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The 2014/15 UEFA Champions League draw has been made and all the teams know who they’ll be facing in their respective groups. And of course, predictions have already been made as to which teams are the most likely to go all the way and win the coveted trophy. But there are a few teams that are not fancied enough to have what it takes to win the trophy, but could still have a good chance. Here are 5 teams that are the dark horses for this season and could spring a surprise.
#1 Arsenal
Arsenal may have qualified for the Champions League group stage for the 17th time in a row, but only once have they ever come close to winning the trophy, and that was way back in 2006. Their best chance was perhaps during the invincible season, but a shock defeat to Chelsea put paid to those ambitions. And while they make a beeline to the Round of 16 every year, they continue to get knocked out long before they reach the final.
But they could spring a surprise this season, especially with the signing of Alexis Sanchez adding much needed pace to the frontline. Instead of signing youngsters for the future, this season has seen transfers of players who would go straight into the first team. Sanchez, Debuchy and Chambers have already had a huge impact in the nascent season, and could well turn out to make the difference for Arsenal in this year’s Champions League. With rumours in that the club is looking to sign Falcao, Carvalho and a backup defender, it could well be a case where Arsenal could be a team that is underestimated but will punch above their weight and win the trophy this time round.
#2 Borussia Dortmund
They may have reached the finals only a couple of years ago, but they are definitely not the same team they were back then. It is one club that seems to be constantly losing its players every year, a little bit like Arsenal. They no longer have their star striker Robert Lewandowski who’s been their leading scorer in the last two years. Add to that the constant speculation regarding the futures of Marco Reus and Matt Hummels, you’d have to wonder how long the club can hold on to them.
But if they can hold onto Reus for one more reason, after which he will inevitably move to Bayern, they can still make a fight out of this season’s Champions League. While the group stages shouldn’t pose a problem, it will be the knockout rounds where they would really have to dig in. They’ve signed Immobile and Adrian Ramos to help Reus in scoring the needed goals, and that should give them the necessary firepower that can propel them to the trophy.
#3 Atletico Madrid
They may have been the finalists last season and have won the La Liga as well, but the team is now missing a major part of what made it a success. There is no doubt that Diego Costa certainly made it possible for them to have the sucess they’ve had last season. Add to that the heroics of Thibaut Courtois and you’ll see why it’s doubtful they’ll do a repeat of last season. Not only have they lost both players to Chelsea, they’re also joined by Filipe Luis to make the trip to London.
But for a club that has been knocking on the doors of La Liga for a bit of time now, it would be foolish to rule them out completely from this season’s Champions League campaign. They now have the knowhow of surviving the group stages and the knockout rounds as well, which make them a very tricky opposition. More importantly, they’ve made the very important signing of Mario Mandzukic, who could go a long way in replacing Costa’s goals.
#4 Paris Saint-Germain
The rich boys of the French league have been trying to break into the European elite for a few years now, but they always seem to come up short. The knockout rounds have not been kind to them and they may have a similar problem this time around. Also, with a depleted squad, and unable to sign players because of FFP concerns, they may well be looking at another disappointing campaign in the Champions League.
However, if they can motivate Zlatan, who surely is on the last legs of his career and missing out on a Champions League medal may not sit well with him, as well as Cavani to deliver, then they certainly have a very good team to support them. While David Luiz may have been a disaster in the World Cup, he still has some attributes that the team saw would fit with them, and for which they were prepared to shell out a hefty amount of money.
#5 AS Roma
Roma are probably seen as rank outsiders by almost everyone, with no hope of progressing far in the Champions League. And that is what probably makes them the most ideal dark horse in the competition. Last season, the team finished at 85 points, which if it weren’t for an even more dominant Juventus, would have comfortably won the Serie A. Of course, they had the advantage of not having to play in Europe, and will have to cope with the added fixtures.
But importantly, they have added depth to their squad, which will help them in their quest for the Champions League trophy. The signing of Ashley Cole is sure to be a hit, and he brings with him enormous European experience having won the Champions League and the Europa League with Chelsea. To add further to the squad, they've brought in Manolas and Iturbe, both costing a significant amount of money, while bringing is Seydou Keita for free. While on paper it may not look the most obvious team to win, they most certainly have the hunger to even end up winning the competition for the first time in their history.
