Year: 2018

FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 904100134,1038040072 - GRADIENT ADDED) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Head coach Ernesto Valverde of FC Barcelona (L) and Julen Lopetegui, head coach of Real Madrid. Barcelona and Real Madrid meet in the first El Clásico of the season on October 28, 2018 in Barcelona,Spain. ***LEFT IMAGE*** BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 11: Head coach Ernesto Valverde of FC Barcelona looks on during the Copa del Rey round of 16 second leg match between FC Barcelona and Celta de Vigo at Camp Nou on January 11, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 22: Julen Lopetegui, head coach of Real Madrid looks out from the bench before the start of the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and RCD Espanyol at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 22, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images,)

El Clasico will be full of drama even without its two biggest stars

How Paris Saint-Germain may lineup for Le Classique

De Gea insists he is ‘not focused’ on his contract situation

Arsenal: Unai Emery’s quick left-back fix has gone overlooked

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Man Utd goalkeeper David De Gea asks questions during the Group H match of the UEFA Champions League between Manchester United and Juventus at Old Trafford on October 23, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images)

Manchester United cannot afford to lose David de Gea

TURIN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 29: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus hi-fives Paulo Dybala during the Serie A match between Juventus and SSC Napoli at Allianz Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)

Juventus projected lineup vs Empoli: Ronaldo and Dybala lead the attack

Victor Wanyama of Tottenham during the Group B match of the UEFA Champions League between Tottenham Hotspurs and FC Barcelona at Wembley Stadium on October 03, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Jose Breton/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Victor Wanyama deserves a second chance at Tottenham

SOCHI, RUSSIA - JULY 19: (RUSSIA OUT) Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) speaks as billionaire and businessman Roman Abramovich (L) looks on during a meeting with top businessmen while visiting the Sirius education center for gifted children on July 19, 2016 in Sochi, Russia. Vladimir Putin said the latest report on doping among Russian athletes lacked substance and was highly political. The Russian president said officials named in the report will be temporarily suspended. (Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

The reason why Roman Abramovich will fight to hold onto Chelsea

Manchester United's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Newcastle at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on October 6, 2018. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)

Manchester United ready to offload Alexis Sanchez as he wants PSG move

FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde during the UEFA Champions League group B match between FC Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven at the Camp Nou stadium on September 18, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain.(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)

How should Barcelona approach El Clasico without Messi?

24 October 2018, North Rhine-Westphalia, Dortmund: Soccer: Champions League, Borussia Dortmund - Atlético Madrid, Group stage, Group A, Matchday 3: Dortmund's Raphael Guerreiro (r) rejoices with Jadon Sancho and Mahmoud Dahoud (l) over his 4-0 goal. Photo: Bernd Thissen/dpa (Photo by Bernd Thissen/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Borussia Dortmund could be a contender in this year’s Champions League campaign

OLIMPICO STADIUM, ROME, LAZIO, ITALY - 2018/10/23: Roma's Turkish striker Cengiz Under celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League football match AS Romai vs CSKA Moskow at the Olimpico Stadium.AS Roma won the match 3-0. (Photo by Carlo Hermann/KONTROLAB /LightRocket via Getty Images)

Tottenham are ready to smash their transfer record to sign attacking midfielder

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 28: Miguel Almiron (10) of Atlanta United celebrates a goal during an MLS regular season game between the Montreal Impact and Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga on April 28, 2018. (Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Beating Arsenal to Miguel Almiron would be terrific for Tottenham

DORTMUND, GERMANY - OCTOBER 24: Axel Witsel of Borussia Dortmund in action during the Group A match of the UEFA Champions League between Borussia Dortmund and Club Atletico de Madrid at Signal Iduna Park on October 24, 2018 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Borussia Dortmund v Atletico Madrid full of twists and turns

LISBON, PORTUGAL - OCTOBER 25: Danny Welbeck of Arsenal celebrates with team mates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Europa League Group E match between Sporting CP and Arsenal at Estadio Jose Alvalade on October 25, 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Twitter reacts as Danny Welbeck helps Arsenal to 11 straight wins

Barcelona's Spanish defender Jordi Alba (3L) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League group B match Barcelona against Inter Milan at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on October 24, 2018. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images)

Barcelona player ratings vs Inter- No Messi, no problem

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 24: Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League Group B match between PSV and Tottenham Hotspur at Philips Stadion on October 24, 2018 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)

Hugo Lloris is the epitome of Tottenham Hotspur’s woes

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on August 12, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Arsenal: Unai Emery has identified a position to strengthen in January

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 13: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is seen during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St. James Park on May 13, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Chelsea could benefit from Real Madrid sacking Julen Lopetegui

Rafael Alcantara do Nascimento Rafinha of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona at Mestalla on October 7, 2018 in Valencia, Spain (Photo by David Aliaga/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Barcelona 2-0 Inter Milan: Rafinha and Alba give Barcelona the victory

MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 23: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates his goal with team mates during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at Bernabeu on October 23, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)

Real Madrid employed a Zidane-esque playing style against Viktoria Plzen

COBHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: Marcos Alonso of Chelsea signing his new contract for Chelsea at Chelsea Training Ground on October 24, 2018 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Marcos Alonso signs a new long-term contract with Chelsea

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 24: (L-R) Christian Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur, Eric Dier of Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur, referee Slavko Vincic during the UEFA Champions League match between PSV v Tottenham Hotspur at the Philips Stadium on October 24, 2018 in Eindhoven Netherlands (Photo by Edwin van Zandvoort/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Twitter reacts as Tottenham concede late equaliser in Eindhoven

29th September 2018, The John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield, England; EPL Premier League football, Huddersfield Town versus Tottenham Hotspur; Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur applauds the fans at the end of the game (photo by Conor Molloy/Action Plus via Getty Images)

Alderweireld considers a return to boyhood club Ajax

MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 23: Karim Benzema, #9 of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League between Club Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at Santiago Bernabeu on October 23, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Sonia Canada/Getty Images)

Real Madrid’s player ratings from the win over Viktoria Plzen

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Romelu Lukaku of Manchester United reacts during the Group H match of the UEFA Champions League between Manchester United and Juventus at Old Trafford on October 23, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

How is Romelu Lukaku still starting for Manchester United?

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Erik Lamela of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Erik Lamela 2.0: The time has come for Tottenham’s winger to make a difference

Juventus forward Paulo Dybala (10) celebrates after scoring his goal during the Uefa Champions League Group Stage football match n.3 MANCHESTER UNITED - JUVENTUS on 23/10/2018 at the Old Trafford in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matteo Bottanelli/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Juventus player ratings vs Manchester United: Dybala delivers dominant win