Thursday’s soccer news starts with Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge using his latest criticism of the European transfer market to make a point about the UEFA coefficient and the Champions League. After blaming PSG and Manchester City for the rise in prices, Goal.com’s Robin Bairner relays Rummenigge’s opinion on the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer. He’s not a fan of the move, making a bigger point about the Bundesliga.
“We have to be careful in the Bundesliga because we’re starting to stew in a juice of satisfaction,” Rummenigge said. “A few years ago, we were second in the UEFA ranking, now we’re fourth. If this trend continues, we’ll lose Champions League places in the not too distant future. And then the howling will start, but the child will already be in the well.”
As we discussed in yesterday’s soccer news, the UEFA coefficient looms large. The current Champions League season uses the 2017 coefficient where the Bundesliga was in 2nd-place. As it stands, they’re 4th with around a six-point lead over France. The chances that the Bundesliga gets passed by France, Russia, or Portugal seem slim but he has a point. There could be season-by-season upheaval in the rankings creating the scenario Rummenigge describes. The Bundesliga is a top-heavy league right now, similar to France’s Ligue 1 with one dominant club and everybody else.
Still, disrupting the big four leagues seems like a longshot. A league already in the top four has teams playing more guaranteed games in the Champions League. Short of a team crashing out of the group stage by losing all of their games, it’s a clear advantage for those four leagues staying in the top four. It might not be flattering for the Bundesliga to find itself sitting behind La Liga, the Premier League, and Serie A but it’s also no different in terms of Champions League places.
Also in the soccer news, Juventus beat the MLS All-Stars 5-3 on penalties after drawing 1-1 in regulation. Andrea Favilli put Juve up in the 21st minute with Josef Martinez equalizing in the 26th. With Juventus going first in the penalty round, Bradley Wright-Phillips missed on the fourth attempt for MLS with Juventus converting all five penalties.
“I think congratulations are in order for the president of Atlanta United as well as the president of MLS,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said. “It’s a beautiful event. It gave us the opportunity to participate in it. It was really a wonderful game, and it was a good preparation for us.”
In the Copa MX, Ventura Alvarado wasn’t in the squad for Necaxa’s 1-0 shutout of Tampico Madero. Martin Barragan scored in the 59th minute. Jose Torres wasn’t in the squad for Puebla, losing 2-1 at Monterrey. Trailing 2-0 from goals in the 19th and 20th minutes, Pedro Goulart pulled a goal back in the 84th.
The Miami Herald’s Michelle Kaufman reports that the city’s MLS expansion team has hired Atlanta United VP Paul McDonough as Sporting Director. The NY Times’ Kevin Draper asks if MLS will become a selling league. MLSsoccer.com’s Sam Stejskal on an MLS vs Liga MX All-Star game.
Bundesliga Fanatic’s Gareth McKnight on competition in the Bundesliga. The Guardian’s Louise Taylor has Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez’s concerns about his squad. ESPN’s Rob Dawson explains the issues with Manchester United during their USA tour. Pro Soccer Talk’s Nicolas Mendola rounds up the results from Champions League qualifying.
Great few days with the entire @MLS All-Star team! Enjoyed the game last night, including the longest interview ever! 😂 thank you atlanta! #MLSAllStar pic.twitter.com/NeDfvKzmRm
— brad guzan (@bguzan) August 2, 2018
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