Every four years, the world comes together to be enthralled and excited by the magic of the Football World Cup, the most watched and celebrated sporting event in the world. And while the splendour and romance of the World Cup dictates that it shall always remain the premier and definitive tournament in the football world, increasingly it's the European Champions League which is becoming the benchmark to measure true greatness, of individual players and football teams alike.
The 2014/15 Champions League kicked off previous week with its first set of group matches and straightaway on Match Day 1, we witnessed one absolutely scintillating performance, couple of footballing lessons and a significant upset. Here we take a look at the contenders who have a real shot at being crowned champions in about 8 months time, the pretenders who would do extremely well if they reached the final stages and a couple of outside bets who everyone should be wary of.
Real Madrid
After a wait of 12 long years, Real Madrid finally got their hands on the Champions League trophy last season, thereby completing their famed La Decima (10th European Cup). And then in the summer transfer window, they added World Cup Golden Ball winner James Rodriguez, World Champions Germany's midfield maestro Toni Kroos and Keylor Navas, the best goalie in La Liga for the past couple of seasons effectively strengthening, quite considerably, what was already the best side in Europe. On the flip side though, they let go of Angel Di Maria, man of the match in last year's Champions League finale and undoubtedly, their most important player of last season. Also, let go was Xabi Alonso, their midfield conductor to no less than a direct European rival, Bayern Munich. The sum total of which, in my personal opinion and also based on their first three matches in La Liga, has left Madrid a weaker squad. Di Maria, with his tireless running and incisive creativity, was the critical component in holding that midfield together last season and quite simply James Rodriguez does not offer the same qualities. Nor is Toni Kroos a like for like replacement for Alonso. However, any team having Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Benzema, Kroos and Rodriguez will score goals and goals win you football matches. If Carlo Ancelotti can find that midfield balance again, possibly by pushing Gareth Bale further back in the Di Maria role and with Ronaldo continuing his goal scoring exploits, Madrid could very possibly challenge for the title again.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich were devastatingly brilliant two seasons ago when they dismantled Barcelona 7-0 in the semis and went on to be crowned champions. However, with Pep Guardiola's arrival there was a slight change in playing style and philosophy leading to a slowing down in that well oiled Bayern machine which was ruthlessly exposed by Real Madrid in last year's semis. Having had more time to work on Guardiola's principles and with some shrewd and opportunistic strides in the transfer market, Bayern look more complete and strong this season. In Robert Lewandowski they now have not only one of the best strikers in the game but also someone, who fits Guardiola's style perfectly. Add in the shrewd signings of Xabi Alonso, Juan Bernat and Mehdi Benatia and Bayern look good bets to have a real go at the trophy again. The one concern for Bayern though is their injury list. Javi Martinez is out for the season, Holger Badstuber is injured again and question marks remain over Schweinsteiger, Ribery and Thiago's long term fitness. With key members being fit, I see them definitely making the top four at least.
Barcelona
Snuffed out by Chelsea, humiliated by Bayern and shrugged off by Atletico, it has been three years of heartbreak for Barcelona in the Champions League. This has prompted a large scale reshuffle in personnel, on and off the pitch. The Barcelona team taking the field this season will have quite a few new faces, most prominently that of Luis Suarez. Early indications suggest that new manager, Luiz Enrique, is reintroducing the fast paced pressing to go hand in hand with the tiki-taka philosophy, one which worked wonders during the Guardiola era. With Messi and Iniesta hopefully back to full fitness, Neymar having adjusted to the playing style of Barcelona and Suarez bedding in, the potential for some sumptuous play remains high. But for all the new players brought in, there's a feeling that defensive frailties remain. Jeremy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen are good defenders but they do not possess the elite level quality which a club like Barcelona should aspire for, Dani Alves is a year older and Pique is still far below the heights of 2010/11. And yet, if Luiz Enrique can get his front three to gel and play together in a fluid system, the effect could be breathtaking and they wouldn't really need defenders most of the time.
Chelsea
Most big clubs around Europe including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Bayern Munich bought a considerable number of players this summer and each of them would conclude that they did good business. Yet none of them come close to matching the transfer dealings of Chelsea. Jose Mourinho and his staff identified the problem areas and swiftly brought in players to plug those gaps emphatically. Frank Lampard was more than adequately replaced by Cesc Fabregas, Filipe Luis came in place of Ashley Cole out and Diego Costa was brought in to be the figurehead of the attack. Throw in the returning Thibaut Courtois and the January signing of Matic and this Chelsea side looks a powerful and complete team with high level quality in every area of the pitch. With serial winner Jose Mourinho at the helm, there are not many people who would bet against this Chelsea side being genuine title contenders this season.
Manchester City
Two times Premier League champions Manchester City have safely etched their name at the top levels of English football hierarchy, yet curiously have struggled to replicate any of that dominance on the European stage. And if their Match Day 1 performance is anything to go by, it looks set to continue the same way. Last season there were accusations of naivety against City, that they are not tactically and mentally ready to take on the big boys of Europe and early evidence suggests they have not yet learned. But there also seems to be a question of quality, Yaya Toure is no longer the force he once was, Joe Hart blows hot and cold and Sergio Aguero is often injured. Vincent Kompany, though, remains one of the best centre backs in the world and in Eliaquim Mangala, they now have someone with the potential to match Kompany. City's fortunes though seem to be heavily linked to Aguero's fitness. If he can remain fit and in form, they have a chance of going deep into the competition. If he breaks down, you get the feeling they may fall at the first genuine hurdle.
Borussia Dortmund
Two years ago, Jurgen Klopp and his band of merry men delighted all of us with their exhilarating football, brushing aside Real Madrid to reach the finals only to fall at the hands of arch rivals Bayern Munich. Last season was disappointing with the squad being ravaged by injuries and departures. However, the quality and breathtaking nature of their performance against Arsenal on Match Day 1 suggests that Dortmund will be a force to reckon with this time round. Jurgen Klopp's playing style of extreme pressing puts huge physical pressure on his players which has resulted in key members of his team breaking down at crucial junctures. Crucially, though, Klopp finally seems to have a team of enough quality and depth to challenge on multiple fronts, whilst not compromising on their playing style. And in Marco Reus, he possesses a player of supreme ability who would be raring to put behind the disappointment of missing the World Cup and remind everyone of his quality. Now, if he can only get Ilkay Gundogan back to his best, then I could see Dortmund surprising and overwhelming quite a few teams.
Pretenders
Arsenal remains Arsenal, perennial chokers when the big time calls and lack the quality both in attack and defence to be considered serious challengers. Paris Saint Germain have a good team but again, seem to not quite be there when it comes to a quality defence. Last season's runners up Atletico Madrid have lost two of their three most important players and while they have replaced them with good players, the feeling remains that they have suffered a dip in quality. Juventus and Liverpool don't quite look the complete teams yet to mount any serious challenge though one needs to keep an interesting eye on Roma, where Rudi Garcia seems to be putting together a pretty decent and highly motivated team. Roma will not go all the way but they could surprise a few teams, especially if Kevin Strootman comes back from his injury to regain his earlier form.
So there we have it, a brief look at the strengths and weaknesses of the teams likely to challenge for this season's Champions League trophy. My heart says Borussia Dortmund but the head doesn't quite agree. Please let me know in the comments section below, whom are you placing your hard earned money on.
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