AB BASSON
The 2011/2012 European football season has been one of the most entertaining in recent years. The English Premier League, considered by many as the best league in the world, witnessed arguably the most dramatic season in its 20-year history. Fans were entertained until the final day, where Manchester City snatched the title with 90 seconds of the season remaining to end a 44-year wait to win a league title.
Going into the final game of the season level on point with Manchester United, City needed a victory over Queens Park Rangers to lift the trophy. In what was a surprisignly close game, City won 3-2 after goals from Edin Džeko and Sergio Agüero in stoppage time.
Chelsea won the FA cup for the fourth time in six years and Liverpool ended their trophy draught with a penalty shootout win over Cardiff City in the Carling Cup.
In Spain, Real Madrid ended Barcelona’s three year dominance, winning La Liga for the first time since 2008. Manager Jose Mourinho’s team won the league convincingly, finishing nine points ahead of Barcelona with 32 wins in 38 matches to claim their 32nd La Liga title. Powered by an amazing 46 league goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid ended the season on 100 points, becoming the first team ever to notch up a century of points in La Liga.
The Italian Serie A supporters also witnessed an incredible season that saw Juventus claim the Scudetto (league title) for the first time since 2003. Having been stripped of two titles and relegated to Serie B in the last decade following the Calciopoli Scandal, Juventus ended the season unbeaten, winning 23 games and drawing 15 to claim their 28th Serie A title. Juventus can still win a famous double if they beat Napoli in the Coppa Italia final.
In the German Bundesliga, Borrusia Dortmund won their second consecutive title, finishing on top of the log, nine points ahead of rivals Bayern Munich. Jurgen Klopp’s men also embarrassed the UEFA Champions League finalists with a 5-2 drubbing in the German cup final to secure a double.
Porto yet again triumphed in Portugal, winning the league comfortably with several games remaining. Porto, who have been the dominant force in Portugal for the last decade, beat rivals Benfica to the title.
At the time of going to print the French Ligue 1 had not yet been decided, but Montpellier looked to be favourites with a lead of three points over PSG going into the last game. It will be Montpellier’s first league title if they succeed in winning or drawing against Auxerre.
The Netherlands witnessed one of the most tightly contested title races in recent years, with six teams in with a chance of winning the Eredivisie going into the last 10 matches. Frank de Boers’s Ajax Amsterdam team prevailed in the end after winning 14 consecutive games towards the end of the season to claim their 31st title.
In other leagues across Europe, Zenit St Petersburg won in Russia, Anderlecht in Belgium, Galatasaray in Turkey and Celtic in Scotland. See a video of this season’s footbal hihglights @pPerdeby7412f or on the web.
Photo: realmadridfootballblog.com
