Top 5 UEFA Champions league 2017-18 favorites ahead of the quarter finals

It is still fairly early to call out a clear favorite for this year's UEFA champions league. Champions from different European nations are remaining and as always, the ties are sure to be mouth-watering.

After Real's class showing against PSG, Messi shining yet again against Chelsea and Spurs bottling yet again in their game against Juventus, we look at the top 5 best contenders along with some supporting facts. There are obviously no analytics which can properly guess the next UCL champions but here we intend to rate the contenders.

At this juncture, the teams remaining are: Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City, Juventus, Sevilla, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AS Roma.

#5 Juventus

Can Juventus do it this time?

The reigning Italian champions and current league leaders (battling it out with Napoli closely), Juventus went into the Spurs game with a deficit. Like true champions they came out of Wembly with a victory.

This again shows the mettle of this Juventus team. Being last year's runner up only adds to their credentials. Although they might not be favorites for many, Juventus can surely not be taken lightly.

Key Players: Gonzalo Higuain (19 goals- all competitions) Paulo Dybala (16 goals), Buffon (113 appearances).

Key Positives: Attacking down the middle, strong defence, good track record in the competition.

Key Negatives: Very competitive domestic league this year.

#4 Real Madrid

Will they do it...again?

The defending champions find themselves in fourth spot on the rankings and this should not be a major surprise given their current domestic record. Out of Copa Del Rey and currently sitting 15 points behind Barcelona on the La Liga table, Real Madrid and Zinedine Zidane have had a horrendous season.

However, this raises a positive aswell. Real would be looking to divert all their energy into the UEFA Champions league, knowing that winning it would salvage their whole season. Therefore, it would be no surprise if Real go through and win another UCL. A huge win against fellow favorites PSG should also be a good indicator of their potential.

Key Players: Cristiano Ronaldo (no stats required).

Key Positives: Defending champions and a team who have won the UCL more than anyone else, oozing confidence, class players (although with questionable form).

Key Negatives: Poor domestic form, extreme pressure to win this competition.

#3 Manchester City

Manchester City to "Pep" it up?

The top 3 in this ranking is filled with teams who are having a strong season, are filled with superstars and frankly there is not much to separate them. A lot would depend on the draws and how they play on that day. However, we still try to look at the small differentiating factors which could make them champions.

Manchester City have had an excessively strong season this time round. Led by Pep Guardiola, the team has lost only once in what is rated by many as the most competitive league in the world. Out of the FA cup and having almost won the EPL, Pep would have his eyes on the big prize now.

Overcoming Basel convincingly in the away leg, City lost the home leg in what City fans would say was a dead rubber ("We played our B team"). However, as the fixtures progress, City would have bigger challenges which in the past they have not been able to overcome.

One can only imagine City against Barcelona or City against Real Madrid, and City going in as the underdog. Like PSG, City may come up short and would have to prove themselves in such ties. However, if there was a City team who could win it, this certainly is it.

Key Player: Kevin De Bruyne (11 goals this season), Sergio Aguero (30 goals)

Key Positives: Excellent season, top manager, easy domestic campaign

Key Negatives: Not a strong track record in this tournament

#2 Bayern Munich

The team to beat?

Next in are the German champions. Always a force in the Bundesliga and in the UEFA Champions league, Bayern are surely one of the prime contenders for this year's trophy aswell.

They have had a strong domestic campaign, having also almost won the Bundesliga and currently in the semis of DFB Pokal, Munich would be looking for a treble yet again.

With a strong squad and a team which has rarely lost this season, Bayern have all the columns ticked. With key players coming into form, most teams would fear drawing the German champions.

However all that separates the top two teams in this ranking is the difference in the number of match winners and the number of UCL titles won in the past few years. Bayern has only won it once in the past decade and a half. Yet these are small statistics which Jupp Heynckes may not be concerned with. His biggest concern may be Lionel Messi's team, about which we talk next!

Key Players: Robert Lewandowski (29 goals this season), Manuel Neuer (best goalkeeper in the world?)

Key Positives: Strong Campaign, no domestic pressure, strong track record, in-form team

Key Negatives: None

#1 Barcelona

More of the same?

With the slightest of margins, the team which can be termed as the number one contender is certainly FC Barcelona. With a good 8 point lead in La Liga, they do not face any tough competition back home. Also, the team has match winners like Coutinho, Dembele, Rakitic and Suarez. And well, there is also Messi!

Barcelona should also not be seen as a team which may come under pressure, having won the competition three times in the last 10 years. With serial match winners, Barcelona should go into each match as firm favorites.

Key Players: Lionel Messi (again, stats not required, GOAT?)

Key Positives: Lethal strike force with a lot of creativity, pace down the wing via full-backs, strong campaign, good track record

Key Negatives: None