Which Spanish Side Are Best Placed To Challenge For The Champions League This Season?

The Champions League remains the one competition that all of the elite clubs around Europe target every season. However, the 2019-20 season ended in disappointment for all the sides from Spain. Barcelona were hammered at the quarterfinal stage by Barcelona, while Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were dumped out by Manchester City and RB Leipzig respectively. You can read more about epl predictions here, but in this article, we will assess the chances of the Spanish sides in the Champions League this season.

Barcelona

Barcelona remain the lowest-priced Spanish side in the betting to win the Champions League, but their chances will likely be affected by the atmosphere within the camp. Much of the summer was taken up with talk of Lionel Messi leaving the club, while the pressure on Ronald Koeman already means that he can ill-afford a run of bad results.

There is a clear division between the team, board and management at the club, and with the competition being so high in the Champions League that could be decisive. However, there is no doubt that the quality in the squad is there, which means that if they do pull in the same direction, then the Champions League isn’t something that is completely out of the question.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid held a stranglehold over the Champions League between 2015 and 2018, but over recent seasons they have disappointed. They were knocked out of the 2018-19 Champions League by Ajax, while Manchester City beat them last season. That means that they haven’t progressed past the round of 16 in the past two seasons.

However, Zinedine Zidane has certainly settled the ship at Real, and they could be big contenders for the top prize if the knockout draws are kind to them. There is clear quality in the squad, and the fact that their defensive record improved last season also leaves them in a strong position. Eden Hazard could be a crucial player for the club in the Champions League, but he will have to return to full fitness before he is challenging for a place in the Real team.

Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid were among the favourites to reach the final of the Champions League last season after beating Liverpool in the round of 16 stage. Atletico were brilliant on that evening at Anfield, as they showcased precisely what they are best at. They were lethal on the counter-attack and made the Reds pay for missing their chances.

However, they came unstuck in the following round against RB Leipzig, which was considered a shock result. Atletico will have a good chance of making the latter stages again this season, but they do perform better against the best teams in Europe that like to dominate the possession. The arrival of Luis Suarez from Barcelona in the summer adds a different dimension to their attack, and he has already scored three goals in four games for the club. Atletico may not win the competition, but they will be a serious player in the knockout rounds.

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