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The summer time of 2014 was understandably all about the World Cup, an match answerable for international headlines and document television scores. With that said, membership football was just as exciting as was once the sport's greatest party. Germany went directly to win the World Cup as most expected the country to do, but the country's clubs took some steps in the opposite direction all the way through the year. Neither Italy nor England are represented in the top-five of the checklist of the world's best club put together through the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. Some no longer impressed with the Premier League would say that the state of English football will simplest aggravate between now and the get started of 2016.
Spain used to be, as any an expert individual would expect considering all that befell, the giant winner in step with the IFFHS ratings which can be put together “based on chronological, statistical and scientific information about world football.” One of the Giants of Spanish football found itself in an unfamiliar position in the spring of 2014, failing to win any meaningful hardware and having to sit back and watch as the membership's hated competitors went on to stand tall as the best team on the planet. Those two facets are not too surprisingly as soon as once more in a fight for La Liga supremacy, a fight that will likely continue up via the final days of the present marketing campaign.
Real Madrid and Barcelona. Barcelona and Real Madrid. Spanish football has been about the ones two large clubs apparently since the day earlier than endlessly, however now every other group is doing whatever it may to modify the lay of the land. Atletico Madrid pulled off what some would have said was once an unattainable task in 2013-14, all of a sudden profitable a name and likewise coming a couple of bounces right here or there away from hoisting the most essential trophy in all of club football. Imagine how other this listing would look if Atletico and not Real had gained a couple of pieces of hardware in May of 2014.
20. Sevilla FC: 202 issues by IFFHS
Sevilla completed fifth and just out of the Champions League spots of the La Liga desk for the 2013-14 season. The peak second for the club got here in the UEFA Europa League Final, when Sevilla defeated Benfica by means of penalties to win what's the National Invitational Tournament of membership football. Those who would, in the previous, hit out at the pageant can not do so, as the winners of the Europa League at the moment are (rightfully so) awarded with a spot in the Champions League. Too unhealthy for Sevilla that the rule change won't formally be put into position till the 2015 Europa League Final, one year too past due for the membership.
19. Sparta Praha: 202.Five issues by means of IFFHS
Via ondrahanus.cz
Sparta not handiest received the 36th league name in the history of the club in 2013-14, they have been atop the league desk by 13 issues when all was mentioned and done. They held an good thing about plus-16 in function difference over second-place Viktoria Plzen. Sparta misplaced only a unmarried day trip of 30 league contests, and 25 of the ones affairs ended in Sparta victories. Sparta also hoisted the Czechoslovak Cup and the Czech Super Cup in 2014. They are a minnow when compared with the clubs that robotically play in Champions League contests all through the winter months, however Sparta had a 12 months to keep in mind in 2014.
(*20*)18. San Lorenzo de Almagro: 202.5 points by IFFHSVia vivelohoy.com
San Lorenzo's run to being at the No. 18 spot of this checklist began in August of 2013 at the get started of the Torneo Inicial, the first pageant of the Argentina Primera División campaign. Finishing as the leaders of that event earned San Lorenzo a spot in the second stage of the 2014 Copa Libertadores. While San Lorenzo went directly to lose the 2013-14 Superfinal 1-0 to River Plate, they did manage to win the Copa Libertadores for the first time in club historical past. That fulfillment earned San Lorenzo a berth in the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, the place the club made an impressive run ahead of losing the Final to Real Madrid.
17. Steaua București: 205 points via IFFHS
The maximum storied membership in the history of Liga I used to be at it again in 2013-14. Steaua won the league for the moment instantly campaign, completing 5 issues forward of second-place Astra Giurgiu and only losing one Liga I fit during the season. That feat earned Steaua the handiest Champions League spot awarded to Liga I clubs. It was no longer all just right times for Steaua in 2014, alternatively, as they had been runners-up in the Cupa României and Supercupa României competitions. 2015 may grow to be any other banner yr for the club, as Steaua have been sitting atop the Liga I desk halfway thru January.
16. Clube Atletico Mineiro: 208 points via IFFHS
Via fansese.blogspot.com
2014 was once a historical year for the Atletico out of Brazil. The club won the Recopa Sudamericana for the first time in its historical past, defeating Club Atletico Lanus out of Argentina 4-3 in overtime of the Final for that festival. That victory got here a 12 months after Atletico won its first ever Copa Libertadores. Atletico reeled in different hardware through defeating Cruzeiro 3-Zero on aggregate goals to win the Copa do Brasil. Along with the ones impressive accomplishments, Atletico additionally completed as the runners-up in the Campeonato Mineiro. Only one other club out of Brazil made it into the top-20 of this listing.
15. Porto: 217.50 issues via IFFHS
Via desporto.sapo.pt
The first of 2 Portuguese clubs to make it into the top-20 of the list, Porto were well out of the Primeira Liga race by way of the time May 2014 came over. Porto completed 13 issues at the back of league champions Benfica (more on them later), and so they were additionally bounced out of the Taça de Portugal and Taça da Liga in the semifinal rounds of both of the ones competitions. While their journey in the Champions League didn't final lengthy, Porto did play through the quarterfinal spherical of the Europa League ahead of being eradicated by way of Sevilla. Sevilla went on to win that competition.
14. Cruzeiro Esporte Clube: 219 points by way of IFFHS
Via esporte.uol.com.br
It used to be Round 6 of the 2014 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A when Cruzeiro jumped up to the top of the desk. They by no means relinquished that spot, clinching the identify 30 rounds after taking the lead and staying put as the reigning Brazilian champions for the second consecutive yr. Sao Paulo completed moment in the festival, ten issues off of Cruzeiro on the final day of the season. Cruzeiro have been also the winners of the Campeonato Mineiro for a thirty seventh time in 2014. Their bid for a triple fell just short, on the other hand, as they were runners-up in the Copa do Brasil.
13. Paris Saint-Germain: 223 points by means of IFFHS
Big-spending Paris Saint-Germain lifted a couple of pieces of silverware in 2014. PSG gained the Ligue 1 name for the moment directly season, completing 9 points forward of Monaco. They'll must work for it if they're to again repeat, as PSG are, as of the posting of this piece, fourth in the league table. The French champions had a chance to make a dash in the Champions League in 2014, however they squandered a 3-1 merit over Chelsea in the quarterfinals of that competition. PSG began out the 2014-15 calendar with a 2-0 victory over En Avant Guingamp to win the Trophee de Champions.
12. Benfica: 223.50 points through IFFHS
Via serbenfiquista.com
Benfica are one of the so-called “Big Three” clubs of Portugal, and no group was once larger in league play for the 2013-14 season. They received the Primeira Liga by seven issues, and Benfica lost best two games in that festival. Just as spectacular, if no longer more so, used to be the club's run all the way through the Europa League match. Benfica knocked off, in order, Tottenham Hotspur, AZ Alkmaar and Juventus in the knockout stages of the pageant, and Benfica held Sevilla scoreless in the Final for over one hundred twenty mins of play until the Portuguese outfit was downed on consequences in heartbreaking fashion.
11. Chelsea: 227 issues via IFFHS
The return of liked manager Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge used to be not right away a break hit. Chelsea ended the 2013-14 marketing campaign without successful any trophies, and the membership was not able to keep up with Manchester City in the race for the Premier League identify. Mourinho has since built up a championship-caliber squad, and Chelsea entered 2015 as the favorites to emerge as winners of the league come this May. The Blues will have to grasp off City among different facets, however, if Chelsea are to reach what the club may just no longer at any level in 2014. That will be no simple job.
9 (tied). FC Red Bull Salzburg: 228 points by way of IFFHS
Via forum.rojadirecta.es
Salzburg had a much more a success 2014 than did Major League Soccer facet New York Red Bulls. They ran away from every other membership in the 2013-14 Austrian Football Bundesliga title race, posting downright foolish numbers along the manner. Salzburg finished 18 issues forward of Rapid Wien, and they had a goal distinction of plus-Seventy five at the finish of the campaign. Rapid Wien, to match, completed with a plus-23 function distinction. Salzburg additionally added the 2013-14 Austrian Cup to the membership's trophy case. Don't look now, however Salzburg are again the big favorites to win the league and keep grasp in their crown.
9 (tied). River Plate: 228 points via IFFHS
Via turiver.com
River Plate's run to completing here in this record began with the start of the Torneo Final in February 2014. Winning that competition earned the membership a berth in the Superfinal together with San Lorenzo. A single objective scored 17 mins from time separated the two sides at the sound of the final whistle, and it used to be River Plate that emerged victorious. River Plate then ran via opponents in the Copa Sudamericana, by no means dropping once right through the ultimate level of the event. They defeated Atletico Nacional 3-1 on aggregate on December 10, finishing off a banner yr that is worthy of a top-ten spot here.
7 (tied). Napoli: 233 issues through IFFHS
Via forzazzurri.internet
Napoli's top moment of the 2013-14 season got here in February when the membership erased a deficit in the Copa Italia semifinal. Roma defeated Napoli 3-2 in the first leg of that showdown, but Napoli struck for 3 unanswered targets in the rematch to qualify for the final of the competition. With handiest Fiorentina status between them and a trophy, Napoli hit their warring parties for a trio of targets at the Stadio Olimpico to win 3-1. Their forgettable moments included being eliminated from the Europa League by means of Porto and completing 24 issues behind league champions Juventus in the Serie A desk.
7 (tied). Arsenal: 233 points via IFFHS
Via metro.co.united kingdom
The Gunners gained two trophies in 2014: Sadly for them, on the other hand, simplest one among them in reality exist. Arsenal as soon as once more figuratively hoisted the “Fourth Place” trophy that mechanically lands the club in the Champions League for every other season. Such jokes have been silenced right through the spring, however, when supervisor Arsène Wenger guided the club to FA Cup glory, a victory that changed the fate and face of a undeniable notorious website. Wenger will as soon as once more must paintings his magic to hold off Southampton, Manchester United and north London opponents Tottenham Hotspur if Arsenal are to play in the Champions League next season.
6. Juventus: 245 issues through IFFHS
Via labeautedufootball.fr
2014 was once an up-and-down roller coaster trip for individuals who call Juve their very own. Juventus were eradicated from the Copa Italia by way of Roma in January, and, after failing to live on the team stage of the Champions League, Juve may just now not produce a single home objective towards Benfica to qualify for the Europa League Final. Those disappointments aside, the kings of Serie A retained their throne as expected, keeping Roma off and sooner or later pulling away to win the league name via 17 issues. Juventus were downed in handiest two of 38 league suits during the 2013-14 season, and they are heavy favorites to again end atop the desk.
5. Atletico Nacional: 249 points by means of IFFHS
Via lucky9casino.com
Colombia's most powerful membership for 2014, Atletico Nacional are surpassed in the IFFHS 2014 checklist by only four teams that are seen worldwide each European season. Three of the ones sides come from Spain, two of which played for membership football's largest prize, while the other is the top membership enjoying in Germany. Nacional entered the 2014 Categoría Primera A season as the defending champions, and so they gained the first tournament of 2014. While broadly regarded as the nation's best workforce, Nacional failed to win the Copa Colombia for a 3rd immediately 12 months, and so they were additionally unable to advance to the 2014 Finalización.
4. Barcelona: 251 points by means of IFFHS
Via neymarjr.net
Barca and the club's trustworthy supporters are likely happy that 2015 has arrived. While they misplaced simplest 5 instances in La Liga play, they had been unable to climb above Atletico Madrid in the league desk. Barcelona have been then burned in entrance of a worldwide audience in the Copa del Rey Final when Gareth Bale completed what has grow to be a mythical dash down the left wing earlier than depositing a goal that received Real Madrid that name. While Real went on to have a particularly a success spring, Barcelona ended the season without profitable anything of advantage, something this is unacceptable for any such proud club.
3. Atletico Madrid: 267 issues by IFFHS
Via labeautedufootball.fr
Atletico are in an reverse place from Barcelona in that the little brothers of Spanish football won't quickly disregard 2014. They stunned the world via mountaineering to the height of the La Liga desk after which remaining in that spot up thru the remaining day of the marketing campaign, successful a name when few gave them much of a possibility. That used to be infrequently a one-off for the club, however, as Atletico complex to the Final of the Champions League. Atletico gave Real Madrid a real scare for over Ninety minutes, and the underdogs have been with regards to completing the dissatisfied when all of it went horrible improper. A pinpoint header buried through Sergio Ramos in stoppage time was the beginning of the end for Atletico in the Final, on the other hand, as Real closed them out in overtime.
2. Bayern Munich: 276 issues by IFFHS
Bayern necessarily want to win the Champions League each and every season to be thought to be the best team in the world, as a result of they aren't going to get much credit score for what they succeed in in domestic play. It is hardly ever a secret that Bayern are the best crew in the Bundesliga by a ways, and odds are that they may have the league wrapped up by March; once more. The unlucky truth of the topic is that the Bundesliga can in large part be ignored by means of outsiders who've zero ties to the league. Bayern are going to win the league this season...and next...and subsequent...and next.
1. Real Madrid: 381 issues by way of IFFHS
Via sportskeeda.com
Cristiano Ronaldo. Gareth Bale. Luka Modric. Sergio Ramos. James Rodriguez. Toni Kroos. I may pass on and on and on. Real Madrid are at the moment the best membership in the world, full of world-class ability and able to repeating as winners of the Champions League. The first half of 2015 will not be easy for the club, as Real will face stiff competition from Atletico Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga. Add in the pursuit of different glory, and Real will be reasonably busy from January thru May. It could be unwise to bet against them, alternatively, as Los Blancos are a facet above all others.
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