Your English Premier League Postseason Awards

  By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

We already broke down the 2016 La Liga season, so we move north to examine the English Premier League. In one of the most exciting EPL seasons of all-time, an unlikely champions rose, and a juggernaut fell.


Check out some of the other highlights of the season below.

Your La Liga Postseason Awards

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

It was a heck of a ride, but La Liga is out for the summer, so here are our end of the season award winners.

Player of the year: Luis Suárez (Barcelona)

No, you’re not drunk.

It's true, someone other than Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi is actually the La Liga player of the year.

Your Champions League Semifinal Primer

Can Ronaldo carry Real Madrid to a Champions League title?

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial) and Alejandro Vargas (@callmejandro)

The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals saw two huge upsets as Barcelona and PSG crashed out of the tournament, setting the stage for a fascinating, yet unpredictable round. The draw kept apart the two teams from Madrid, and denied Pep Guardiola the opportunity to face his club for next season, Manchester City, at least until a potential final.  

Who will be able to fight off their nerves and progress to the final in Milan? Alejandro and myself examine… 

Atletico Madrid vs. Bayern Munich / 1st leg April 27th 2:45 PM in Madrid/ 2nd leg May 3rd 2:45PM in Munich.

Overview

League standing: Bayern Munich 1st, ahead by 7 points. Atletico Madrid 2nd, even on points with 1st.

Diego Simeone's Atlético have reached the last four for the second time in three years, while Bayern are appearing at this stage for the fifth season in a row. This is Atlético's fifth European Cup semifinal appearance, and their record is a respectable 2-2. The Spanish side have not lost at home in a European Cup semifinal and are unbeaten in their last five home matches against German clubs. Bayern have won only two of their last 12 trips to Spain, and have not won any of their last seven knockout games away from home.

Did you know?

Simeone and Guardiola were regular opponents as players, playing in ten club matches when Simeone was with Atlético and Sevilla FC, and Guardiola was at Barcelona. Simeone recorded three wins to Guardiola's four, although the Argentinian did come out on top in the 1996 Copa del Rey final, with Atlético winning 1-0 after extra time.

Probable Starting XI

Atlético Madrid: GK Jan Oblak RB Juanfran CB Jose Gimenez CB Stefan Savic M Saul M Gabi LW Yannick Carrasco RW Koke F Antoine Griezmann F Fernando Torres

Bayern Munich: GK Manuel Neuer RB Philipp Lahm CB Medhi Benatia CB Javi Martinez LB David Alaba M Arturo Vidal M Thiago M Douglas Costa M Mario Gotze F Thomas Muller F Robert Lewandowski

Your Champions League Quarterfinals Primer

Antoine Griezmann and Atletico will look to replicate their 14’ UCL triumph over Barcelona.

 By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial) and Alejandro Vargas (@callmejandro)

We have finally reached the meat and potatoes portion of the Champions League, where true contenders reveal themselves. This round sees familiar heavyweights crossing paths, while relative newcomers look to pull off titanic upsets. Without further ado let's take a look at the matchups. 

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid / 1st leg April 5th 2:45 PM/ 2nd leg April 13th 2:45 PM

Overview

These sides' only previous European tie came at the same stage of the 2013/14 competition, when Atlético became the only team to prevent Barça from reaching the semi-finals in the past eight seasons, and one of only three clubs to have eliminated them in a Champions League quarterfinal, along with Paris Saint-Germain in 1994/95 and Juventus in 2002/03. Barcelona have absolutely dominated this matchup of late, with Atletico’s Diego Simeone now a putrid W1, D5, L9 against his club's Catalan rivals.

Players to watch

An Odd Clasico

Could this be Cristiano Ronaldo's final Clasico?

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Sitting here, just a mere three days from one of the world’s biggest games, and something feels off.

That burning sensation of anticipation at the depths of my core? Gone.

Getting my jersey ironed and ready? Too lazy.  (Ed. Note- You iron your jersey? That's commitment)

Prepping my sangria and spirits list? Ok, well that’s still alive and well.

Your Champions League Round of 16 Primer

Can anyone unseat reigning champion Barcelona?

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial) and Alejandro Vargas (@callmejandro)

Ed. Note- For this very special Champions League preview, our resident soccer guru Justin is enlisting the help of his buddy Jandro. The two of them will take you through each first round pairing of Europe's most prestigious club tournament, breaking down matchups, players to watch, and giving predictions.

Enjoy!

Paris St. Germain vs. Chelsea 

1st leg: 2/16 2:45 PM. 2nd leg: 3/9 2:45 PM

Overview

A season ago, this may have been the headliner for many in this stage of the competition, but Chelsea have had a disastrous league campaign that resulted in the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

Still, not all hope is lost. You may recall what happened the last time this was the case -- Chelsea won the Champions League, with an interim manager, nonetheless. The blues are coming off a 5-1 win over Newcastle with renewed confidence, and an unbeaten run of 12 games under interim boss Guus Hiddink. Diego Costa has regained his scoring boots and Pedro has come back to life with a brace over the weekend.

Title Races Taking Shape Across European Soccer

Leicester City continues to roll the competition.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

What began as a fairy tale has slowly morphed into reality.

Exceptional performances have now become routine, as Leicester strolled through the Etihad against Manchester City and turned it on it’s head. From start to finish it was the Foxes' game to lose, as they sent a clear message of intent to those who still doubt they have the quality to become champions.

It took only three minutes for Leicester to get on the board, as poor marking allowed defender Robert Huth to sweep in on Mahrez's free kick, before heading it home past the unsuspecting Joe Hart.

It was then deja vu for the hosts, as Leicester struck again three minutes into the second half on a breathtaking goal by Riyad Mahrez. It was the play maker's 14th goal in a hugely impressive season, that will no doubt attract the interest of big clubs come summer time.

The 3-1 win puts Leicester 5 points clear at the top through 25 games played. It’s a stark contrast to the 5,000-1 odds bookmakers gave Claudio Ranieri’s men of becoming champions at the beginning of the season.

For perspective, this is pretty much the equivalent of the Philadelphia 76ers winning the NBA title (ok, maybe not that crazy, but you get the point).

The real question is when, exactly, will those at the top of the Premier League start to take them seriously?

Dominoes Beginning to Fall in European Soccer

Could Pep Guardiola (right) bring Lionel Messi to Manchester City with him? The two were unstoppable together at Barcelona, and Messi may be ready for a new challenge in a new league.

 By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Ed. Note- Manager changes and upstart clubs in some of Europe's biggest leagues have sent shock waves throughout the soccer world in recent days. So, naturally, our chief soccer guru Justin Sherman has to weigh in. Here's how he sees things shaking out in England, Spain and Italy.

Guardiola makes it official, but will Messi follow?

Manchester City let the most well known secret out of the bag Monday morning, as it became official that Pep Guardiola will be their new manager. The Spaniard will take over in July, supplanting the successful, yet less accomplished, Manuel Pellegrini. The timing of it all is a bit odd, considering both City and Guardiola's current club, Bayern Munich, are still in the Champions League, and could potentially face each other in the later rounds.

Talk about awkward, and what a conflict of interest, whether real or perceived, this would create for Guardiola.

But, for two reasons, this had to happen now.

La Liga Midseason Awards

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Writer's note: A little over four months ago, I had the pleasure of joining the SuiteSports community as a man with his soccer thoughts and no one to share them with. I had absolutely no experience writing articles (other than my lazy attempts at research papers in college) and even less of an idea of the hard work, research and dedication needed to appear somewhat informed.

From the bottom of my heart, I just wanted to say thank you to Joe and the rest of our great writers for giving me a chance and welcoming me with open arms. Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank my readers for their continued support and countless feedback. You guys are the reason I do this, and I look forward to bringing you more content in the future. Happy holidays and a wonderful new year to you and your families.

Ok, enough of all that mushy stuff, let’s get to the awards!

Ed. Note- Aw, we're happy to have you too Justin! Now, onward and upward!

Player of the First Half: Neymar (Barcelona)

Coming into this season, Barcelona fans knew that their team's success would be decided by the play of Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. In a late September game against Las Palmas, Catalonia’s collective heart stopped, as Messi crumpled to the ground clutching his knee. Though it wasn’t as serious as initially feared, the Argentine would be on the sideline for 6-8 weeks, leaving the Catalans with a massive void. 

Needing someone to fill it, Neymar stepped up superbly.

Euro Cup 16 Preview: Unpredictable as Ever

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Live from the Palais des Congres in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, the Euro 16 draw took place Saturday to determine this summer's group stage opponents. Under a militarized and subdued atmosphere,  24 nations and their representatives sat side-by-side awaiting each other's fate.

A little over a month has passed since terrorists raided a concert venue not so different from this one, slaughtering innocents, while shaking the fabric of this city to it’s core. Slowly, but surely, Parisians have started to regain a sense of normalcy, with cafes once again full and laughter echoing through the sky.

Saturdays draw furthered that normalcy, bringing something we can all stand united for and passionate about.

For the first time, the Euro Cup has been expanded from 16 to 24 of UEFA's 54 member nations. While some purists have complained of a dilution of the tournament, anyone who saw the excitement in the eyes of teams like Iceland and Albania, had to be moved.

Having 24 teams also means the Euros will match the World Cup formats we witnessed between 1986 and 1994, with the four best third-place sides advancing alongside the top two in each group.

A larger field makes for more storylines for all of the world to see, and enjoy.

La Liga Week in Review: 12/4

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Ed. Note- Our soccer correspondent Justin Sherman is doing double-duty today, with articles on Leicester City's underdog run, and his weekly La Liga recap. You can check out his story on Leicester here, and find out who is rising and who is falling in Spanish soccer below.

 
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Aritz Aduriz (Athletic Bilbao) 

At the age of 34 most strikers are slowly edging towards the twilight of their careers. Their experience, leadership, and positioning are characteristics that are most looked upon when determining the outcome of matches.

Just don’t tell that to Aritz Aduriz.

La Liga Week in Review: 11/12

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

One of the most entertaining match days of the season saw Real Madrid drop their first game of the year, Barcelona rise to the top of the table, and incredible goals all across the league. Who’s rising and falling in La Liga: Find out below

La Liga Week in Review 11/5

Barcelona’s players did more than just scare their opponents Saturday night.

 By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

It was another bizarre week in La Liga, as headlines made off the pitch again took center stage. Who’s rising and who’s falling? Find out below.

 
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Alen Halilovic (Sporting Gijon) 

For newly promoted sides, the talent gap between themselves and the heavyweights of the league can be astronomical. Homegrown talent can only get you so far, and with transfer budgets so low, loans are vital to survival. Strapped with huge potential, Alen Halilovic is just the latest Croatian sensation to hit world football.

At the tender age of 19, Barcelona decided it was time to increase the competition level needed for a player's progression.  Instead of having him featured in Barcelona’s second division B side, they decided to loan him out to the highest bidder. In stepped Sporting, and the return couldn’t have been better.

He has started eight games for his new side, scoring twice, while assisting three directly for his team-mates. His strike over the weekend gave Sporting a 1-0 win over Malaga, securing three precious points for the Asturians. If he can continue to develop, Halilovic could have a real chance at first team football with Barcelona next season.

La Liga Week in Review 10/30

Yannick Carrasco stole the show for Atletico in their win against Valencia.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

This week in La Liga saw title favorites Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico separate themselves from the pack. Who’s rising and who’s falling in Spanish soccer? Find out below.     
 

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 Keylor Navas (Real Madrid) 

Forget the resume, wage, or trophy cabinet. No goalkeeper is playing better in all of world football than Keylor Navas. Forced into the starter's role after the disastrous David de Gea transfer fiasco, Navas has Madridistas seeing Iker Casillas reincarnated.

According to Spanish sports daily AS, Navas has conceded only three goals through nine league games, 12 games in total. He has faced 113 shots, more than any goalkeeper at the top of Europe’s big five leagues.

This weekend he did it again when the two final unbeaten teams in Spain met. Real jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before more crisis struck for Celta. They went down to ten men in the 56th minute and it appeared the game was all but over. Instead, Celta turned up the pressure, sending shot after shot that would've beaten almost any other keeper.

Not this game, or this season.

Navas put on an absolute show, leaving players and fans in disbelief. Only Nolito ended up beating him with a cracker of a shot into the top corner. At the final whistle the score was 2-1, and Real Madrid sat atop the standings.

Is Wayne Rooney Still Elite?

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

In every sport around the globe scouts, fans, and managers are always looking for the next great star.

As much as we value a player's service and past triumphs, results in the present are the only thing that truly matter. Father time is undefeated, and for some, that realization hits like a ton of bricks.

In a way, Wayne Rooney has always been in a race against that time. To understand where we now stand, one must know how we got here.

Can Klopp Save Liverpool?

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Liverpool and its supporters live by the slogan “you’ll never walk alone,“ but for many of the club’s managers, that motto has’t quite matched reality.

Another season arrived, and with it came the hefty expectations of a club trying desperately to recapture past glory days gone by. The Brendan Rodgers era officially ended last week as the board (led by Fenway Sports Group and founder John Henry) decided to sack the Irishman just 11 games into the campaign. Despite splashing out $123 million in the summer transfer window, Liverpool has only managed to win four games thus far in 2015.

Surviving Without Messi

 By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

As fans of sport, and of our favorite teams in particular, we all have experienced the cataclysmic experience of our team's best players being injured. Something as small as a mosquito bite is enough to induce congestive heart failure if any time is missed, and few players in the world can incite more of this reaction than Lionel Messi.

La Liga Week in Review: 9/22

Fernando Torres celebrates after his goal in a 2-0 win at Eibar.

 By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Who's rising and who's falling in Spain's largest soccer classification? Find out below.

 
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Keylor Navas (Real Madrid)

How’s this for a story? You’re the starting goalkeeper for perennial doormat Levante, yet you played so well that you were awarded La Liga’s goalkeeper of the season award. As a result, you attract the attention of one of the world's biggest clubs in Real Madrid, who then sign you for 10 million Euros. Once there, you’re buried on the bench behind club legend Iker Casillas, subsequently only appearing in a grand total of 11 games.

The 10 Best European Soccer Transfers of the Summer

Ángel Di María's transfer from Manchester United to PSG was among Europe's biggest moves this summer.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

There's nothing quite like the European transfer window. Rumor mills spiral out of control on the daily, with stories that tug at a supporters' heart strings, constantly putting allegiances under attack.

This summer certainly didn’t lack in the drama department, and we saw club icons depart, while other players forced moves to rivals. Before looking at the best transfers of the window, I have added a short guide from explainingsoccer.typepad.com (with a few edits of my own) on how soccer transfers work in relation to North American sports and free agency.

Here are the general guidelines.

La Liga Week in Review: 8/25

Antoine Griezmann celebrates with teammates after a free-kick goal.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

The sound of a singular whistle was heard all across Spain this weekend as each top-flight soccer side played the first of its 38 grueling La Liga matches.

Fans of newly promoted sides celebrated with boots of wine and cold Mahou, while supporters of prohibitive favorites will be looking for their nearest nail salon after games of utter suspense.

Here are my takeaways from an exciting first week in La Liga.