The Champions League trophy is the most coveted accolade around Europe, but it’s a very hard tournament to win, as history has proven.
Certain clubs have been quite commanding in their own leagues and hardly come up against much of a challenge with regards to winning titles. However, the Champions League presents a totally different set of demands.
It’s all well and good winning domestic silverware, but there are a few teams who would be better off trying to win Europe’s top competition for various reasons.
Here are five clubs who should concentrate on winning the big eared trophy this season.
#1 Paris Saint-Germain
This Ligue 1 side has been taking full advantage of their financial prowess these few years, and have maintained a choke-hold on France’s top flight for several years.
They have won the last four league titles, and although they are still three behind Lyon, who won it on seven consecutive occasions in the early 2000’s, switching their focus to the Champions League shouldn't hurt.
Now without Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their ranks, the challenge should be markedly harder. The Swede’s devilry up front made things so much better, and his absence is already beginning to show. PSG are currently third on the table with 16 points from eight games while OGC Nice lead the pack with 20.
Perhaps they can afford to forget about Ligue 1 for a bit and aim for what would be their first Champions League trophy, as that is the most coveted title that the owners of PSG would like to celebrate winning.
#2 Bayern Munich
The current Bundesliga Champions last won the Champions League in 2013, and have been bossing Germany for the past four seasons, winning the league for four consecutive years.
Bayern will be gunning for a fifth straight title, but while that may be so, it’s probably time for a new challenge.
Their new boss Carlo Ancelotti has made a career out of winning the Champions League and is the coach who finally won Real Madrid the craved La Decima. He is the only manager to have won the competition three times, having won it twice as a player, and he’s certainly itching for a fourth.
Bayern may win the Bundesliga quite easily this season, but they should channel their energies into the European competition this time around. Even Pep Guardiola could not lead them to this title, a gauntlet Ancelotti would love to conquer.
#3 Manchester City
Manchester City have made themselves a force domestically, and ever since the oil money came about, they have been going toe to toe with rivals Manchester United, who used to keep the bragging rights in times past.
City have won two Premier League titles in the last five years, as well as two League Cups and an FA Cup. They haven’t fared as well in the Champions League, however, they did make it to their first semi-final last season, only to get knocked out by eventual champions Real Madrid.
With Pep Guardiola now at the helm, the Spanish boss will be looking to make a statement, yet what better statement is there than leading City to their first Champions League trophy?
City are playing some great football and even after the loss at the hands of Tottenham, they are one of the favourites for the title.
#4 Atletico Madrid
The La Liga side upset both Real Madrid and Barcelona to win the Spanish title in 2013 but were bitterly disappointed following their Champions League final defeat to Los Blancos.
They suffered the very same fate at the end of last season, which leaves them with two finals losses in the last three years.
Atletico have made a good start to the season, both domestically and on the European stage. They currently sit atop their league, tied on points with rivals Real Madrid, and are also at the top of Group D in the Champions League.
They will obviously battle for another La Liga title this season, but given their recent disappointments in the Champions League, perhaps they should really concentrate on putting things right and finally lifting the title that has eluded them so far.
#5 Juventus
The Italian giants have made Serie A their own, winning the Scudetto the last five seasons. Certainly a dominant force domestically, but they haven’t won the Champions League since the 1995/96 season.
In fact, the last time they won anything in Europe was in 1999 when they took home the UEFA Intertoto Cup.
Juve made it to the final in 2015 but were soundly beaten by Barcelona with a 3-1 result.
While they have made themselves a real threat in Europe since being revived by Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, Juventus need to win the Champions League again to gain even more respect in Europe.
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