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In a week’s time, Europe’s premier club competition, the UEFA Champions League will be back in town and for football fans, the resumption of the tournament couldn’t have come earlier.
After a titanic 2018-19 edition which saw improbable comebacks and upsets galore, the planet is looking forward to another rendition of similar proportions.
Last season, Liverpool flummoxed Tottenham Hotspur in the final at the Wanda Metropolitano to clinch their 6th European crown. En route to their triumph, the Reds conjured one of the most remarkable counter punches ever, when they overturned a 3-0 first leg deficit against Barcelona.
As for the North London outfit, they scripted a stupendous turnaround in the semi-final themselves as they broke countless Ajax hearts in the semi-final.
Thus, the 2019-20 term promises plenty of drama, goals, intricate sub-plots and superlative individual performances.
At this juncture, the start of the Champions League is only a stone’s throw away and the time is ripe to immerse oneself in a conversation regarding the more fancied sides in the competition.
Hence, through the course of this article, we would take a look at five teams across Europe that seem to have an edge over their peers, at least on paper.
Honourable Mentions: Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid
#5 Atletico Madrid
The Los Rojiblancos underwent a massive overhaul in the summer. The likes of Antoine Griezmann, Diego Godin, Filipe Luis, Juanfran, Lucas Hernandez and Rodri departed for newer pastures, thereby creating a massive cavity in their squad.
However, Atletico Madrid moved swiftly in the transfer market and added a string of players, each capable of influencing games and fitting into Diego Simeone’s system like a glove.
Among those who came in through the Wanda Metropolitano door, Joao Felix was arguably the stand-out arrival. By virtue of acquiring the teenager, Atletico had laid down a couple of early markers.
Firstly, they signalled that they intended to remain in the higher echelons of European football, despite the exodus in the off-season.
But, secondly and more importantly, the signing of Felix represented that Atletico still had the clout, both in terms of ambitions and finances, to attract the Portuguese, who was the most sought-after attacker in the transfer market.
Additionally, the Los Rojiblancos brought on board Hector Herrera, Kieran Trippier, Miguel Hermoso, Marcos Llorente and Renan Lodi. And, while the aforementioned players might not get the average spectator off one’s seat, they certainly have been bought with Simeone’s vision of enterprising football in mind.
Alvaro Morata and Diego Costa too, have rediscovered their mojo with the latter in particular, enjoying a telepathic understanding with Felix.
Thus, Atletico look an extremely balanced outfit and one with the potential to ruffle many a feather. To strengthen their credentials, they’ve started the La Liga season in fine fashion, registering three wins out of three and establishing their supremacy at the perch of the table.
Moreover, the Spanish side could still be hurting after their inability to make the final at the Wanda Metropolitano last season.
And, that, one feels could be a tool Simeone deploys to turn the sparks Atletico have shown so far into a raging fire come the business end of the Champions League.
#4 FC Barcelona
On the 1st of May, 2019, Barcelona dispatched Liverpool in the semi-final first leg at the Camp Nou. Lionel Messi turned in a virtuoso display that evening and set the ideal platform for the Blaugrana to make their first Champions League final since 2015.
However, just a few days later, their campaign unravelled rather spectacularly as Liverpool trampled them 4-0 at Anfield. The enormous margin of victory also meant that Barcelona were dumped out of the competition while memories of that infamous night in Rome in 2018 also came gushing back.
Over the past couple of seasons, the Spanish side has looked imperious on their home patch, with the likes of Luis Suarez and Messi ripping teams apart. Yet, on their travels, they’ve looked anything but an outfit primed to leave Europe’s elite in its wake.
On several occasions, the intent (or lack of) in away games has come under the scanner as Ernesto Valverde has failed to properly blend caution and aggression.
Inevitably, they’ve looked indecisive and toothless on the road, especially in crunch knock-out fixtures. And, unfortunately for them, that trend has continued at the start of the 2019-20 season too with the Blaugrana failing to post a victory in both of their away La Liga games.
Yet, having said that, Barcelona do boast of a certain Messi, a mercurial talent who has the ability to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and tilt it his team’s way.
In addition, Frenkie de Jong, Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Suarez provide plenty of firepower in the offensive third.
However, despite their prowess upfront, one just reckons their 2019-20 Champions League term could boil down to how well they correct their blues on the road.
After all, they wouldn’t want another tragedy away from home, especially after what transpired in Liverpool a few months ago.
#3 Juventus
In 2018, Juventus shocked the entire footballing fraternity when they acquired Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. The move came out of the blue as the Portuguese had never really voiced his concerns about staying in Spain. Yet, the move materialised and quite briskly at that.
Consequently, it became evident that the Old Lady wanted to build the club as a brand and ultimately, lay its hands on the Champions League. And, Ronaldo was the harbinger of the lucrative and successful era Juventus craved.
However, not everything went to plan in the UCL in 2018-19. After turning the tables on Atletico in the Round of 16, the Bianconeri were outclassed and outplayed by an effervescent Ajax side at the quarter-final stage.
Hence, Juventus’ dream of lifting Europe’s top prize after nearly two decades, failed to transform into reality.
Subsequently, they went shopping in the market in June 2019, with an eye on bolstering their squad further. They added Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot on free transfers whereas Matthijs de Ligt was bought for a hefty fee.
Also, Gonzalo Higuain returned to Turin and he seems to be enjoying his stint under Maurizio Sarri, again.
Moreover, they recaptured club legend Gianluigi Buffon from PSG, hoping that the Italian would lend experience and in the process, end his own wait for the elusive Champions League trophy.
At the moment, Juventus’ team comprises a fearsome attacking trident and a rear-guard capable of withstanding any onslaught. Thus, the Bianconeri’s squad looks much more balanced than previously.
Furthermore, the prospect of Buffon lifting the UCL before walking into the sunset seems a libretto that is written in the stars.
But, usually, football, or for that matter sport, doesn’t pay much heed to fairy tale endings. Yet, it is a storyline one would be naïve to not keep an eye on.
#2 Liverpool
The 2018-19 Champions League winners, Liverpool look destined to mount another assault at Europe’s biggest club accolade. The Reds endured an uninspiring transfer window and many feared that they might not be able to repeat last season’s heroics. Yet, they’ve allayed those fears competently in the opening month of the 2019-20 term.
Jurgen Klopp’s men remain the only side with a 100% record in the Premier League and enjoy a slender two-point lead over Manchester City. However, the most impressive aspect of their early form has been the intensity they’ve showcased.
The Reds’ front three has clicked into gear seamlessly despite each undergoing a long summer filled with international duties.
The midfielders of the ilk of Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner and Jordan Henderson also look in fine fettle.
To add to those positives, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Gomez have shaken off long-term injuries and have gotten into the groove instantly, thereby adding much-needed depth and quality to Liverpool’s ranks.
Moreover, with their triumph last season, Klopp has gotten the ‘trophy monkey’ off his back. Hence, that could just relax the German and enable him to pull rabbits out of his tactical hat, in order to outfox his rivals.
Also, the Reds have been handed a relatively easy group, with Napoli presenting the sternest test.
Thus, Liverpool seem to have quite a few facets in their favour as the UCL dawns upon the footballing world.
And, while they’ve not always covered themselves in glory in the Premier League, they still are the most prosperous English side in Europe.
#1 Manchester City
A decade ago, Manchester City were taken over by affluent Arab owners, who wanted to catapult the blue half of Manchester into the upper trenches of English and European football. And, it’s fair to say that they’ve accomplished the former rather emphatically.
However, with regards to the latter, there remains a lingering feeling that the Cityzens haven’t realised their potential on the continental front.
Despite their constant presence in the UCL this decade, they’ve failed to get past the semi-final hurdle, with the highlight being their last four appearance in 2015-16.
Yet, one feels that the aforementioned narrative might be about to change this time round.
At present, City arguably boast of the most complete squad across Europe. Though they are currently a centre-back short, they have the requisite quality to offset it.
Offensively, the trio of Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero are as good as any whereas the midfield triumvirate of David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri can control games in the middle third, even against the best of teams.
Most tellingly though, they have a manager who’d be itching to salvage a reputation that has taken a hit in the Champions League recently.
Pep Guardiola, arguably the premier manager in the world, hasn’t been able to win the UCL since leaving Barcelona. Inevitably, questions have been raised regarding his ability to come up trumps in clutch situations.
Moreover, Klopp won the Champions League last season and considering the mini-battle Guardiola relishes with the German, he would want to even the score come May 2020.
And, with the squad at his disposal, it would take a brave person to bet against them going all the way.
