'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAX/2gAIAQEAAAAASP/EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/2gAIAQIQAAAAL//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/2gAIAQMQAAAAX//EACAQAAICAQMFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEDAgUSAAQTBhEiMVH/2gAIAQEAAT8Aouk6ttXY8VZW83A5ebEd/WBBHwg6klCpFcaunMYeIy2kSdf/xAAXEQEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAIh/9oACAECAQE/ALYE/8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACEf/aAAgBAwEBPwCpqjP/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Footballing action returned to television screens this weekend, with the commencement of the English Premier League. Other major leagues in Europe will join in soon, and the excitement within the footballing fraternity is at its maximum.
Fan all over the world are hopeful that when the season ends, their clubs will be crowned Champions of their respective domestic leagues.
Here we take a look at clubs in each of the top 5 European Leagues who will be starting out as favorites to win their domestic championships.
Please note that the top 5 leagues have mentioned based on UEFA's coefficient.
#5 French League (Ligue 1) - Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain will start as the clear favorites to win yet another Ligue 1 title in the upcoming 2018-19 season. Although, Ligue 1 on paper was a closer affair than the likes of La Liga, Premier League, Bundesliga etc last term, Paris Saint-Germain's 13 points margin over second placed AS Monaco was still very huge.
Financially, no team can match Paris Saint-Germain in France, and this will most likely be reflected this season as well. Furthermore, AS Monaco has lost many of their star players, this has weakened their squad significantly.
This all points to the likelihood of it going to be another dominating season for PSG, thereby making them clear favorites to win the league yet again.
#4 German League (Bundesliga) - FC Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich will start as clear favourites to win yet another Bundesliga title in the upcoming 2018-19 season. The Germain giants have been on rampage lately, and won the title last season (their sixth consecutive Bundesliga title) by a massive margin of 21 points.
The German giants have managed to retain the core of last season's title winning side with Arturo Vidal being the only major exception. He has been replaced by a more than capable player in Leon Goretzka.
Furthermore, with rivals like Dortmund, Schalke, Hoffenheim, etc not having the same financial standing as Bayern Munich, their ambition to mount a serious challenge for the title will be significantly hindered. Bayern is once again expected to dominate Bundesliga.
#3 Italian league (Serie A) - Juventus FC
Serie A has been a really entertaining league to watch for the past few seasons, but this season has the potential to be even better. The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus has been without doubt the highlight of the summer transfer window.
With other clubs like Inter Milan and AC Milan also showing ambition in the transfer window, and the likes of Napoli and AS Roma having good squads as well, this season has the potential to go down to the wire.
However, with all things accounted for, Cristiano Ronaldo's addition to the already impressive Juventus squad certainly makes them the favourites to win yet another Serie A title.
#2 English League (Premier League) - Manchester City
When it comes to the Premier League, Manchester City will definitely start as favourites, given the emphatic fashion in which they won the league title last season by a massive margin of 19 points.
They will however have to guard against the complacency factor as teams have historically found it difficult to defend their title in the Premier League. They will also have a very challenging task ahead of them as most of their rivals like Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, etc have strengthened their squads.
However, Manchester City has retained the core of their title winning team, and have added quality players like Riyad Mahrez to the roster in order to add further depth to their already impressive squad.
It is expected to be a much closer season this time around with Liverpool and Manchester United looking to mount the toughest challenge, but despite that fact, Manchester City will start the season as slight favourites to retain their title.
#1 Spanish League (La Liga) - FC Barcelona
Barcelona will probably start as the favourites to win yet another La Liga title for the 2018-19 season. La Liga over the past few years has majorly been a three horse race with Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid being the other contenders.
However, despite the level of competition, Barcelona has managed to win the title 7 times in the last 10 seasons, including last season where they won the title by a massive difference of 14 points.
This season, Barcelona has further strengthened their squad by signing players like Arturo Vidal, Arthur Melo, Malcolm, Clement Lenglet, etc.
With a major competitor in Real Madrid losing the service of a top-class player like Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona will definitely go into the season as favourites to win yet another La Liga title. It will be a closer affair unlike last season, but Barcelona will be favourite.
