The UEFA Champions league football tournament can certainly be quoted as one of the most coveted Football championships across the globe and just like every year, one of the best football clubs around the world would be fighting for this Championship this year as well. Although the draw for the same tournament was held in august, it made some of the best and most exciting clashes on board which also includes the group C as the “Group of death” Comprising of teams like Paris saint Germain, Napoli and Liverpool.
Moreover, it won’t be easy for the defending champions Real Madrid to battle it out this year without the presence of the Marquee player, Cristiano Ronaldo and while that’s been said, let us present you with a probable list of 5 teams who holds the favorite tag to win this year’s UCL title.
#5 Barcelona
Key players: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique
Barcelona can surely be considered as unlucky in their last few UCL campaigns as they bowed out to some of the most underrated teams in the league in the process. Their last title victory came in the 2015 season when they defeated Juventus 3-1 in the final and their team has never lived up to the expectations at the most crucial stages of the tournament in the following seasons.
While having the “Football God” Messi in their team, they hardly have an excuse to not to win the title since the last 3 years and for the first time ever he will also be taking on the Captain’s role for the team after the exit of their Star Midfielder Andres Iniesta to the Chinese league in the backdrop of his retirement from International Football. Although Barcelona holds a great bunch of Star players like Luis Suraez, Dembele and Pique, they haven’t yet been able to perform as per their name in the past few seasons. This season as well, we can only hope to see something great coming out of the Catalans while they have been placed in a group which is also featuring a tough team Like Tottenham Hotspur alongside.
#4 Paris Saint Germain
Key players: Neymar, Cavani, Mbappe
Paris Saint Germain has to be the unluckiest team of the whole tournament in the wake of last few seasons. Even though they have spent huge money in the recent years on players like Mbappe and Neymar, they haven’t been able to taste the success in their previous campaigns. Even last year, they have been kicked out of the tournament by the Title winners Real Madrid in the round of 16 which also witnessed a severe leg injury to their Star striker Neymar in the process.
This year, PSG can surely lay down their hopes on players like Mbappe, Neymar and Cavani. Although Neymar and Cavani didn’t have a great outing at the recently concluded FIFA World cup, it was French Teenager Kylian Mbappe who has emerged as one of the best players in the tournament while taking his tea to the Title victory in the process. PSG can surely put their hopes on him and expect him to put up the same show for them in the upcoming matches as well.
#3 Real Madrid
Key Players: Modric , Benzema, Ramos
It Seems like nothing is going good for the Defending champions Real Madrid at the moment as they are going through a big list of Nightmares in the current context .Their coach has just been sacked by the club and they are going through a poor run in the la liga as well while not been able to win in past 4 consecutive matches. Moreover, a big void has been created within the team after the exit of their Star striker Cristiano Ronaldo who has been the key player in their previous 3 Title victories in the past 4 years.
Moreover, a number of their players are going through a list of injuries and same is affecting the club in the worst manner in the current context. Still we can never underestimate the Los blancos when it comes to the Champions league stage and they still possesses some of the key players like Marcelo, Isco, Ramos and Benzema who holds every chance to take their team to the podium one more time in the process. Moreover, their Star Midfielder Luka Modric has recently been rewarded with the “Player of the year award” and this could very well bring that lost touch to the fate of the Los blancos in the UCL.
#2 Liverpool
Key Players: Salah, Mane, Firminho
If there’s one team which has stunned everyone in the last season with their breathtaking Football, it was Liverpool. Liverpool not only made it to the finals of the UCL last season against all odds, they have impressed everyone from Football Pundits till the fans with their Magnificent Display of Football during the whole tournament.
Moreover, team has benefitted most by getting Jurgen Klopp as their coach and he has certainly changed the fate of the team in the past few seasons. Additionally, it was their Top scorer Mo Salah who has emerged as one of the most sought after players in the wake of his last year’s performance in both EPL and UCL. This year as well, the team holds every chance to make it to the last 4 of the championship while possessing players like Salah, Mane and Firminho in their Frontline.
#1 Juventus
Key players: Ronaldo, Dybala, Bonnuci
Juventus has got a big push to their UCL dreams after the arrival of Star Player Cristiano Ronaldo in their squad and the “Old Lady” can certainly be tagged as the “Favorites” to win this year’s UCL title by a fair Distance. Ronaldo isn’t just a player, but a “Name” which has played a big role in making his former team Madrid wins the coveted title 3 times in the past 4 years with his sensational skills and goal scoring capabilities in the process.
Although Juventus have been drawn in one of the “ Group of deaths “ along with Ronaldo’s former team Manchester united, they are still expected to proceed onto the next stage without any issue and while they have other players like Dybala, Manzukic and Bonnuci to support Ronaldo in their quest to UCL title, we got every reason to put our money on the Italian giants this season to win the championship. Moreover, it would be further interesting to see Ronaldo coming back to his old home “theatre of dreams” while playing against his former club Manchester United and this could very well add some more drama to the Old Lady’s Title Campaign this season.
Also Check:
- All You Need to Know about EPL- English Premier League
- FIFA Club World Cup – History, Facts, and Upcoming Matches
- UEFA Champions League – History, Facts, and Upcoming Matches
