Barcelona, Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid: Which La Liga team has the best chance of Champions League success this season?

#2 Real Madrid up against Premier League champions Manchester City

Real Madrid will be eyeing a big scalp against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side

In a rematch of the 2015-16 semi-final encounter, Real Madrid will be looking to repeat their success against Manchester City - albeit against a completely different side with Pep Guardiola at the helm. Their title defence have been poor this term, but the Citizens haven't been helped by injuries to key personnel - Aymeric Laporte, Leroy Sane (both knee) and Sergio Aguero among those sidelined this term.

When Real Madrid & Manchester City produced this five-goal thriller! 🔥#UCLdraw | #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/lC8RYGVeAu

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 16, 2019

From those who featured during the two-legged tie under Manuel Pellegrini, only six remain: Raheem Sterling, Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, Fernandinho, Nicolas Otamendi and Aguero. Real meanwhile, can no longer rely on Cristiano Ronaldo's goalscoring prowess to help them edge out tricky knockout fixtures.

They've failed to sufficiently replace the Portugal international since his departure for Juventus in July last year, which is another reason why this exciting clash has been billed as a 50-50 where either side could progress from. Zinedine Zidane or Pep Guardiola?

Why they can win?

Say what you want about last season and how Ajax outclassed them, but Real Madrid possess the most prestigious Champions League pedigree and know how to turn up the heat when it matters most. It's why they have recovered from precarious situations, managing to earn results from losing margins - they've already done so on four occasions across all competitions in 2019-20.

They should have beaten Barcelona in midweek, having had the better chances and dominated for large periods at the Nou Camp. Zidane was criticised for their sluggish start to the campaign, but they were still settling after a summer splurge where many players either had existing injury problems or sustained new issues. He has started to show his preferred eleven once everyone is fit, but Real are historically a side that often saves themselves for the crucial months of a season after their winter break anyway.

Karim Benzema has led the line confidently and is finally getting the respect he deserves as a world-class forward, while we're yet to see the best from Eden Hazard too. They have experienced, dependable figures capable of match-winning brilliance such as midfield maestros Toni Kroos and the declining Luka Modric, who has a point to prove with 21-year-old Federico Valverde usurping him in the pecking order.

Why they will fall short?

Even if they manage to keep City at bay for 180 minutes, there are other top attacking sides who await in the quarter-finals and beyond. Real Madrid's overall defensive quality has often been overlooked - largely because of Ronaldo and his supporting cast. Since his departure though, their weaknesses have been ruthlessly exposed and it's why they spent over £150 million trying to remedy an ageing backline.

Sergio Ramos (33) and Marcelo (31) are declining, Raphael Varane (26) can't do everything at the heart of their backline while 21-year-old Eder Militao has featured sparingly since his big summer move. The fear-factor they enjoyed against other top sides has disappeared post-Ronaldo, Paris Saint-Germain and their bold displays are evidence of that.

Liverpool, Juventus, Bayern Munich and the Parisiens themselves all boast devastating frontlines and while their passage into the last-eight is far from guaranteed, it'd be a surprise if at least two of the quartet didn't progress. You do the maths.