Who are the main candidates for the title of the Champions League this year?

Last update 22 December, 2016 por Alberto Llopis

The Champions League is the most coveted trophy of football clubs, and a competition that invariably turns out to be one of the most exciting shows of the annual sports calendar. In this article we will take a look at what is likely to happen in the Champions League this year, while we remember some of the most memorable moments of the contest winners.

Are all expected to be present when the usual Champions League 2016/17 it is reduced to eight teams, and during the group stage and we have been able to attend a few brilliant performances by teams like Manchester City, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund. EL wealthy Paris Saint-Germain, also it hopes to fight for a place in the final stages, and Edinson Cavani, Angel Di Maria and Thiago Motta in their ranks, I could get to be in the right place when the end of the war arrives.

Spain has an illustrious history in the Champions League, and fame of this country in the competition has further increased during recent seasons, since the Spanish teams have won four of the last six finals (including the last three years). In fact, en 2014 y 2016 we could attend final staged exclusively by Spanish contenders among local rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid (more information Atletico in the Champions League 888sport on this blog), both end resulting in victory for Real Madrid. In fact, three Spanish clubs are among the four favorites to win the competition this season: a Barcelona that is presented as the winner by a narrow margin and two Madrid clubs occupying third and fourth positions after the German Bayern Munich. Sevilla is also being felt, especially given its current position and shape within the League.

Necessarily, there are always teams that fail to fulfill their potential in the Champions League. Arsenal have an ugly tendency to choke when it comes to major parties in Europe, and their overall success in competition depends on the way you are when the playoffs start arriving. Great teams in Serie A have not achieved remarkable performances since Inter won the League 2010, and only Juventus has been close to winning the title two seasons ago (When he was finally defeated by Barcelona). This season it's up to Naples and to revive the Italian Juventus wins in Champions League, and although the most recent historical results are not in your favor, both teams look strong at this time.

Champions League offers us some surprises every year, and if there is a team that can surprise this year is undoubtedly the English Leicester City. The "foxes" shocked the football world last season, overcoming odds 5000/1 to win the Premier League title, Claudio Ranieri and his coach does not hide that the Premier League are becoming a priority. As did last year, They have begun to bewilder betting defeating Club Brugge, to Copenhagen and Porto to reach the knockout stages for the first time in its history. It remains to be seen whether they can reach the final, but Ranieri at the helm and players like Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy available, Leicester could well knock out some of the European giants at this time.

As usual, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact path that each team will, but a look at the performances of the group stage and national leagues gives us a fair idea of ​​who will compete for the grand prize of European football at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in May. Inevitably, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski will keep shooting goals from Barcelona and Bayern Munich respectively, and pace, the power and precision of Cristiano Ronaldo ensure that Real Madrid go far. Sin embargo, en general, Juventus has a very complete team this season, and can snatch the trophy to the classic Spanish teams if the respected striker Gonzalo Higuain begins to use its arsenal.

Whatever happens, It is likely to have an exciting knockout stage.