5 teams that will be desperate to win the UCL this season

#1 Juventus

It's the UCL title or bust for the Bianconeri this season

Following its return to Serie A after the Calciopoli scandal in 2007, Juventus have been regarded as one of the model clubs in Europe.

Becoming only the second top-flight team in Italy to own its stadium, its penchant for picking up bargains in the transfer market and its shrewd wage structure meant a quick return to the European elite.

The dominance in Serie A (7 straight titles) has brought in sharper focus, its relative failures in the UCL. La Vecchia Signora has made the final twice in the last five years, losing on both occasions to the Spanish duo of Barcelona (2015) and Real Madrid (2017).

For a club with a proud and storied history, 2 UCL titles from 9 final appearances has become unacceptable. This has led to an abandonment of the club's carefully considered approach in the transfer market in favour of an all-out assault on delivering a first UCL title in 24 years.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Matthijs de Ligt have arrived for big money (and hefty wages) in the last couple of seasons. Free transfers: Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot have also been given huge salaries. Old and underperforming players like Sami Khedira, Blaise Matuidi, Douglas Costa and others remain on the wage bill with no takers looking to buy them.

This has necessitated the need to raise money by selling young players with a market value like Moises Kean, Joao Cancelo, Ricardo Orsolini, Emiliano Audero (and the desire to get rid of Paulo Dybala and Daniele Rugani).

The pressure on Juve to finally deliver the long-awaited title and its financial rewards cannot be overstated. On paper, they have the squad to take that final step in Istanbul next year. Fresh from winning the Europa League with Chelsea last season, Maurizio Sarri will be hoping to do a double of European titles.