The Edmilson burst-up, Ronnie massacre by the press and the fight between two Arsenal FC players in the full glare of the public shows the pressure is on top European teams.


As the season centers around the half-way mark in most leagues, the pressure is on the pre-season favourites of top leagues in Europe to live up to their bidding. FC Barcelona are under great pressure to catch up with leaders Real Madrid, after the Blaugrana were overwhelmingly tipped to lift the La Liga this season with little effort. However, half-way through the Barca are trailing seven points in second place. No doubt, the Catalan giants have the ability to catch up with Madrid and eventually win the league, but this will not be easy. Ronaldinho is being sacrificed by both Barca fans and the world press and being accussed of failing to lift FC Barcelona, while Edmilson, lying on the hospital bed before his injury, attacked all the players and the team with harsh words, ending with the word black sheep to refer to an unnamed player.


Another top European clubside, Arsenal FC, who were not exactly tipped to win the English Premiership before the season started, but who played themselves into the top contender position with fine football, have slipped to the second place position after maintaining top spot since the season began. Manchester United, the traditional English premiership winners are once again in their familiar first position. The pressure showed after Arsenal were drubbed 5-1 in the Carling Cup semi-final match by Tottenham Hotspurs and qualified 6-2 on aggregade. During the match, things got so heated up that two Arsenal players, team-mates Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Adebayor fought on the pitch while their fans watched in disbelief and the entire TV cameras were focussed in dismay. Caution was thrown to the winds. The pressure is on and still rising.


As FC Barcelona file out against Villarreal in the Copa del Rey, a lot of pressure is on Barca not to lose, as a loss will mean a third straight loss tho Villarreal in El Madrigal. Also, Barca must never lose any game be it in the La Liga or not, so that the Blaugrana will maintain their wining mentality acquired since this year, when the giants have not yet lost any match.A lot remains to be seen. Indeed, the pressure is on. The new battle is no more against arch-rivals, but in addition to that has emerged a battle of nerves, composure, self-control and possible lessons in anger management for all the super stars in Europe's top leagues.