5 top teams in Europe who have incredible bench-strength

Mario Gotze sits on the bench for Bayern Munich during a Bundesliga gameBarcelona played a total of 63 matches last season – with a few of those leaking into this season – across a span of six competitions in Europe and the domestic scene. Barcelona won five of those tournaments and were finalists in the sixth. European football teams are allowed to register a maximum of 25 players in the A list followed a 13 ~ 14 more in the B list – which usually is comprised of players coming through the ranks of the parent club. For any club – even for the supergiants like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, it is a challenge to rotate your squad – both well and tactically adept to ensure victories keep coming. For this reason, it is imperative that clubs have enough 'squad players' – players who aren't first-team but good enough to make it to the list. We look at some of the teams across Europe who have some of the best benches:

#5 Arsenal

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (L), Giroud (C) and David Ospina (R) find themselves on the bench

Arsene Wenger's men have a surprisingly deep squad this season. The Gunners are third in the table level on points with second-placed Manchester City and are only two points behind leaders, Leicester City.

The Gunners have enough strength in depth but always come up short while fighting on all fronts given their injury troubles. This season – accounting the immediate arrivals of Danny Welbeck and Francis Coquelin – the club are left with only two first-team stars on the sidelines: Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere.

Arsenal could mount a serious title challenge if only they learnt to battle their injury woes. This is their first team considering all is good in their medical department:

Excellent passers and runners fill the Arsenal first-team but their bench looks like an alternate winnable starting eleven by itself. Here are some of the stars left on the sidelines:

Jack Wilshere – The English international who once was the cornerstone for Arsenal's attacks finds himself constantly on the bench with knee and ankle injuries. When fit, is an obvious threat. Can play down the middle, has an incredible burst of pace and his passing is mesmerising.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Another English international expected to carry the brunt of the national team on his shoulders in the years to come. He's got pace, control, dribbling ability and an eye for goal.

Joel Campbell – A Costa Rican international who had an incredible FIFA World Cup and has carried his strong form into the Premier League season. Also quick and links up well with midfielders around him.

Other notable mentions: Olivier Giroud, Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Debuchy and Kieran Gibbs.

#4 Paris Saint-Germain

Edinson Cavani (R) is still unable to break into the first team on a consistent basis

The Ligue 1 Champions of last season and the team that boasts of an incredible strike force of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani can safely enter this list knowing the depth the midfield possesses. Laurent Blanc has done a fantastic job at Parc des France this season – and last season – in ensuring they cruise in France while also giving equal importance to their chances in the UEFA Champions League.

The Qatar-backed French Champions spent a net total of €102.2m bringing in the likes of Angel di Maria, Layvin Kurzawa, Serge Aurier and more adding immensely to the already incredible line-up including Zlatan, Cavani, Thiago Motta, Thiago Silva amongst others.

PSG's ideal first-team starting eleven would look like this:

Now getting to their bench, as you would expect with Paris Saint-Germain, it is filled with a roster of superstars willing to break into the first team.

Marquinhos – An upcoming defender touted to replace Thiago Silva both at PSG and at Brasil in years to come. An excellent reader of the game, quick off his feet and has a crunching tackle.

Edinson Cavani – The Uruguayan who tore apart Serie A a few years ago plays second-fiddle to Zlatan; that's both shocking – considering his prowess – and understandable considering it's Zlatan.

Ezequiel Lavezzi – Another Argentine capable of destroying defenses and scoring incredible goals. Lavezzi has been reduced to a place on the bench due to the arrival of Angel di Maria but when called upon is capable of those moments of magic.

Other notable mentions: Layvin Kurzawa, Serge Aurier, Benjamin Stambouli.

#3 Manchester City

Navas (L) often finds himself on the bench for Manchester City this season

Tied with Arsenal in second, Manchester City have always had an incredibly deep squad but this season made the right additions to adequately fight in all competitions. The Citizens have their share of injury concerns but still look good enough to beat the best.

The goalscoring prowess is something everyone knows about. Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling are a joy to watch when in full flow and will dance through the best of defenses. Speaking of defenses, with the arrival of Nicolas Otamendi this season, they have an equally strong defense capable of handling the best.

Here's looking at their full-strength first-team squad:

That is pretty much the perfect squad. Good attack, good width with Sterling and de Bruyne. Silva and Aguero are amongst the best in the world as are Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany. Their bench – not quite on the same level – but better than the rest in their division:

Wilfried Bony – The big Ivorian is a tough task for the best of defenders. He's strong, holds the ball up well and can score from the tightest of angles. His heading's not bad either.

Jesus Navas – The mercurial Spaniard has been a threat for anyone for about a decade now. Raw pace and decent control but his runs off the ball are the ones that catch the eye. Simply too good for the bench – apart from his form in the past few months.

Samir Nasri – The Frenchman would be the go-to bench guy but has suffered a series of injuries this season limiting his appearances for the club. His trickery, close-control and short passes can dissect just about any tight defense.

Other notable mentions: Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Fabian Delph and Kelechi Iheanacho.

#2 Real Madrid

Isco (R) can't believe he's still on the bench for Real Madrid

The La Decima winners are this high up on this list given the midfield and defense options they possess on the bench. Putting aside Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, Real Madrid still have one of the best squads in the game.

Former manager, Rafael Benitez, did a bit of business in the summer bringing in young talent who have gone on to prove their worth in gold with incredible performances. The Royal Whites are third in La Liga behind city-rivals Atletico Madrid and arch-rivals, Barcelona.

Here is how they would line up on every other day:

That front three is enough to beat the demolish any team but their bench isn't too bad either.

Isco – The diminutive Spanish playmaker is simply too good to be on the bench. His passing is incredible, his burst is lovely and everything he does just looks so beautiful – including the goals he scores. One for the future for both Real Madrid and Spain.

Pepe – Almost considered a veteran at Real Madrid now, Pepe just signed a contract extension for the very reason he was signed: he's an incredible defender capable of chasing down the best of strikers and making well-timed tackles.

Mateo Kovacic – The young Croatian who signed in the summer is considered one of the next big things in world football. He's got great passing and in time can take over the mantle of Luka Modric at the centre of midfield. One to definitely watch out for.

Other notable mentions: Casemiro, Lucas Vasquez and Jese.

#1 Bayern Munich

Gotze: Simply too good for the bench

Pep Guardiola took an all-star juggernaut and gave it finesse. The passing is slick, the finishes are slick and the runs off the ball are perfect. Watching them play is like dining at a three-star Michelin star restaurant on the outskirts of one of France's metros: everything is perfect and where it should be.

Bayern Munich are this dominant a side only because Pep brought his love for midfield into a team that boasted of some the cleverest players in world football. Bastian Schweinsteiger might've left the side but the arrivals have more than made up.

Here's how they would usually line up without any injuries:

A nearly-perfect squad as it is, Bayern's bench is just as good. Filled with world-beaters and proven talent, the bench will make you drool:

Arjen Robben – Possibly one of the greatest ever wingers Holland and the world has seen finds himself on the bench these days given the incredible rise of Douglas Costa. Robben can run and boy can he run, he can score and when absolutely needed, can provide absolutely beautiful passes.

Franck Ribery – Another winger who the world is lucky to have witnessed. Ribery would be a regular if not for his injuries; he's extremely quick, has a low centre-of-gravity which contributes heavily to his great balance and just like Robben, can score immaculate goals – even from distance.

Mario Gotze – The World Cup winner for Germany can only find himself on the bench because really, who is going to replace in the first team? Gotze has often been used as a flase-nine because of his excellent finishing and runs of the ball. Another one for the future for both Bayern and Germany.

Other notable mentions: Kingsley Coman, Javi Martinez, Juan Bernat and Medhi Benatia.