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Club football returns with a bang this weekend and we are in for some tantalizing fixtures across the various leagues after a two-week break to prosecute international qualifiers and friendlies.
The biggest clubs on the continent would resume hostilities in a bid to claim domestic superiority, while some select few would also have one eye on the continent.
Every club seeks to win trophies, as it serves as justification for all the hardwork done over the season and while some have a plethora of trophies to show for their efforts through the years, others can only look on in envy.
At the very highest echelon of European football's hierarchy lies just a select few clubs who are expected to always win every trophy they contest. While this is not possible, they always give it their best shot, making a resolve to try to have another go the next season.
However, for all the attempts made at winning all trophies available, only even a select fewer have managed to do so in a season, conquering all before them in every competition they participate in.
Winning a Treble of the league, domestic cup, and continental competition is seen as the highest achievement of any team. The feat is so rare that only seven clubs throughout European footballing history have managed it (even though Barca have somehow managed to do it twice).
It remains a dream which has eluded some giants like Chelsea, Juventus, AC Milan and even the mythical Real Madrid among others. This is a quest which would remain elusive for the aforementioned clubs for at least one more season, as they have all either been knocked out of or stand no chance of winning all trophies available this season.
However, there are some clubs still in the running to achieve a treble this season. In this piece, we shall be taking a look at four clubs who are still in with a shot of winning a continental treble this term.
#4 FC Porto
Porto are perennial participants in the Champions League but have not really made an impact in the latter stages since their surprise triumph in 2004.
They had earlier won the tournament in 1987 and completed a remarkable comeback victory to eliminate AS Roma in the last round.
The Dragons have been paired with Liverpool in the quarterfinals of the Champions League and would square up against the winner of the clash between Barcelona and Manchester United if they can successfully see off The Reds.
With over 60 major honors won, Porto are by far the most successful club in Portuguese football history, but have never managed to get their hands on a treble in their illustrious history.
This season offers an opportunity to rectify that, as they currently sit in second place, tied on points with Benfica in first on the Primeira Liga table, while they also have a date with Braga in the semi-final of the Portuguese Cup.
They could have been on course for a quadruple, but narrowly lost out in the Portuguese League Cup final on penalties to Sporting Lisbon in January.
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#3 Ajax
Ajax are one of the traditional teams in Europe, having dominated the world of football in the 1970s and mid-1990s.
However, those days are long gone. Despite still retaining their knack for producing world-class talents, the financial disparity between them and the bigger clubs on the continent means that the Amsterdam outfit has constantly had to sell off its best players to remain competitive.
This has expectedly seen a downturn in performance. Although Ajax continue to dominate the Eredivisie (alongside PSV), they have fallen some way off the glory days of Johan Cruyff.
This season saw a marked improvement in their display on the continent, as they held their own impressively over two legs against Bayern Munich to progress to the knockout round for the first time since 2005.
In the round-of-16, they pulled off one of the biggest Champions League shocks of all time by eliminating three times defending champions Real Madrid in their backyard despite coming into the match with a deficit.
For their efforts, they have been paired with a Ronaldo inspired Juventus who pulled off a stunning comeback of their own to eliminate Atletico Madrid.
If Ajax's fairytale run in the tournament could somehow continue beyond Juventus, then they would well fancy their chances of winning a second treble (to add to their 1972 triumph), as they currently sit second in the Eredivisie standings while they are also through to the final of the Dutch Cup.
#2 Manchester City
Unlike the other clubs on this list who are traditional superpowers, Manchester City are very much the new kids on the block whose meteoric rise has been funded by the pocket of their billionaire owner.
Ever since his takeover in 2008, domestic and continental dominance has been sought, but while a couple of Premier League titles have been won, the UCL still remains as elusive as a snowman on a hot summer day.
Having seen their European dreams dashed last season by Liverpool, City are once more on the march, holding the advantage in a very tense Premier League title race. They are also through to the semifinals of the FA Cup and have been paired with Tottenham in the last eight of the UCL.
While The Cityzens would not be the first English team to achieve a treble (that honor belongs to city rivals United), they can go one further by becoming the first to win a quadruple and having triumphed in the League Cup already. With Guardiola on the bench, there's no betting against them doing so.
#1 Barcelona
While many clubs would do anything to win just one treble, Barcelona have remarkably achieved this feat of two occasions - first in Guardiola's maiden year of top level management in 2009 (where they won all six trophies available) and again in 2015 (a total of five).
The Catalans are on course for a record-extending third treble this season as they currently hold a 10-point lead in La Liga while they are also through to the final of the Copa Del Rey for the sixth consecutive time where they are billed to face Valencia in May.
In the Champions League, a resurgent Manchester United lies between them and a first semifinal appearance since 2015.
As usual, the Blaugrana's charge on all fronts is being led by the ever-impressive Lionel Messi and if the 31-year-old continues with his devastating form, there could be no stopping Barcelona in their quest for a third treble.
