SteemSports Presenter: 
SteemSports Writer/Editor: 
Something unprecedented happened last season in the UEFA Champions League; Real Madrid defended their crown at the summit of European football’s premier competition, a feat that has not been achieved since AC Milan did it 27 years ago.
The Champions League is easily one of the most difficult sporting competitions to win as many world class clubs with seemingly inexhaustible resources, and quality goes head to head in football’s greatest club competition. Recently, teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich are often mooted as favorites to win the Coupe des Clubs Champions Europeens almost every season. However, it is hard to discount teams like Athletico Madrid, Paris Saint Germain, Juventus, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund.
The competition has in the last 27 years had 14 unique winners, winners as diverse from Red Star Belgrade to Real Madrid. And in that period only Real Madrid has won the title a whopping 6 times. That may sound very impressive but when you consider the fact that they have won three of the last four titles you realize how special the current crop of players are Real Madrid’s Squad
Merely looking at the squad Madrid has been able to build in the recent years, as a non-Real Madrid supporter, you could feel a little intimidated by the extent of talent and pedigree Real Madrid possess at every position. At almost every position Madrid possesses two or more above-average/world-class players.
This means that injuries and squad rotation do not affect Real Madrid as much as it does other clubs. They have it so good that last season when they were without arguably one of the best ever players the world has ever seen (Cristiano Ronaldo); in 11 matches they won 10 and drew only just 1 match.
Who Stands a Chance of stopping them?
No one can argue that last season’s title defense was a fluke as Madrid totally dominated all their foes last season and completely obliterated top teams like Juventus (4-1, final), Bayern Munich (6-3 agg), Athletico Madrid (4-2 agg) and Napoli (6-2) in the knockout phases. In all Madrid was unbeaten throughout the season in the Champions League.
In spite all these stats, some detractors have come to raise quite a number of arguments like the Red cards against Bayern, and missed offside calls that skewed matches in Real’s favor or Athletico Madrid’s docile approach in the first leg of their semi-final tie as reasons why Madrid found it so easy to defend their crown.
So, in analyzing who has a chance of stopping them from dominating European football for a third consecutive season these are a couple of teams that could possibly stop Madrid and reasons we think they merit the list.
FC Barcelona
Until the recent surge of wins by Madrid, Barcelona had been the most successful club in the UEFA Champions League era, they have won a whopping 5 of the past 27. It is even more impressive when you consider the fact that they have won 4 of the last 10. The Barcelona side of 2009-2013 was by far one of the finest teams of all time, even arguably better than the currently overachieving Madrid side. FC Barcelona had a home grown system and tended to completely conquer the ball and totally exclude their opponents from the happenings on the pitch. However, recently an unfortunate departure from the tenets that made them be considered more than a club, coupled with some highly questionable decisions by the board of directors has led to falling fortunes. However, for Barcelona, till date, beating Madrid in a football match has never been a problem. The odds will be slightly in favor of Barcelona if they ever go toe to toe with Madrid in the knockout phases of the UCL next season
FC Bayern Munich
Germany’s finest side can argue of been robbed by the referee in last season’s tie with Real Madrid. Since then, Bayern Munich have reinforced almost every part of their squad and are definitely a stronger side than that which was totally dismembered by Madrid last season
Juventus
Well, what can be said about them after that totally unbecoming performance in the last season final? beating Madrid is a tough argument to put forward. We know that they have the quality to beat any good team on a good day; though beating Madrid might be a different kettle of fish for them.
Athletico Madrid
They have failed to stop Madrid in their last 3 attempts in the Champions League. Can the fourth time be the charm?
Honorable mentions
Chelsea FC: Exciting things are happening to the squad at London’s sole UCL winners, it will be fun to see how their setup works against Europe’s finest sides next season.
Manchester United: Many would be surprised that I have added united, but they have a very great defense and one of the most miserly coaches when it comes to conceding goals. Mourinho is a specialist at winning when facing supremely talented squads like Madrid and Barcelona. I am not saying that United would beat Madrid, I am saying Mourinho could outfox Zidane.
With all that said, it would not be a total shock if a team like Monaco or Napoli come out of nowhere and shockingly knock out Madrid in the Round of 16 or quarter finals, it has happened in the past to seemingly invincible defending champions, and it could easily happen again. After all, that is why we love the Champions League so much.
