UEFA Champions League: New European order or continued Ronaldo dominance?

The UEFA Champions League is back and the biggest names — except you are Eden Hazard and play for Chelsea in the Europa League — are back to deliver another season filled with drama, intrigue and, of course, excitement.

Defending champions, Real Madrid, who have won it three times on the bounce will attempt another defence of their title with more or less the same team, but without the goals of Cristiano Ronaldo who departed in search of love, while record treble-winning coach, Zinedine Zidane, stepped down when the ovation was loudest.

The Frenchman’s decision to resign took the 13-time European champions by surprise but talented former Spanish national team manager, Julien Lopetegui, has been handed the task of continuing Los Merengues’ dominance.

The modern history of the UCL is not complete without eulogising talismanic forwards, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Between them, the superstars have claimed eight UCL crowns in 11 years, with Ronaldo winning five to Messi’s three titles.

By virtue of their otherworldly performances, both players have monopolised the Ballon d’Or award for best footballer on the planet for the past 10 years, each player claiming five awards.

While both Real and Barca have dominated the UCL in the past decade due to their superstar players and a supporting cast that always delivers at the crucial stages, there is the belief that the Spanish dominance is about to come to an end.

Barcelona’s fabled midfield creators (Xavi and Iniesta) are no more, and coupled with Messi’s demeanor of a player with excess burden on his ageing 31-year-old shoulders, the Catalans are in a rebuilding phase.

Same can also be said about Real’s attack which will have a Cristiano Ronaldo-shaped hole that has not been adequately filled.

Coupled with the ageing Luka Modric, an inconsistent Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, porous defence, lack of natural wingers, and a new manager whose record at club level doesn’t strike fear in opponents, Real Madrid could be about to face the reality of the end of their continental dominance and the beginning of a new European order.

Several clubs have risen and failed to challenge this duopoly in the past decade but the time seems right, and this preview takes a look at the four sides that lead the pack of favourites for Europe’s glorious crown.

Bayern Munich

The perennial German Champions were the last team outside Spain to win the UCL title in 2013. The five-time winners have always used the UCL as the yardstick of success for their coaches, something former manager, Carlo Ancelotti, learned the hard way when he lost 3-0 to PSG last season, sealing his sack letter.

The club known as FC Hollywood have won the domestic title in the past five seasons, but their journey in Europe has not always been smooth. Since their 2013 triumph, they have suffered elimination at either quarter or semi-final stages at the hands of Spanish opposition; Real Madrid thrice, Barcelona and Atletico once each.

Last season was particularly a painful exit to the eventual winners in a tie which they dominated both legs but goalkeeping error was their undoing. Injuries, coupled with a less prolific season for strikers Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller were also major factors. The issues have already been addressed with Neuer back in goal while both Muller and Lewandowski are firing again and Arjen Robben still magical with his left foot.

Although experience flows through the team, new coach, Niko Kovac, would be expected to come to terms quickly with his illustrious environment and the 46 years old former defender understands the demands in Bavaria and is already showing that he is both a good motivator and tactically sound. He could perform another Zidane-esque European triumph.

Manchester City

The EPL champions continued their quest for domestic and continental dominance with the recruitment of former Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola, and have backed him with continuous investment in players.

It is no secret that Guardiola changed the face of football tactically at Barcelona with his tiki-taka style of play and successfully deploying the false-nine role to perfection with Lionel Messi. This brought success in the form of two UCL titles, and City’s owners want a similar outcome in Manchester.

However, it was more difficult to replicate his success in Spain at Bayern, but there is renewed optimism of impending success at City. Guardiola is in his third season in England and there has been remarkable improvement in his squad and style of play.

He won the EPL with record points and goals last season, and City improved their UCL record under him from the round of 16 to quarter-final, succumbing to a rampant Liverpool side.

There is also the thinking that Guardiola is looking towards Europe this season with the field relatively open for a potential new champion, and with Mendy and Company now fit, Sane and Sterling adding goals to their wing-wizardry and with Aguero described as “fitter” this season, City could steal in to take the UCL crown.

Juventus

Juventus now have Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks, and with him, the Turin-based club are favourites to end their losing streak in Europe.

A rather unlikely transfer, Ronaldo’s search for love was matched by the purse of the Agnelli family, owners of Juventus, who brought the transfer to reality with their eyes firmly fixed on European glory.

The story of Juventus is not complete without the seven losses in the UCL final and the punishing effect Ronaldo — who has been the highest goalscorer in the UCL for the past five seasons — has always had on the team, scoring whenever he plays against Juventus in Europe.

He also delivered the overhead kick which drew a standing ovation from Juve fans who have been in ecstatic mode since he resumed in Italy.

Although Ronaldo improves Juventus’ chances in Europe, the major asset they have had in the past few years has been coach Massimiliano Allegri.

The 51 years old is a tactically sound coach who has reached two UCL finals- 2015 and 2017- with above average players sprinkled with a few of world-class pedigree, defeating both Real and Barca respectively on the road to each final.

It is believed that if he can create the perfect formation that would allow Ronaldo flourish without affecting the team’s balance, this could be Juve’s season to erase the seven hurtful final losses.