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It is only a matter of a few weeks before the UEFA Champions League, Europe's elite tournament resumes this season, with our favorite teams gearing up for action as they look forward to taking part in the contest once again.
La Liga giants, Real Madrid, won the coveted trophy last term, defeating Liverpool 3-1 in the final and became the first side to win the competition in 3 consecutive seasons as well as raising their tally to 13 - the most by any club in the European tournament.
Once again, Los Blancos will be back in the competition, and they are also considered as one of the favorites to emerge victorious in the tournament this term. However, they will find it very difficult to replicate such success in the competition this time around, with recent developments suggesting that their time of European dominance is up at the moment.
Therefore, let us take a look at 4 reasons why the Spanish giants will fail to win the Champions League trophy during the campaign.
#4 Zinedine Zidane's departure
When Zinedine Zidane was appointed as Real Madrid manager following the sacking of Rafael Benitez in 2016, question marks were raised over his experience and ability to handle a team as big as the Los Blancos - but the Frenchman was able to shut his critics within a short period, with his amazing records in the Spanish Capital.
Zidane became one of the most successful managers in the history of the capital club, winning a whopping 9 trophies at the Bernabeu in less than 3 years. Los Blancos claimed the last 3 consecutive editions of the UEFA Champions League under the Frenchman, and that remains one of their most successful eras of dominance in the European tournament.
Now that Zidane has left the club and paved the way for Julen Lopetegui to take over, there is no denying that Real Madrid will find it difficult to replicate such success in the absence of their legend. Even though Lopetegui is also a world-class tactician, the Spaniard lacks the kind of Champions League experience that Zidane acquired both as a player and as a manager.
#3 The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo
In what has been highlighted as the biggest surprise of the recently concluded transfer window, Real Madrid legend, Cristiano Ronaldo departed the Santiago Bernabeu to complete a famous £88 million move to join Italian Champions, Juventus in the Seria A.
The attacker was Los Blancos' brightest player in the Champions League during the past few years, finishing as the top scorer of the competition for the past 6 successive campaigns and carrying the team on his back as they claimed the last 3 editions of the tournament.
With the departure of the Portuguese, it has become clear that Real Madrid have lost their status as the favorites to win the competition and that could also make it easier for another club overthrow them from the European throne this season.
#2 Average transfer window
When Cristiano Ronaldo left the Santiago Bernabeu for Juventus this summer, Los Blancos were expected to sign another world-class superstar to replace the Portuguese as well as strengthen their squad in other important areas.
The likes of Neymar Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Paulo Dybala, Eden Hazard, Harry Kane, and Christian Eriksen were all tipped to move to the Spanish Capital - but the club refused to make a marquee signing, luring the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Vinicius Junior and Mariano Diaz to the Bernabeu instead.
Although they have started the La Liga campaign decently while managing their current squad, things could get complicated when they meet tougher opponents like Juventus, Manchester City, Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain in the UEFA Champions League and that could also eventually hurt their chances of winning the European tournament this term.
#1 Intense competition
Real Madrid have a enjoyed a period of European dominance, claiming the last 3 editions of the UEFA Champions League. However, things could change this season, with the competition to rule the continent getting stronger than ever at the moment
Having provoked their bitter rivals FC Barcelona, with their success in Europe's elite tournament during the past few years, there is no denying that the Catalans are coming all-out to overthrow them from the throne this season - with Lionel Messi recently stating that they would do everything to win the competition during the campaign.
Elsewhere, the likes of Paris Saint Germain, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich all possess threatening squads and rigid determination to win the tournament this term - which makes it almost impossible for Los Blancos to emerge as European champions once again.
