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Champions league football is one of the most prestigious silverware in the world of football and arguably its even better than most of other sports’ tournaments in the whole world. Every club wants one of the champions league trophies in its cabinet . But unfortunately , very less team get the chance to keep one. There has been much drama, athleticism and the spirit of sports in the past few years . Tears have been cried , intense moments have been experienced and most importantly great goals have been scored. Here we take a look at the contenders for this seasons champions league title .
1-Borrusia Dortmund
The German champions are soaring high in this seasons competition after they are left hopeless in the German Bundesliga . They are highly overtaken by Bayern Munich at the top of the table with 20 points separating the two sides. They are however a force to be reckoned with in the champions league after their thrashing of Shakhtar Donetsk at their home . They have one of the most talented attack force in Europe in the likes of Marco Reus , Mario Goetze and Robert Lewandowski. Jakub Blaszczykowski who is often paired at the front with the big 3 is one of the dark horses in their success in recent years. They will have one of the best defences once Mats Hummels is declared fit for the quarters. He will form one of the best pairs with Subotic . Lukasz Piszczek and Marcel Schmelzer are some of the best wing-backs in Europe right now , so we should expect entertainment from them whichever team they play against .They are one of the best sides to have qualified for the quarters and are capable to beat any side to walk on the steps of Wembley to lift the champions league title.
2- Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich , finalists of last season , likely winners of the Bundesliga this season and of course one of the best sides in Europe .They were pretty good last season and even stronger after having strengthened their squad wisely by the addition of Shaqiri , Javi Martinez and Mario Mandzukic . They have shown that they are one the best sides after their 3-1 win over Arsenal at the Emirates.They have added midfield as well as attack in their attack after their inability last season to win in any of the three tournaments they played .Dante have been playing in most of their matches either alongside Jerome Boatang , Rafinha or Van Buyten . David Alaba and Phillip Lahm along with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery form one of the best wing attacks in the world.Franck Ribery has been ruled out of the Arsenal tie-deciding match at the Allianz Arena which gives a little hope for Arsenal to Qualify which is highly unlikely .Defensive midfielders Javi Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger form the iron wall in front of the defence . Strike force up front which consists of the double Mario’s in Gomez and Mandzukic are not the best but when you have so many scorers it matters very little about the strikers . Still its great if Jupp Heynckes fields the in-form Mandzukic up front against whichever side they face in the Quarters IF they qualify. They have a side that should be able to heal the wounds after their heartbreak at home in last seasons final .
3- Real Madrid
A sluggish start , A rescue mission , A great season defining week they have got little of everything this season . Jose Mourinho’s side looked like a team which had won its league title just by luck , but , they bounced back in a way that surprised everyone. They defeated Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup and reached the Copa Del Ray or the King’s Cup final at the expense of Barcelona by thrashing them at the Camp Nou courtesy of a Ronaldo brace and a towering header from the ascending young defender Raphael Varane .They have defeated Manchester United at the Trafford and have delivered a message to the whole world that they can not underestimate the Spanish Champions . Varane and Ramos at the back form the iron wall which is very difficult to break into . Coentrao and Arbeloa can provide overlapping runs and crosses from either sides which can reach the head of any Madrid player , most probably of a towering Cristiano Ronaldo . Alonso and Khedira or Alonso and Modric can provide long through balls to leave the attackers one-on-one with the goalkeeper and the leave the opposition defence in chaos . Ozil has established himself as one of the best playmakers in Europe and has the ability to produce a moment of magic .Di Maria and Ronaldo can conquer the wings and can score from a distance . The only problem they face is in the STRIKER where both of their strikers are out of form but Callejon or Morata can fill that spot and be a good assett . They have a great side which is eager to get the 10th continental cup and regain its lost glory after bieng dominated by the Catalonian side Barcelona in the past few years .
So these are the sides that are most likely to win the champions league this season and are desirous to place a new piece of silverware in their trophy cabinets . Most of you will think why Barcelona is not in the list? It’s because they have to overturn a 2-0 deficit that is much harder than bayern who have to protect a 3-1 lead at their home .If the Blaugranas qualify they still are not a formidable force due to the lack of leadership, management and the bad form of Lionel Messi in the calender year 2013 . Los Blancos , The stars of the south or The Black Yellows are the most probable winners of the champions league this season.
