Champions 2020 postCOVID-19
It's an atypical play-off. The pandemic has drastically changed our way of life and the development of sporting competitions. Suspending training for months can make a big difference to the fitness of the players. We've seen it in Spanish La Liga, where teams like Getafe, Real Sociedad and Barcelona themselves seem to have arrived deflated after a very acceptable stretch of the league. Getafe is out of Europe after the first part of the championship. Granada took over and will be in Europe. The Real Sociedad is about to be left out.
Barcelona didn't manage to get the form in La Liga. We do not know if in their game against Naples in Lisbon, a neutral field and without an audience, the 1-1 of the first leg will be enough to get ahead in the playoffs. Much will depend on Leo Messi, Suarez and recover the defensive solvency. Real Madrid after the unfair 1-2 at the Bernabeu against City has it very difficult, but after the confinement things have changed. The team took over La Liga after almost reaching 11 out of 11 in matches won. It has achieved a great defensive consistency. Although Ramos will be absent due to cards.
The City very solvent in the Premier, was surprised in the FA cups by Arsenal 2-0. The same result will be needed by Real Madrid to overcome the elimination. In the other two eliminatory ones the Bayern a priori has it easy after a 3-0 to the Chelsea. The Juve de Cristiano has to overcome a 1-0 against O. Lyon. In the Serie A they are not well, several draws and a defeat against Milan make this team doubtful, although they have the trick of Cristiano, who in the Champions always gives the measure.
A priori the favorites are Bayer, Juve, Barcelona and City, but this season to reach the proper fitness is not easy. There are 15 days left for the matches and we will see who comes out winners. Let's hope that in this space of time there won't be any setbacks with COVID-19. Hazard, Benzema, Sterling, Sane, Messi, Suarez, Milik, Cristiano, Dybala, Depay, Ekambi, ........... They all have the floor.
