The Champions League returns and with that, the unenviable task of dethroning a Pep Guardiola Manchester City team from their perch. It’s hard to imagine City not retaining the Champions League, but here’s some contenders who could take it off them.
ARSENAL
They’ve never won the Champions League, but Mikel Arteta’s team is not like the Arsenal of old. Taking treble winners City to the wire in the Premier League title race last season, they are one of Europe’s stand-out sides on form, who are relishing their return to club football’s elite competition.
Boasting some of football’s brightest stars and building a formidable defence, that was only bettered by Real Sociedad [2], for goals conceded in the group stage [4], Arsenal are a team to take seriously. Arteta won the FA Cup in his first season, where they beat City on the way, now is there chance to enhance their reputation from pretenders to champions in European football.
REAL MADRID
The epitome of football heritage, you can never discount Real Madrid when it comes to winning the Champions League. It’s unlikely they’ll ever repeat the astonishing 21/22 run which ended with them lifting the trophy, following the heroics of Karim Benzema in the knock-out stage. But they have a new talisman leading the way in La Liga and in the Champions League.
Jude Bellingham has seven goal contributions in five UCL games, alongside 19 goal contributions in 21 La Liga appearances. The phenomenon that has taken on the mantle left by Benzema at the Bernabeu, now has a celebration that is already famous in Madrid. With Vinicius, Fede Valverde and the ever-reliable Luka Modric in supporting cast, they will always have a chance.
Embed from Getty ImagesINTER MILAN
Simone Inzaghi’s shrewd summer business means Inter Milan have a good chance of reaching back-to-back Champions League finals. Marcus Thuram was a superb free transfer, Yann Sommer was arguably an upgrade on Andre Onana whilst making a profit and Benjamin Pavard has excelled in defence.
One of only five teams to go through the group stage unbeaten, Inter also top Serie A leaving holders Napoli in the dust. Many will forget that Milan matched City for the majority of last season’s final, so with these quality additions and experience of their run a year ago, they are contenders.
BAYERN MUNICH
The main reason Harry Kane left Tottenham Hotspur was to consistently compete for major trophies. Yet with Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen tearing up the Bundesliga script, it might be more favourable for him to target the Champions League.
Embed from Getty ImagesBayern blitzed through their group with five wins out of six, but in recent seasons have hit a wall at the quarter-finals in their quest to win European gold. Kane could be the difference maker in those tight ties against well drilled opposition, whilst Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala pose a danger to anyone they face.
