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The UEFA Champions League this season is quite open and is anyone's for the taking. The teams have strengthened up comparatively as Real Madrid look to defend their title once again after winning it three times in a row and four times in the last five seasons.
With Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid the equations have changed considerably with teams like FC Barcelona, PSG, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Atletico, Inter, United, City, and many more in the chase.
Let us look at the 5 top contenders for this season's Champions League.
5. Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F currently are the defending UCL champions. Not only are they the defending champions but they've managed to successfully win the UCL for 3 seasons in a row.
Real Madrid are currently struggling in LaLiga. Teams as big as Barcelona and Sevilla have battered Real Madrid already whereas squads with less talent are also giving Madrid a hard time as they currently sit on 6th position in LaLiga after 11 game weeks.
To their fortune, their UCL group is comparatively relaxed as they are grouped alongside AS Roma, CSKA Moscow and FC Viktoria Plzeň. After selling Cristiano Ronaldo their journey may have toughened up but it is not completely impossible.
The previous season may act as an example where the team was completely out of LaLiga title race by March and then went on to win the UEFA Champions League in the same season showing the world what the team is really capable of.
Despite their poor run it would be completely wrong to write Real Madrid off as they have won the UCL a mammoth 13 times and have been the most successful team in the history of the competition. The team in the past has shown fighting spirit and resilience and may successfully overturn their fortunes before the end of the season.
4. Liverpool
Liverpool, after getting so close to winning the UCL title last season, would be gutted to not go all the way. After an audacious run in the UCL last season, Liverpool lost to Real Madrid in the final. Liverpool would look back at it as an experience as they look forward to winning the competition in the near future.
Liverpool have started the season on fire with them still unbeaten in the Premier League and even after being in the group of death along with Paris Saint Germain, SSC Napoli and Red Star Belgrade they are currently topping the table.
Liverpool have only got better from last season after strengthening their squad with the likes of Fabinho, Naby Keita, Alisson Becker and Xherdan Shaqiri and with the likes of Mo Salah, Mane and Firmino already leading their attack, they are the most entertaining team to look out for.
3. Manchester City
Manchester City, after an excellent 2017-18 season, look all set to run for even greater success. Pep Guardiola would like his team to eye for European success this season. Manchester City building on previous season heroics have started the season unbeaten in the Premier League.
Manchester City have got a relatively easy group in the UEFA Champions League where they have been drawn with Lyon, Shakhtar Donetsk and Hoffenheim. The Citizens look like they'll comfortably ease their way into the round of 16.
The Citizens would hope for a better showing in the UEFA Champions League this season as they hope to secure the first UCL in the team's history.
Given their squad depth and quality which may look like the best in Europe and a manager like Guardiola, Man City have what it takes to lift the UCL trophy this season.
2. Juventus
Juventus have come quite close to winning the UCL in the previous seasons but have been battered by Barcelona in 2015 and Real Madrid in 2017 in the finals. In a bid to get closer to UCL glory the Old Lady were successful in luring Cristiano Ronaldo away from Real Madrid C.F. The chances of them winning this season have increased with Ronaldo, arguably the best UCL player by their side now.
Juventus have started their season in extraordinary fashion with them still being unbeaten in Serie A after 11 game weeks. Juventus are grouped alongside Valencia, Manchester United and Young Boys in group H of UEFA Champions League and are unbeaten in UCL as well clinching all 9 points. The way they're heading this season looks promising and with the addition of Cristiano, they look like one of the teams that could go all the way.
1. Barcelona
After seeing Real Madrid C.F lift the UCL for three consecutive seasons the Catalans would definitely like to bring the European Cup to Camp Nou this season. FC Barcelona have now put behind their sloppy performances and now sit on top of La Liga points table after 11 game weeks, thrashing Real Madrid 5-1 at Camp Nou last week to go on top.
Barcelona drew a tough group after being tied up with Tottenham Hotspurs, Inter Milan and PSV Eindhoven in group B of the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona have so far eased past all of them securing a perfect 9 out of 9 points leading the group table and look all set to book their place in the round of 16.
Barcelona look stronger after re-enforcing the squad with Coutinho (could not play UCL football last season), Arturo Vidal, Lenglet, Arthur and Malcom. With the recent performances, one can say that Barcelona are the favourites this season and Messi even went on to say the team will look to win the trophy after last year's disaster.
