8. Man United
THINGS FINALLY LOOK as if they’re starting to come together for Man United with their win over Wolfsburg coupled with their surprise recent rise to the top of the Premier League. While the Red Devils remain considerable outsiders to triumph in Europe, stranger things have happened — is the current United side significantly weaker than the Porto team that won in 2004 or the Chelsea side that prevailed in 2012?
7. Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone’s men haven’t had the best of starts to the competition, as they were beaten 2-1 by Benfica last night. However, they still deserve respect on account of their impressive recent showings in the competition, particularly in 2014, when they were narrowly beaten by Real Madrid in the final.
6. Man City
Man City have struggled in Europe consistently, but recent seasons suggest they are at least improving to a degree. Moreover, in the past two campaigns, they have had the misfortune to come up against Barcelona in the early knockout stages. While the Eastlands outfit have stumbled a little of late domestically, they are still the best placed of the English sides to launch a challenge.
5. Juventus
The reigning Serie A champions have had a poor start to their campaign domestically, as they currently sit 15th in the league, however their European campaign has been flawless thus far by comparison, as they’ve picked up wins in difficult games over Man City and Sevilla.
4. PSG
Still largely the same team who knocked out Chelsea in such an impressive manner last season, PSG have been knocking on the door for a few years now and will justifiably consider themselves contenders again.
3. Real Madrid
Not everyone is so far convinced that Rafa Benitez is the man to lead Real Madrid to glory, but with an impressive array of world-class players within their ranks, the Spanish side will inevitably be among the favourites for any competition they enter.
2. Bayern Munich
In the last four seasons, Bayern Munich have reached at least the semi-finals on every occasion, so with such a phenomenal record in the competition, they have to be again considered strong contenders. Their start in Europe has done little to dispel this notion, with the Germans convincingly winning their opening two games 3-0 (Olympiacos) and 5-0 (Dinamo Zagreb) respectively.
1. Barcelona
It’s well documented how difficult it is to win back-to-back Champions League titles, but this Barca side undoubtedly has the potential to break the trend in that regard. Their forward line alone, of Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi (when fit), is unrivalled in world football, and while they haven’t entirely caught fire yet — picking up four points from two games and only narrowly beating Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night — expect the Catalans to be there or thereabouts again this year.
Picking united over Chelsea is abit bizarre, yea Chelsea are in bad form but Jose knows how to win
Yeah Chelsea actually have a chance.
Man united don’t make me laugh ….I will run down o Connell street naked if they win it
Man United don’t make you laugh? Well thanks very much Neil for sharing that. My day is complete now :-)
Yeah, Chelsea should be on that list.
Will most likely be one of the top 3.
You should put money on that. Good tip.
United? lol all trolling aside that was just a ridiculous inclusion
Once Arsenal get Giroud back I believe we’ll have the most complete squad in the whole competition
Dortmund have a better chance than United, and that’s madness because they’re in the Europa
Sean, Fossetts circus are looking for clowns. Ring them and apply.
Are you finished?
Barbara your some tulip
Seán please shut up!! Arsenal will be lucky to get out of the group!! Ye have lost to the 2 worst sides in the group already and still have to play bayern twice!! Ye won’t get any more than 6 points
David Dooley loves red thumbs up his bum
AC Milan for me
PSG have more experience now and like Bayern can put all efforts into this when coasting there league at later stages. History against barca and real maybe not always up for it means purely on odds available I’d punt on psg . the best team in competition doesnt always win. wud be surprise if they can do it though. may put them in double with arsenal for Europa.
Swap Juve with PSG I’d say. And it’s highly unlikely to be anyone outside that revised top 5 then. Man United? Eh, wha? What sort of bizarre set of circumstances would be required for that to occur in fairness!
All the clubs know that 10 points will usually get you out of the group, so this stage is a bit of a phoney war. Spring is when you can start to assess who looks likely.
I’d go with a juve barca final again