Manchester City, renowned for its consistency and thirst for victories, recorded an unprecedented and unexpected series of defeats and draws (9 defeats and 2 draws in 12 matches). Five results caught the public’s attention: a big defeat against Sporting Lisbon (4-1) in the Champions League, a rout at home against Tottenham (4-0), and another failure (2-0) , without really existing, against the team in form of the moment: Liverpool.
A painful defeat (2-1) against hated rival Manchester United, while Man City led 1-0 in the 88th minute and an equally humiliating draw against the modest Dutchmen of Feyenoord, while they led by 3- 0 in the 75th minute, completed the table.
Real Madrid, considered the big favorite in LaLiga and a serious candidate for reconquering the Champions League, suffered during this first part of the season. He is also still on reprieve for a direct passage to the 1/8th finals. In an unfavorable waiver, Real will probably have to go through the play-offs.
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In the championship too, the outgoing champions were in difficulty. Two defeats, including one at home (4-0) during Kylian Mbappé’s first Clásico and against Bilbao against local Athletic, could have compromised their chances of competing for the title.
It was the equally unexpected fall of FC Barcelona which put them back in the saddle. Indeed, after a spectacular victory in Madrid, the Blaugranas fell several times, three times at home against teams well within their reach: Las Palmas (2-1) and Leganés (1-0) and against Atlético Madrid (2-1), who had not beaten them at home for ages.
They also lost points on the road against Celta Vigo (2-2), Bétis de Sevilla (2-2) and with a defeat in San Sebastián against Real Sociedad (1-0).
In Morocco, it is above all the two flagship clubs of Casablanca which disappoint during this first part of the season. Wydad and Raja find themselves in the middle of the table after the end of the first legs, which is worrying! Wydad, with 27 points and a game in hand, is 12 points behind the leader, the Berkane Renaissance.
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As for Raja de Casablanca, they are 16 points behind the leader, very far from the standards established last season. Raja, undefeated last season, and Wydad, which is one of the representatives of African football in the next Club World Cup in June/July 2025, carry on their shoulders, along with others, the prestige of local football.
Concerning Wydad, it was especially the heavy defeat at home against MAS Fez (4-1) which outraged the supporters, especially as MAS had already beaten them in Fez (1-0) in the first leg. Another defeat at home against leader Berkani explains his modest ranking.
Raja de Casablanca is the outgoing champion and winner of the last Throne Cup. He didn’t win the double though. Moroccan football has been suffering from a late edition of the Cup for several seasons.
This status of last winner of the main national competitions was not confirmed on the ground. Seven defeats since the start of the season, including two in the Champions League, have compromised the strong bond established between the team and its supporters.
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That said, we must believe that great teams never die and are often reborn from the ashes from the beginning of January. This is the case for clubs suffering during the first part of the season and mentioned above.
Manchester City, after a serious slump, seems to be regaining color. Two consecutive victories, away at Leicester (2-0) and at home (4-1) against West Ham, have given hope to their many fans.
It is true that the latter never lost their faith; a valuable lesson for supporters of other clubs, particularly in Morocco. Pep Guardiola, their emblematic coach, has never been let go by either the fans or the management team who chose to renew his contract when the team was at its lowest.
Real also comes back: a snatched victory against a courageous Valencia team and another spectacular against Sevilla (4-2) reassured the meringue supporters. Barcelona started the year well with a convincing victory (4-0) in the Copa del Rey against Union Deportiva Barbastro.
She brings smiles back to the Catalans. They suffered last year at the same stage of the competition against the same opponent. The latter, as a reminder, eliminated the other Catalan club, Espanyol from Barcelona.
In Morocco, three Moroccan clubs have done well internationally. AS FAR, Raja and Renaissance de Berkane all won their matches. Berkane had a flawless performance in the CAF Cup: 4 matches, 4 victories. Wydad is reassured and is off to a good start to 2025 with a great victory (2-1) in Tetouan against the local MAT.
This is a good start for the year 2025 especially since the captain of the national team, Achraf Hakimi, has already won a title in France: the “Champions Trophy”, which Youssef En-Nesyri distinguished himself with a double for his team Fenerbahçe and the rising star of Moroccan football, the young Hamza Igamane, scored his first hat-trick with the Scottish club Glasgow Rangers; he had already scored a double at the end of December. A good omen for the future? Too early to tell.
