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#2 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid are big contenders who have a rock solid defence and threaten on counter-attacking football. Diego Simeone is the most passionate manager you will ever come across and he has a point to prove this season. The club has recruited well and added extra support to Antoine Griezmann with the signings of Thomas Lemar, Rodrigo and Gelson Martins.
The La Liga side won the Europa League last season and will be looking to push on for Champions League success – having finished as runners-up in the competition to none other than local rivals Real Madrid on two occasions, in 2014 and 2016.
Atletico has a world-class defence which can close out any threat from the opposition and likes of Saul, Koke, Thomas form a tight midfield to manipulate the ball easily. In the knock-out stage, very few teams can be as good as Simeone's men. While Diego Costa and Griezmann look to press higher on the field and pounce on goal-scoring opportunities.
It was precisely their style that caught them out last season. It will be interesting to see if they are affected psychologically by their past failures and whether they can restore their winning mentality.
With the arrival of new quality signings and fall of their bitter rivals, this may be their year.
