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#2 FC Barcelona
For a club that was trumpeted as the standard-bearer for integrating academy players barely a decade ago, the Blaugrana have become possibly the new Los Galacticos.
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The domination of LaLiga in this time frame has not been followed by success in the Champions League with the win in 2015 its only European trophy since Pep Guardiola left in 2013.
Victory in the upcoming UCL is made more imperative by certain factors. One, it has become clear that the team is ageing quickly and that certain stalwarts are reaching the end of their time at the club. There has been a noticeable decline in the performances of players like Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, Gerald Pique amongst others.
The feeling among Cules is that the 2019/20 UCL represents the last chance for some of these players to leave on a high.
The club has been stung by arch-rivals; Real Madrid's successes in Europe in the last 5 years. While the Blaugrana have ruled the roost in Spain, Los Blancos have been lords of Europe with 4 Champions League wins in the last 6 years.
This coupled with the huge financial outlay on transfers and salaries means that Ernesto Valverde, Lionel Messi and co. need the riches of the UCL.
