Bayern, Real Madrid favourites to win Uefa Champions League

The Uefa Champions League has reached a money-spinning stage where the men are separated from boys and real men stand out to be counted. The quarter-final stage first leg matches are slated to be played at the end of this month and each one of the eight teams left in the competition are strong enough to go all the way to get the highly prized trophy. However, basing on each team’s consistency in terms of performance from group phases, it is hard to look beyond the reigning champions Bayern Munich and Spanish giants Real Madrid. In my view, Bayern are well placed again to win the competition though Real Madrid, Paris St. Germain (PSG) and reigning Spanish champions Barcelona will provide a stun challenge. History does not favour Bayern as no team has defended the Champions League crown since AC Milan in 1990. Even Barcelona at their very best a couple of years ago couldn’t. AC Milan won the competition in the 1988/1989 season and retained the title in 1989/1990. It’s now almost 24 years with no team yet to break that record. However, based on what we have seen recently, the impossible can easily be turned into possible. For example Liverpool had not won at old Trafford for nearly 30 years but last weekend Brandon Rogers’ men walloped their long time rivals 3-0 at the ‘Theater of Dreams’—it could have been even more. Now, we have been seeing a rejuvenated Bayern Munich team that has come so close to the title so many times even before they became champions last year. Bayern reached the final in 2010 and 2012 before they eventually emerged winners in 2013. What remains to be seen is whether they can go a step further and defend their title. Apart from the change of coach and one or two players, Bayern remains the same team that won a treble last season. Coach Jupp Heyckes was replaced by Pep Guardiola but the Spaniard has showed potential to take Bayern to a whole new level as he did with Barcelona. Bayern currently lead the German Bundesliga by 23 points and they could actually win the championship this weekend with a win at Mainz. Mario Goetze and Thiago Alcantara were the two new players brought in this season. The two add more skill and flair to the already stronger Bayern squad. In addition, the four-time champions of Europe have improved in every game and I expect them to exhibit an improved game during the quarterfinals against whoever they are drawn with. Bayern seem to be slightly stronger than Real Madrid especially in the midfield and goal keeping positions. The formidable combination of Xabi Alonso and Sammy Khedira seen at Real last season has been replaced by an attack minded midfield commanded by Luka Modric. Real can score at any time but at the same time can easily concede cheap goals. Madrid possess sharp wingers in Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria and Gareth Bale but Bayern do possess skilled and quick full-backs in likes of Philip Lahm and David Alaba, who can neutralise them well. Additionally, Bayern wingers Ribery and Robben are as lethal as Real Madrid attackers. Other teams that could win the Champions League this season include PSG and Barcelona. PSG do possess very good attackers and in efense but lack the experience in the competition.