently competing in the Champions League. They have their work cut out for them as they travel to face Dortmund again on Dortmund’s home turf.
There is buzz currently surrounding the two Spanish teams, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. As these teams work every day to sustain their reputation as two of the most skillful teams of all time, one seems to be struggling more than the other. Real Madrid seems to be doing nothing to surprise its fans. They continuely take the pitch and leave victorious. But FC Barcelona, with the likes of Lionel Messi, has not been living up to par. They seem to be struggling as their season comes to a close. Whether it was their recent loss in the El Clásico (A rivalry games against Real Mardid) or their recent tie with PSG in the Champions League, they just cannot seem close out the season as well as they started it. Although they still are leading in points in Liga BBVA, Real Madrid seems to be the team that is shining, especially in the Champions League.
It will be interesting to see if any underdogs in the cup can make this a year to remember for the Champions League, or an obvious favorite take another title and another trophy to put in their trophy case.