Teams to watch out for in this season's Champions League

The 2018/19 Champions League Group Stage draw has been made, and it had some key groupings.

Juventus will face Man United, with Ronaldo returning to an old stomping ground.

Liverpool holds a “group of death” with Napoli, PSG, and Red Star Belgrade.

Record-winning holders Real Madrid face Roma, CSKA Moscow, and Plksen.

Barca has Tottenham Hotspur, PSV, and Inter.

Bayern faces Benfica, Ajax, and AEK.

Real Madrid, of course, will be looking to make it fourteen titles. But their bitter enemies Barca will be seeking to win their first CL since 2015. Juve hasn’t won it since 1996, and the last team from Serie A to win it was Inter in 2010. Inter too will be looking to make a mark again in it, especially as their city neighbours won’t be in the competition.

Of the English teams, Liverpool – losing to Real Madrid in the final 17/18 – will want to go one better. And City will want to match a record-breaking Premier League win with a CL title. Spurs have established themselves as a force in the Premier League and will look to cement their place amongst Europe’s elite. Man United, with problems on and off the pitch, will to re-establish themselves in the higher European echelon.

Bayern will be strong again, though PSG – with the world’s most expensive player and a recent World Cup winner – will be seeking to ensure they match their massive spending with European success.

So who will, or can, stand out? Which players and clubs will be the major players? Will there be any surprises?

If Real Madrid doesn’t make it four in a row, then who will resume their place as European Champions?

The Champions League is surely the greatest club show on Earth. And as the best and brightest in Europe match each other, it will surely be a highly intriguing season.

Juventus

Ronaldo was bought by Juventus for a key purpose – to help them win the Champions League.

He is without a doubt one of the best players who has ever lived. And his successes at Man United and Real Madrid have made him a legend of the game. Juve is a world giant, like Man United and Real Madrid, but they haven’t won the CL since 1996, and the days of Vialli and Ravenelli.

Can he help Juve? This is the intention, and Max Allegri is under pressure to deliver. Juve has Serie A in the bag, as it were. But then they need to move up a level and ensure they can challenge effectually. It will be interesting, especially as Ronaldo goes back to Man United, where he was instrumental in helping them win the 2008 CL vs. Chelsea.

Real Madrid

Possibly the biggest club in the world, and the current and record CL holders, they will be looking (naturally) for “catorce”, or fourteen in English. Ronaldo departing to Juve is a blow, and thus far no big replacements have been gained. There was the talk of Hazard joining them, but Chelsea at this stage may be reluctant to let him go.

But maybe Bale can step up? He is a world class player in his own right, and his goal in the final vs. Liverpool was epic. And whilst the side is ageing somewhat, Modric, Varane, Marcelo, Kroos, etc. all are top quality. I believe they will be in with a shout, though possibly not favourites to further their own record.

What's certain is that they would not go down without a fight, and will look to ensure their new manager Lopetegui can continue the winning streak.

Bayern Munich

Borussia Dortmund v FC Bayern Muenchen - UEFA Champions League Final

The biggest club in Germany hasn’t won the title since 2013, where they beat fellow German club Dortmund in the final. They have gained Goretzka, thus far at least, and with having the Bundesliga in the bag, for now, they like Juve in Italy will be looking to secure another CL crown.

Can they do it? Some of their stalwarts are ageing, though they will be a threat, especially with talents like Lewandowski. There is talk he may join Real Madrid as a Ronaldo replacement, though if they keep him, he would be vital in them getting the CL again.

They were perhaps unlucky to lose to Real Madrid last season, and this could spur them on to achieve another title. Bayern, after all, is a club which has an immense heritage and history in this competition, and they will be looking to build on it.

Barcelona

With no CL wins since 2015, and their deadly enemies Los Blancos winning the last three in a row, Barca will be looking to re-establish their mark in the competition.

Messi is a player who has shone in this competition, and he too will look to rival Ronaldo’s record haul of five titles. Leo hasn't made as much a mark in recent seasons in the competition, and with his disappointment in the World Cup with Argentina, he may need another CL win to shine again.

Barca also may be favourites to retain La Liga, but the CL will be a bigger benchmark for them. It will also be interesting to see how they cope without Iniesta, who was pivotal in their success as much as the great Messi.

PSG

Marseille is the only French club to date which has won the European Cup. Though PSG will be looking to equal and surpass their totals, especially with their significant riches, and playing talents.

Under successive managers, they have not attained the Champions League successes that players such as Cavani, and now Mbappe and Neymar, would warrant.

This naturally has to change, especially as the stated goal of the PSG owners is to make them a global brand akin to Real Madrid, Barca, or Man United. They could do this, in time, of course. They must stand – possibly with the likes of Arsenal, even though the Gunners aren’t in the CL this season – as the biggest club in world football never to have won the CL.

They have Ligue 1 sown up, as it were. Or it would be a primary shock if they didn’t win it. But the ties against the other top teams would be key – and with no repeats of last season’s Nou Camp capitulation.

If there was not a good finish by PSG, then all in the club (and possibly outside of it) would ask some strong and serious questions. One doesn’t sign the world’s most expensive player or have a prime World Cup winner, without a serious return accrued.

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has great experience in this competition, both as a player and a manager. City does not have the history and tradition overall, compared to other clubs. But they certainly possess the riches and will be looking to win the CL for the first time this season.

City won the Premier League by a canter in 17/18 and surpassed the other great PL-era sides – such as United’s Treble, Arsenal’s Invincibles, and Chelsea’s 2005 winners – by winning the league with 100-plus points. So winning the CL is the next step up. They only attained Mahrez in the transfer window, but he is a quality player and will add to their attacking options.

Pep also hasn’t won the CL since 2011, and this will be something he is keen to rectify. Can he do it? He has the chance. And City’s owners will back him, for sure. City will possibly be England’s optimally primed candidate to succeed this season.

Dark Horses

Liverpool

Liverpool was unlucky in some respects to lose the 2018 CL Final. However, with their high-pressing style, and bountiful transfer window spend, they can possibly be amongst the prime favourites to win it. Mo Salah, who was injured by Ramos in the final, will be elemental in them attaining a sixth Champions League title.

Atletico Madrid

Image result for diego costa 18/19 atletico

The Europa League winners from last season still possess World Cup winner Griezmann, and other top talents like Costa, Godin, etc. Simeone is still a top manager, and they could represent another dark horse for the competition. The defeats to Real Madrid in the finals of late will also spur them on.

Manchester United

Despite current issues with Jose Mourinho, and the players, the manager and the club have great traditions in winning this competition. And their current issues notwithstanding, they do still hold World Cup winner Pogba, Alexis Sanchez, Lukaku, Martial, Rashford, de Gea, and other top players. Doing well in the CL could greatly ameliorate any domestic concerns arising. Mourinho also would love to prove how he has still got it by winning the CL – a competition he has won with Inter in 2010 and Porto in 2004.

Napoli

The club of Maradona, it is not historically as big as Juve, AC Milan, or Inter. But it is a big club in its own right, and due to challenging Juve closely in recent years. Though former CL winner Carlo Ancelotti is their new manager, and he will be looking to increase his total having won the competition with AC Milan and Real Madrid prior.

Juve may be Italy’s best hope this time, but Napoli may be seeking to gain European success as well as a potential Scudetto. I know on the prior page, I mentioned Liverpool could finish above Napoli. However, this group will be close, and should Napoli qualify, they hold what it takes to progress further.

So this year’s CL will be as exciting as ever. But for me, Juve is the team to watch, largely since they are eager to match domestic success with European triumphs. And Ronaldo was bought in large part to help bridge the gap.