Five teams that could win the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League

The biggest club competition on the planet is back and football fans all over the world are getting ready to treat themselves to another spectacular league season. The UEFA Champions League is not just the best platform for a player to shine but also it is one of the most coveted trophies as well.

The defending champions Real Madrid completed a hat-trick of UCL titles by defeating Liverpool 3-1 on 27th of May. However winning a fourth consecutive title is going to be a real rat-race this time, with many rival clubs having strengthened their squads over the summer transfer window.

We take a look at the five teams that could win the UEFA Champions League this season.

1) Manchester City

Manchester City roared their way to the Premier League title last season

There is a reason why Manchester City is at the top of this list and the reason is mostly accredited to the genius of Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard was responsible for creating the 'Golden Generation' of FC Barcelona and won the Champions League twice with the Blaugrana.

Manchester City was the Premier League champion last season by quite some margin and their impressive run in the UCL was only halted by Liverpool in the quarterfinals. But they have strengthened over the summer and the starting XI looks as if they are raring to go all the way to the top.

New addition Riyad Mahrez brings in a lot more quality into the Citizen squad that has already the likes of Sergio Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva and Leroy Sane in their ranks. The return of Benjamin Mendy to the squad injects a fresh wave of vigor into the team. City looks as if they can replace any player in the starting eleven with another, almost seamlessly.

Can Guardiola's City win their first ever Champions League title and create history?

2) FC Barcelona

The Barcelona team is one of the most balanced teams in Europe right now.

The last time Barcelona won the prestigious competition was back in 2015 and since then eternal rivals Real Madrid have stamped their authority over the trophy, even though Barcelona have been quite successful domestically.

Today's Barcelona doesn't have Xavi or Iniesta in the midfield and many don't reckon it as a superpower anymore. But the Catalan club has done really good business in the transfer market and has acquired players who can bring back the golden days of Barcelona.

In Philippe Coutinho, Barcelona has a talisman who can change matches of his own. Newcomer Arthur Melo controls the midfield in the same way Xavi used to ply his trade. Malcom and Dembele have some blistering pace and Suarez still is as good as a fox in the box like he used to be.

Then there is Lionel Messi, a wounded king who has been ousted from his place as one of the three best players in the world. Leading Barcelona all the way to the trophy could restore the Argentine's claim as the best in the world.

3) Juventus

Ronaldo and Dybala could be instrumental in Juventus's charge to the title

The Old Lady of Turin has had a rich history with the Champions league but has endured a couple of heartbreaks in recent years. Juventus were runners-up in 2015 and 2017, losing out to Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively.

With five-time UCL winner Cristiano Ronaldo joining the team in the summer, Juventus finally seems set to go on a roll and steal the trophy from underneath the noses of fellow super-clubs. The team looks formidable on paper and judging by the talent Allegri's side possess, Juventus would be the team to beat this time out.

The addition of Ronaldo comes as a much-needed boost to the defending Serie A champions. This will help the likes of Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa to become better with each game. The return of Bonucci to the backline makes them even more difficult to break down. A midfield of Khedira, Matuidi, Pjanic, and Bentancur can impale opposition with ease.

Will this be their year?

4) Real Madrid

Can Real Madrid make it four Champions League trophies in four years?

Real Madrid has cemented its position as the most successful club in the history of the Champions League, having lifted the trophy on 13 occasions. They created a new entry in the history books as being the only team that has won the tournament thrice in a row.

However, the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo has taken away a lot of shine from Los Blancos and the erstwhile managerial situation always didn't sound very good. Julien Lopetegui who was the manager of the Spanish national team, was appointed as the manager of the club during the World Cup and has taken over the reigns from Zidane very smoothly.

Even without Ronaldo, Real Madrid looks really good as a footballing unit. Gareth Bale has now got the freedom to ransack defenses the way he used to do during his Tottenham days. Players like Isco and Marco Asensio add a new dimension to a team that already is blessed with world-class midfielders like Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. The purchase of Thibaut Courtois adds a lot of depth and quality to an already-star-studded side.

Can the Los Blancos do it for the fourth time in a row?

5) Paris Saint Germain

The most brutal attack in all of Europe?

How can one forget the deadly Paris Saint Germain, when it comes to calculating the odds of each team ending up as UCL winners? The rise of the Paris-based team has been nothing less than a miracle and they have channeled their money in the right way, buying standout players in the recent years.

Thomas Tuchel, who showed great attacking football at Borussia Dortmund during his two-year run, is at the club's helm and he could actually convert the team into another phenomenon with his inventive tactics.

A team with Neymar in the lineup, is already a team that is on a different level altogether. The devastating pace of Kylian Mbappe and the predatory attributes of Edinson Cavani makes PSG a real threat to any opposition. Players like Julian Draxler, Marco Veratti, Angel Di Maria and Adrien Rabiot can pile misery on any defense.

It would be really interesting to see who ends up on the top. One thing's for sure. The spectacle's coming our way.