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Amidst Champions League clashes, big transfer talks and a hectic league schedule, we are slowly approaching yet again frenzy phase of football. The months of March and April are like heaven for football connoisseurs all over the globe. With the Champions League Round of 16 already underway and the Quarters coming up next month, let's reflect on some the top teams in Europe this season and what are their chances of winning the prestigious trophy at Madrid in May.
With the first round of matches already played out across Europe, we've had a series of surprising results that is a testament to the difficulty in the title race this time out. Juventus' defeat in Madrid and Dortmund's humiliation in London were the two standouts from the first round and the qualifying chances of both of these teams, performing exceptionally well in their domestic leagues are bleak.
After winning the Champions League three times in a row, Real Madrid were off of a bit shaky start at the start of the season, but now they seem to be on track for yet again challenge and this means that the title race is much tougher. This year, the Champions League is host to quite a lot of contenders to the title, and the title race might be the closest we have seen in a while. Let's look at some of the strongest contenders to brag the title in May;
#5 Liverpool
Without a shadow of a doubt, Liverpool is playing some of the best football their loyal fans have seen in Anfield in recent history. Klopp's men have finally given their fans a bit of hope for that long-awaited league title, but to achieve the same, the must battle against Pep Guardiola's fierce City and not-to-forget, a battling Spurs side.
But will Liverpool's League title challenge hinder their European focus? Last years' runner-ups, Pool have a strong squad with a lot of depth to drag them through the fatigue of bombardment of fixtures in March and April.
Although Liverpool technically have the least chances of qualifying this round from the five teams listed in this article, their extensive squad depth would be a key against their away tie in Germany next month. Like Liverpool, Bayern are also heavily involved in a close league season, but unlike the Reds, they aren't in the pole position. On top of that, Bayern has been massively unreliable and inconsistent this season. Provided Liverpool does make it through Bayern's challenge at the Allianz Arena, the Reds would be one of the strongest contenders to lift the trophy in Madrid.
#4 Paris Saint-Germain
For years now, PSG have started their Champions League campaign with a strong squad and high hopes but every time the media hypes them up to the levels of European giants like Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern, they bottle out when it matters the most. The 6-1 defeat to Barcelona and the humiliating defeat to Real Madrid last season were supposed to be clear examples of PSG not being on the same level as these bigger clubs with a proven pedigree in the big competitions.
But this year, when most pundits sidelined PSG's chances against an in-form Manchester United due to the former's injury problems, the French side delivered, and they delivered in style.
With one big step already in the quarter-finals, what Paris must do is to hold out Manchester United in France next month and they'll be back in the books of the media houses as one of the strongest contenders for playing at the Wanda this summer. The Parisians are expected to have their talismanic forwards Neymar Jr and Edinson Cavani back by the time the Quarter Finals start, provided they are able to defend against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United, who will be without their talisman Paul Pogba.
#3 Real Madrid
No matter how bad they might be performing, how good the opposition is or how many key players they've lost in the transfer window, Real Madrid just can't be stopped from hitting top form in the Champions League, year after year. This squad somehow manages to understand how knockout competition functions and hit top form just when it matters the most and somehow find a way to advance, and win.
After winning THREE Champions League in a row, Madrid managed to grab a 2-1 away win away to Ajax even after the Amsterdam side clearly outplayed the European Champions throughout the 90 minutes.
Although, one key factor out of the equation for the defending champions would be Cristiano Ronaldo's influence in the knockout stages. The Portuguese forward somehow finds a way to get himself a goal or two every time he features in a UEFA Champions League knockout match, and due to this reason only, Real Madrid aren't the clear favorites this time out, but still, they are expected to put up a solid contest for the title.
Real's ambitions of their fourth-straight CL title will face a tough challenge next month when a spirited young Ajax comes to Madrid to get some blood for the hard luck they had a few weeks ago in Amsterdam.
#2 Manchester City
Pep's Manchester City has been a force in front of the goal for two seasons in a row now. Last time out, they lost to eventual finalists Liverpool over the two legs but this time Pep surely has written down even more elaborate plans to cut down any attacking threat his team faces. It seems as if City are scoring goals for fun at the moment. The Cityzens have found the net over 70 times in the League season already and their 5-goal frenzy against Schalke was another exemplary performance from the Manchester City frontline.
Schalke were lucky enough to get two penalties and get two goals in return against the force that is Manchester City, but Pep's men simply couldn't be stopped from scoring. How far will this attacking prowess take City in this year's Champions League?
Although Guardiola himself would never acknowledge that his team is a clear favourite to lift the trophy at the Wanda, fans all over Europe are certainly praying for their team to avoid drawing City in subsequent rounds of the Champions League and that in itself is a testament of their challenge for the title this season. As a matter of fact, City is expected by many to achieve the coveted quadruple this season.
#1 FC Barcelona
When Leo Messi himself says that he will try everything he can to bring the coveted Champions League trophy back to the Camp Nou after seeing Real Madrid win three in a row, it is quite simple to understand that Barcelona are one of the strongest contenders to win the title this year. Barça has had an inconsistent February, a distinct characteristic from all of their recent seasons. Even with a massive squad, manager Ernesto Valverde has failed to rotate the squad effectively, partly due to big fixtures and an extensive injury list.
In their first leg in France, Barcelona put up an uncharacteristic performance against Lyon. Even after taking 25 shots in the game, they failed to convert any of those chances. After two dull performances in front of the goal against Valladolid and Lyon, Lionel Messi took charge against Sevilla, completing a comeback at the Ramon Sanchez Pijuan with a hat-trick to his name and a delightful assist to Luis Suarez. This match was a testimony of Barcelona's dependence on their main man.
But with Arthur Melo expected to be back in the squad by the time Lyon visits Barcelona, and Messi back in form, Barcelona are expected to advance in this stage, and so have they done for numerous seasons in a row now. Barcelona have undoubtedly been inconsistent this season, but in knockout competitions like the Champions League, squad depth and experience plays a huge role, and hence they are clearly one of the strongest contenders.
