The UEFA Champions League is one of the most coveted trophies in terms of football tournaments. When it comes to grandeur and the quality of football on display, it is almost able to rival the FIFA World Cup, and has become an annual global footballing extravaganza. There is no club in Europe which doesn't want to win the famous trophy, because of the glory and fame that comes along with it.
The last season's edition of the famous tournament was won by Real Madrid who inscribed their name in the pages of history as the only team to have won the title three times in a row. Riding on the back of some amazing performances, Los Blancos soared through the championship smoothly and won their 13th overall UCL title.
This season we are already at the last gameweek of the group stages, and a lot of potential contenders for the trophy have shown their mettle in the last few months. Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain, Barcelona, and Juventus are the traditional European heavyweights, and every single team is ready to go all out to win the title.
Manchester City could be touted as a perfect team, and Juventus could boast of its attacking firepower, but one can't easily remove Barcelona from the list of favourites. Not only because they have a rich history, but also their starting XI is one of the most composed and complete amongst all the other teams locking horns in the prestigious tournament.
Barcelona last won the UEFA Champions League back in 2014-15, a triumph sandwiched between Real Madrid's domination. The unstoppable forward trio that comprised of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar helped them coast to the trophy under the tutelage of manager Luis Enrique.
Today, the team may not be as good as it used to be, but there are many players who can definitely make an impact, and hence it is wrong to consider them outsiders in the title race.
Here are the five reasons why Barcelona will win the UCL trophy 2017-18.
#1 The greatest showman of all time - Lionel Messi
If there is a player who has proved all his doubters wrong with his amazing performances on the field, it has to be Lionel Messi. There is something magical about the player he is, not only because of his capability to hold the chains of the game in his hands, but because of his ability to always be the saviour of his team.
The diminutive Argentinean is a joy to watch each time he goes onto the field. The current captain of the Barcelona team, Messi still manages to be the decisive player for Barcelona, and even at the age of 31, there is no stopping him. After Pele dubbed Messi a single skill player recently, Messi achieved the feat of being the first player who has scored more than 10 goals in 13 consecutive seasons in LaLiga history.
He has taken up a much more important role after the departure of Andres Iniesta, and drops deeper to retrieve the ball, thereby creating more outlets to score. He has become the heartbeat of the team, and even today he hasn't stopped scoring at a brisk rate.
Lionel Messi is going to be instrumental in Barcelona's march to the title.
#2 A brute attacking forward line
Apart from possessing Messi on the right wing, Barcelona's attack has got some really good players who are football superstars in their own rights. The presence of Luis Suarez is always enough to keep opposition defenders on their toes, because one never gets to know when 'El Pistolero' can strike. He scored a hat-trick against an unsuspecting Real Madrid in the absence of injured Lionel Messi, and announced that he is still the striker one could bank upon.
Barcelona purchased Ousmane Dembele last season from Borussia Dortmund, and the 21-year old has shown flashes of his brilliance. He can drag in defenders and outfox them easily to score screamers from distance. Brazilian winger Malcom was snatched from under the nose of AS Roma in the summer transfer window, and he shows a lot of promise.
Phillipe Coutinho is the Brazilian prince of Barcelona who can win matches of his own. Munir El-Haddadi is also an exciting prospect, who can chip in vital goals as and when required, deputising for Luis Suarez.
#3 The midfield maze of Barcelona
The best thing about Barcelona over the years has always been its midfield, but the days of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta are long gone. While many expected that not many would be able to fill the void left by these two veterans, the present midfield looks solid with crisp passing, and is very much capable of turning the game on its head.
Sergio Busquets is one of the oldest surviving players in the current Barcelona team, and he has been through all the glory and bad phases of the team over the years. He is the pivot that used to sit behind Xavi and Iniesta, and even today, is the driving forced behind the team alongside Messi.
Ivan Rakitic has blossomed into a complete midfielder ever since he joined from Sevilla, and his linkup with the forward line is vital for the team to function. Arthur Melo is very much a Xavi-esque type of player, and can perform at high levels whenever required. Rafinha's versatility is a blessing to the team, and he filled in Messi's attacking role very ably when he was injured.
Arturo Vidal has no comparisons. The Chilean beast is almost impossible to shake off the ball, and he commands the midfield with his towering presence. Sergi Samper and Carlos Alena are two exciting young prospects who show real promise, and Denis Suarez is a very good player who can play in multiple positions.
#4 A resolute defense
The defensive line of Barcelona possesses a lot of quality and experience. However, it is sometimes erroneous, and a few mistakes do happen. Many fans and football pundits have questioned the efficiency of Barcelona's defense, but one should not forget that the core was the same when they won the UCL three years back.
Gerard Pique is another war veteran in the team whose towering presence forces opposition strikers to chicken out. On his day, he doesn't let anybody past him with his well timed tackles. He is Barcelona's defender-scorer just like his friend and Real Madrid player Sergio Ramos.
Samuel Umtiti has taken up the reins from Carles Puyol, and he has excelled in the role, even winning the FIFA World Cup with France last summer. Clement Lenglet, a new signing from Sevilla, is a dependable player when it comes to shutting strikers out, and Thomas Vermaelen's experience comes handy in tricky situations.
Jordi Alba is undoubtedly one of best left-backs on the planet, and his combination with Messi is a joy to behold. Sergi Roberto's capability at the right-back position or as a midfielder is very well known as well. Besides that, Nelson Semedo can also deputise in his position whenever the situation demands.
#5 The Brazilian and French enigma of Valverde
Ernesto Valverde has a very difficult choice to make, and he often gets this issue with his team selection concerning only two players. Two players who could destroy teams on their day, but their inconsistency always is a major hurdle that causes problems for the team.
When Philippe Coutinho joined Barcelona from Liverpool, he became the most expensive transfer in the club's illustrious history. He was amazing in the second half of last season, and his ability to combine with Messi and Suarez sparked a renaissance in the attacking force. One that had been missing since Neymar had left for PSG.
Fast forward to this season, the Brazilian prince hasn't been brilliant. He is one of the finest players on the planet, and no one is alien to his playmaking abilities. He could be pivotal in Barcelona's run to the trophy.
On the other hand, French starlet Ousmane Dembele, four years younger than Coutinho, is one of the most talented youngsters around, and is already challenging Coutinho for a place in the starting XI. After an injury marred start to last season, he has exploded to life this season, and he combines really well with Messi.
Both players are good in their own right, and Barcelona will need more from each one of the princes to make a strong claim for the title.