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The UEFA champions league returns to captivate the football fans all around the globe as we look ahead to yet another enthralling season. The fixtures have been set and new faces enter Europes’ most prestigious tournament while some former heavyweights return to more familiar grounds. The group stages are about to commence and we are in for some mouthwatering clashes.While all the clubs have the desire to do great in this competition, a handful of the usual suspects are always stacked at the top of the tree who are favourites to lift the trophy. And for those expected names, they won’t settle for anything less than winning the coveted prize. Who are this season’s top contenders? We take a look.
#1 Atletico Madrid
They did not have the money to compete with their rich adversaries. As an obvious result, they couldnt acquire the star-studded players required in the modern daygame to win trophies. But what they did have was an unbreakable team spirit and a coach who made them believe that nothing is impossible. From a football fansperspective, Diego Simeone and his Atletico Madrid were a revelation and the undoubted winners that captivated many last season.
They contested evenly with Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga and transformed it into a three horse race, eventually managing to win it on the last day at the Camp Nou. They defied all the odds and reached the finals of the Champions League against crosstown rivals Real Madrid but came up short which was in no way demeaning to the champions of Spain. They displayed immense passion and character which was deservedly lauded and acknowledged by the footballing universe.
However, the story was similar for them in the transfer window just like every other season. Being a selling club, they had to offload two of their most decisive players Diego Costa and Filipe Luis to Chelsea in this window. Given their significant contributions, any team would have faced a downhill situation due to these departures.
But as long as Simeone is there, this club will not lie down and that statement has been already made by the champions by defeating Madrid in the two-legged Supercup and the La Liga fixture. The Rojiblancos have made a couple of notable signings upfront which includes Mario Mandzukic from Bayern Munich and Antoine Griezmann from Real Sociedad. And they have looked to be comfortable under Simeones tactics from the word go.
A strong determined outfit like Atletico can never be underestimated and they will certainly look to go all the way again this season. It is a very difficult side to breakdown and opposition have to be at their best to beat them.
#2 Chelsea
After Jose Mourinhos return to the Stamford Bridge, Chelsea fans were optimistic that the Special One would be the man to guide them to a successful season and in that process, may finally achieve a Champions League trophywith the West Londoners, which would be their second sinceRoberto Di Matteos underdogs won it recently in 2012.
But Mourinhos boys came up short against a resilient Atletico Madrid side in the semi-finals, who convincingly defeated them 3-1 at the Bridge after a stubborn 0-0 draw at the Calderon. Thus ended Chelseas dream to reach their second final inthree years.
One of the primary weaknesses that we could have pointed out in Joses favour last season was the absence of a top notch striker in his starting line-up. After the departure of Didier Drogba, they didnt have a marksman who could provide that dominating presence upfront as the lone striker considering the formation and tactics that the Portuguese coach exercised. Fernando Torres never got his game going for the Blues while an aging Samuel Etoo and mostly substitute forward Demba Ba werent decisive enough to shape up their season.
But this season, Chelsea look a completely transformed side notably in attack after the purchase of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas from Atletico Madrid and Barcelona respectively. The introduction of the Spanish duo has produced some convincing results for Mourinho and his team now look lethal going forward.
Costa and Fabregas combination haslooked very promising and one that can lead them to glory this season. With the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian and Matic already at their disposal, Chelsea are one of the likely contendersto lift Europes ultimate prize this season.
#3 Real Madrid
After winning their 10thChampions League title, to be more precise La Decima, many would wonder why Real Madrid arent ranked higher than they usually should be among the top contenders. Well, that answer can be broken down to two major points, one based on historical records and the other on the self-created disharmony in the team.
After Carlo Ancelottis appointment as Madrids manager at the start of the 2013/14 campaign, the first objective that the club officials and fans alike demanded from the Italian was to win the 10thtitle which was becoming an elusive prospect witheach unsuccessful season passing by.
But the former Milan boss fulfilled that dream and gave the Bernabeu faithful the authority to call themselves the champions of Europe after twelve long years. And it finally looked as if the next eraof Los Blancos domination was about to commence and that the current generation of players would go on to define both theirs and the clubs legacy.
But it wasnt to be as president Florentino Perez decided to sign more marquee names and recruited World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez from AS Monaco and World Cup winner Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich. With such big names coming to the Bernabeu, it was obvious that a team that already had ample star players at their disposal would have to be shaken up once again.
And the first significant change that Ancelotti had to make was to drop the instrumental Angel Di Maria to accommodateJames while veteran midfielder Xabi Alonso was offloaded to Bayern Munich to make way for Kroos.
And the recent results in La Liga are a testament to how their perfectly setup system has been disrupted. The organisation in the middle has disappeared, penetration is lackingand the inconsistency up frontall adds up to the current bad form that the team is in. It may be harsh to judge them this early as the season has just started.And the Bernabeu still has a world class team that can topple any opposition on any given day.
One big reason that they still remain as one of the favourites is Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2014 Ballon dOr winner is still one of the twobest playersin the world and a goal scoring machine like him can create havoc for any opposition. Still, Madrids chances this season will depend a lot on how quickly Ancelotti can restore the balance in this team and find the right system for his current bunch of players.
#4 Barcelona
FC Barcelona endured a rare trophyless season last term, as they failedto defend their La Liga title, and sufferedan early exit from the Champions League, going out in the quarter-finals against Atletico Madrid. They alsolostthe Copa del Rey final toarch rivals Real Madrid.
From enjoying one of their most dominating periods in history to going downhill in a short time was indeed tough on the players and the staff. The club was involved in various transfer controversies whichled to their banfrom the transfer window and also their former coach and player Tito Vilanova passed away, adding to their tough phase.
However, things were turned around by the Catalan officials and their first move was to replace the departing Tata Martino with ex-player LuisEnrique as coach from Celta Vigo. Next, they revitalized the midfield by purchasing Ivan Rakitic from Sevilla and stabilized a nervy defence with the signings of Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia and Thomas Vermaelen from Arsenal. And finally, they signed the Uruguayan sensation Luis Suarez from Liverpool, who arrived at the Camp Nou on the back of a devastating Premier League season with the Merseysiders and a controversial World Cup.
With Enrique in charge and some fresh legs installed into Barcas system (youth players like Munir El Haddadi and Sandro Ramirez promoted to first team), the Blaugranahave seen significant transformationwhich have beenevident in their recent outings in La Liga.
Their work rate has increased, their pressing game has returned and most of all they look a compact side on the whole. And with an attack that has Neymar, Suarez and Lionel Messi, there is plenty to worry for the oppositions. Barcelona have a lot to prove after their disappointing previous campaign and with an aim of achievingtheir 5thChampions League trophy win,a side of this quality will have their eyes set on the biggest prize in Europe.
#5 Bayern Munich
Is there any side more complete that the Bavarians at this moment? I highly doubt it. Bayern Munich have been the most consistent team in Europe over the last five years. They reached the finals of the tournament in 2010, 2012 and2013, which makes it three out ofa total offive. Although it took them three attempts to finally claim their fifth title, it was a demonstration of how the German giants have been at the top of the food chain on a consistent basis.
After failing to win it in 2010 under Louis van Gaal and then in 2012 with Jupp Heynckes in charge, Bayern finally were able to get their hands on the trophy after a closely-contested battle againstBundesliga adversaries Borussia Dortmund in 2013.
Following a treble winning season, managerHeynckes stepped down from his post and former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola took charge of things at the Allianz Arena. An instant transition was brought into the team as a new philosophy and a change in style of play was put into effect by the Spaniard.
The biggest challenge that Pepfaced as the new gaffer was to replicate what Heynckes did last season and establish Bayern as the most dominant force in Europe. And his army of Reds looked determined to be the first team to retain the Champions League trophy after securing the Bundesliga title as early as possible. But Carlo Ancelottis Real Madrid had all the tricks of the tradeup their sleeves to stop Bayern and in the end won the semi-finalwith a convincing 5-0 scoreline over the two legs.
With the new season ahead for the German outfit, they bolstered their squad even further after strikerRobert Lewandowski was brought in for a free transfer, and Mehdi Benatia andXabi Alonsosignedto add more substance and steelto their midfield and defense. With a squad that can boast of World Cup winners like Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller along with some of the planets best footballers likeRobben and Ribery, they are the perfectly setup side to win this season.
