UEFA Champions League
Top 15 Potential 2018-2019 UCL Winners
The 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League season gets underway next week and promises to be an unpredictable one. Here are the possible UCL winners for this season. 2015 winners FC Barcelona kick off the first round of matches versus Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven while Inter Milan make their return to the competition at the same time. The Italian club will host London’s Tottenham Hotspur in Group B’s opening match.
Other notable match ups on match-day one include a face-off between last year’s finalists Liverpool and French champions Paris Saint Germain. Additionally, current champions Real Madrid host AS Roma in exciting Group G action. Elsewhere, Roma’s rivals and champions of Italy Juventus visit Valenca CF as Cristiano Ronaldo seeks to be tournament top scorer for a record seventh time with his new club.
With so many mouthwatering contests to look forward to, one questions arises. Who will ultimately win the competition? Here are the top 15 most likely winners of club football’s biggest competition this year in order of likelihood.
15. Borussia Dortmund
The 2013 Runners Up are a shadow of the team that dazzled Europe under then coach Jurgen Klopp. Ultimately falling to Arjen Robben’s late goal in the final, only Marco Reus remains of the squad that faced Bayern Munich in Wembley that night. Mario Götze is also back with the team after several years in Munich. Additionally, Barcelona loanee Paco Alcacer was added to contribute depth in attack. American star Christian Pulisic and Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel are two other weapons that head coach Lucien Favre will rely on to make it to the knockout rounds. While anything is possible, that may be the end of the road for the Germans.
14. AS Roma
After famously eliminating Barcelona in last year’s quarter final, the ‘Giallorossi’ will be hoping to equal or surpass last season’s run in the competition. However, it seems unlikely. The Italian club should make it out of Group G with current champions Real Madrid, but not much further. It was the Spanish giants that eliminated Roma last year in the semi final when their squad was arguably stronger. The loss of Radja Nainggolan to Inter and goalkeeper Alisson Becker to Liverpool isn’t detrimental but relevant. New addition Justin Kluivert may make a difference.
13. Valencia
The Spanish club finished fourth in La Liga last year, securing a group stage position. Under coach Marcelino, Valencia play an attractive brand of attacking football. Led by Spain number 9 Rodrigo and team captain Dani Parejo, the team could surpass expectations in the tournament this year. Unfortunately, they have the difficult task of making it out of Group H with Juventus and Manchester United. If not for this obstacle, the Spaniards may have ranked higher. Despite positive additions such as Gonçalo Guedes, it may be a short story on Europe’s stage.
12. Inter Milan
The ‘Nerazzurri’ return to the Champion’s League after a six year absence and face a tough welcome back. The Italians were drawn in Group B with Spanish champions Barcelona, Dutch champions PSV and Tottenham Hotspur. While the team managed by Luciano Spalletti are capable of defeating all three, they will know there is little room for error. Club captain Mauro Icardi and fellow Argentinian Lautaro Martínez will provide a huge goal threat while new signing Nainggolan will bring balance to the midfield. Although the club may not go far, fans will be happy to take baby steps after a long absence from Europe’s elite.
11. Napoli
Like Italian neighbors Inter, Napoli has the potential to go far provided they progress to the knockout rounds. Although it will be a tough fight in Group C against Neymar’s PSG and last year’s finalists Liverpool, the Italian club is no pushover. Coach Carlo Ancelotti is the tournament’s most successful manager having made it to four finals, winning three of them. Likewise, the squad at his disposal is not only experienced, but have played together for multiple seasons. It’s veteran core of Raul Albiol, Lorenzo Insigne, Jose Callejon, Marek Hamsik and Dries Mertens are the team’s best chance of making it to the last 16 or further.
10. Tottenham
The London based club will feel they could have done better last season after being eliminated by Juventus in the last 16. With the amount of talent at head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s disposal, fans will expect results. As a matter of fact, with the addition of Lucas Moura to Spur’s forward line, they have arguably one of the best starting 11’s in Europe. World Cup Golden Boot winner and team captain Harry Kane will need to lead his squad through a tough first game away at Inter. Barring any unusual circumstances, they are favorites to progress out of the group along with FC Barcelona. Afterwards, squad depth may be an issue for Tottenham.
9. Bayern Munich
Despite being in the running to win the competition for most of the last decade, the Germans look less intimidating than the previous year for the first time. Although capable of beating any team in the competition, the Bavarians appear to be a step behind the competition’s other heavy hitters. Surprisingly, just like years before, new coach Niko Kovac’s team appears to depend on 35 year old Franck Ribery and 34 year old Arjen Robben as it’s main attacking threat. The winger pair along with strikers Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller could have eliminated eventual champions Real Madrid last year if not for poor finishing. Midfielder James Rodriguez and defender Joshua Kimmich will need to help provide creativity after the departure of Arturo Vidal.
8. Manchester United
The Red Devils could easily be lower on the list considering their rough start to the season. However, coach Jose Mourinho is ‘The Special One’ and his history in cup competition cannot be ignored. Given that United are likely to finish lower than last season’s 2nd place in England, a strong run in the UCL is possible. The club has shown small but steady improvement under Mourinho so far. Furthermore, the Portuguese will be desperate to deliver with his job on the line. Despite expressing frustration in the club’s lack of signings, the two-time UCL winner has no shortage of world class talent. Motivating striker Alexis Sanchez to find his scoring form will be step one to making it out of Group H with Juventus.
7. Atletico de Madrid
The ‘smaller’ Madrid club are now a familiar face in the late rounds of the tournament. What began as the genius of Argentinian coach Diego Simeone is now a way of life for ‘Los Colchoneros’. Atletico may even be considered favorites by some to lift the trophy this season. However, it has yet to be seen if the club’s multiple squad additions over the summer have settled in to the team’s philosophy. Whereas the club’s quality signings make them a serious contender for any and all trophies in which they compete. Many believe the current Europa League champions will experience a year of transition as a result, which means sacrificing silverware in the process. Perhaps we won’t know until the knockout rounds. After all, that is where the Madrid club will almost certainly arrive after a relatively easy Group A.
6. Liverpool
Last year’s finalists and five-time UCL winners Liverpool rode to the final on a wave of goals. The trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino tore opposition defenses to shreds. At times, ‘The Reds’ looked shaky in defense, conceding too easily. Although simply outscoring opponents worked well against Manchester City in the quarter-finals and AS Roma in the semi-finals, a prepared Real Madrid denied Liverpool the trophy in the end. Head coach Jurgen Klopp’s task this season will be to use new signings Naby Keïta and Fabinho to concede less goals. The German coach’s team is likely to progress from Group C with Paris Saint Germain. However, finding the balance between defensive grit in midfield and his attacking line is the only way to another final.
5. Barcelona
Also five time winners, Barcelona are always in the conversation for potential tournament winners. The ‘Blaugrana’ possess the squad to win any competition. Furthermore, they will be eager to win Europe’s biggest prize after seeing eternal rivals Real Madrid win the past three tournaments. The only negative for coach Ernesto Valverde is the loss of legendary midfielder Andres Iniesta to retirement. The Spanish giants have done well in the transfer market to replace Iniesta, but such transitions rarely go very smoothly. Regardless of the player’s talent. In addition to the world’s most talented player Leo Messi, Barcelona have Philippe Coutinho and new signings Arthur and Malcom to support striker Luis Suarez. If Valverde’s new men have already adapted to the team’s style and are in good form, the Catalans could lift the trophy a sixth time.
4. Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s ability to succeed in the Champion’s League is truly mysterious and equally incredible. The Spanish club has won the tournament a record thirteen times. Often to the surprise of everyone. ‘Los Blancos’ have also won four of the previous five tournaments. As a result, the question for this season is if there is any reason to think they will not win it again. There are several. Undeniably, the departure of head coach Zinedine Zidane and top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo leave a very different team to defend their title. While the starting 11 remains almost the same, new coach Julen Lopetegui has implemented a different style of play. Additionally, the absence of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo is significant. Few can deny that the Portuguese often single-handedly carried the whites in the tournament. Either way, call it destiny if Madrid lift the trophy a fourteenth time.
3. Manchester City
The current champions of England enter this season’s tournament as one of the favorites to win it all just like they were last year. The club cruised to the EPL title last season under coach Pep Guardiola and have arguably the deepest and most complete squad in Europe. In fact, the only argument against the English club conquering the UCL this year is the fact that they haven’t done so yet. To the surprise of many, Guardiola’s men fell to Liverpool in the quarterfinals last season. For the most part, their domestic success has excused their failure to succeed in the Champion’s league. However, anything other than an appearance in the final this year could be seen as failure by City’s owners and fans. After several seasons of trying, this could be the year the ‘Citizens’ fulfill their potential.
2. Paris Saint Germain
Another club considered to have under-performed in Europe recently is PSG. The French club has spent considerable money building a squad worthy of Europe’s biggest trophy. Alongside one of the top three players in the world Neymar, the Parisians have Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani and French teen sensation Kylian Mbappe. Likewise, new coach Thomas Tuchel can count on world class players at every position in midfield and defense. Of course, Tuschel is only in his first season with the Parisians, but many managers have lifted the trophy in their first year. The German coach’s squad is very familiar with one another and after several managers, many feel he will find the right formula to lift the UCL trophy. To do so, Neymar and co will have to overcome teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid who have repeatedly eliminated them in recent years.
1. Juventus
If not now, when? The Italian giants are on a mission and currently stand their best chance ever of being kings of Europe. The experienced squad under coach Massimiliano Allegri have all the pieces needed to lift the trophy. The Old Lady have come close in recent years but have been denied, seemingly always by Cristiano Ronaldo. Of course, that particular problem has been solved. The champions of Italy now possess the tournament’s top scorer for the past six years. Additionally, the squad still possesses all the factors that has contributed to it’s success in recent years. Namely, continuity of Allegri’s disciplined style of football, a healthy mix of experience and youth in the team and a solid defense led by captain Giorgio Chiellini. If not now, it may be never for this Juventus team.
Photo credit to PJB PRO via Flickr
