5 reasons why Real Madrid will win the Champions League this season 

The best time to showcase who you are is when everyone writes you off. If you ask people about Real Madrid's chances of winning the Champions League this season, a few eyebrows will definitely be raised. Down and out, Real Madrid are not in the same vein of form as they were at the beginning of the season.

The Los Blancos currently sit 8 points below league leaders Barcelona in the points table and have suffered losses against league minnows Real Betis at home and against newly promoted Girona, playing away. Moreover, a humiliating 3-1 loss at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur in the group stages of the Champions League has meant that Zinedine Zidane hasn't had a pleasant season as the boss of the Champions League winners this time around.

But, as they have shown on numerous occasions in the past, Real Madrid are capable of turning any situation around. The International break may have come just at the right time for Zidane to figure things out. Here are the 5 factors that can take the Madrid club to the pinnacle of European football once again.

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#5 Indomitable character and quest for glory

Ramos is renowned for his late heroics

As much as football is a game of tactics and skills, individual character and team spirit have always played a crucial role in the success of any team. Real Madrid is one such team that thrives on its 'never say die' attitude and last minute heroics. No one can forget Sergio Ramos' header in the dying minutes of the 2014 Champions League Final against Atletico Madrid. Real then went on a rampage and thrashed Atletico 4-1 in extra time.

A more recent showcase of Real's tremendous character was exhibited against Juventus in the 2017 Champions League Final when they made a mockery of Juve's rock-solid defense (a defense, which had kept Barcelona's fabled MSN quiet over the 2 legs of the quarterfinals).

As a team, Real Madrid scored as many as 11 late goals around the last 10 minutes of the La Liga to earn hard-fought draws and stunning victories in the 2016-17 season. This turns out to be an extremely key stat considering how close the fight for the title went that year. Real Madrid are known to up their ante when it matters the most and their fans would be hoping for a turn around in the club's fortunes sooner rather than later.

#4 One of the best midfield set-ups in Europe

The trio has been fundamental in Madrid's recent success

Real Madrid may have a thousand problems today, but having an excellent midfield is not one of them. Real Madrid arguably have the best midfield in Europe currently (only Manchester City comes close) with the likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro all at the peak of their powers. Modric and Kroos recently made it to the FIFA FIFPro World XI, which is a testament to their abilities.

The trio are extremely adept at playing under manager Zinedine Zidane and have the ability to orchestrate strings from the midfield. From maintaining possession to launching counter-attacks, from cutting open the opponents defense with silky smooth passes to delivering devilish crosses into the box; the Real Madrid midfield has done it all. This makes them extremely unpredictable and it is only a matter of time when we see the team roaring once again.

#3 Zinedine Zidane's tactical masterclass

Zinedine Zidane has been highly successful in his stint as Real Madrid's manager

For most managers, winning one Champions League title in their career is a dream (ask Arsene Wenger!) Zidane has won the coveted title twice in his first 2 seasons as a manager. The man certainly knows something about winning trophies, doesn't he? Zidane had a similar start last time around when his team drew 4 matches on the trot in the league. However, what seemed as draws to the rival fans were actually experiments for the French genius.

Zidane clearly knew it was better to experiment with the lineups and formations early in the season rather than giving everything in the beginning and slipping out later. This gave him ample time to catch up with and overtake others at the business end of the tournament;

Zidane has also been astute in his squad rotations and developing fringe players into a second playing XI. Even this team could decimate opponents with the first team players on the bench. Real Madrid fans would surely be hoping for a similar turnaround this season.

#2 Real Madrid's bench strength

Asensio is one of the key players to have developed under Zidane.As mentioned before, the Spanish club has inevitable bench strength in its ranks.

Zidane puts special emphasis on developing his second-string players so that they can make an immediate impact whenever they're called upon the first team. While last season, the onus of rising to the occasion was on Alvaro Morata, James Rodriguez, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez, this season Zidane has shown faith in the abilities of Mateo Kovacic, Marcos Llorente, Dani Ceballos and Borja Mayoral.

With the likes of Asensio and Isco now being first team regulars and Morata and James leaving Madrid, Zidane has driven his attention towards developing the younger players. Also, the return of Gareth Bale from injury would be a boost to the chances of Real Madrid putting up another solid show in the competition.

#1 The presence of Cristiano Ronaldo

It is only a matter of time before Ronaldo gets his form backYou simply cannot write off a team that boasts of the presence of one of the finest players of the generation!

The Portuguese international is one of the greatest to have played the game and it is in these moments that great men rise up to take up the responsibility of their side. Ronaldo has had a disappointing start to the league in 2017-2018 scoring a solitary goal in 7 appearances but make no mistake, he has already found the net 6 times in 4 appearances in the Champions League over the same period.

The Madrid talisman is the leading goalscorer of the Champions League with 111 goals and it is only a matter of time when the great man gets his form back to haunt teams and defenders yet again.