And So It Begins

Real Madrid lifting their third successive Champions League title last season

Europe's premier club competition returns to our screens on Tuesday set against the backdrop of Real Madrid winning a third successive UEFA Champions League title, their fourth in five seasons, and the rollercoaster that was last season's quarterfinals.

Favourites were unexpectedly knocked out, first leg deficits were overturned and Liverpool became unexpected finalists.

With that in mind there will be a lot of intrigue as to how this competition could unfold as its anyone's guess as to which team has what it takes to become kings of Europe as we might be facing  the most competitive Champions League season to date.

THE CHAMPIONS CANT BE COUNTED OUT

With defending champions Real Madrid losing their x-factor with the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo the Champions League looks fair game for the rest of the field, but even without Ronaldo you can't count them out as contenders with the likes of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in their line up.

The duo have had a good Start to the new season sharing 7 goals between them in the league and Bale having assisted on two of the eleven occassions Los Blancos have found the back of the net.

Not to mention they also have European player of the year Luka Modric in their ranks as well as the creative Isco, the excellent yet underrated Casemiro and the budding talent of Marco Asensio just to name a few game changers.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Since their take over by Qatar Sports Investments, French champions Paris Saint-Germain have transformed from perennial under achievers to the most dominant force in French football.

However, on the European front, Les Persiens have underachieved having not being anywhere near winning the Champions League despite investing heavily in signing potential superstars in Lucas Moura and Javier Pastore.

They even turned to the established players with Angel Di Maria and Zlatan Ibrahimivic to no avail. This season they'll have their best chance to finally win Europe's coveted club competition by combining the wherewithal of veteran centre forward Edinson Cavani with the guile and skill of Brazilian ace Neymar and child prodigy Kylian Mbappe.

The trio have already started the Ligue 1 season on the right note scoring a combined eleven goals between them in four rounds of football. 

PSG will now be hoping that the investment in the huge money they've spent over the last two seasons will now pay off with this more complete team spearheaded by potentially the most devastating trio in football right now.

MAN CITY OR LIVERPOOL BRINGING THE TROPHY BACK HOME

An English team hasn't won the Champions League since Chelsea stunned Bayern Munich back in 2012. Liverpool have gotten closest with their finals appearance which ended in disaster by self-inflicted means on a night they needed to be at their best.

This season the Reds should start as one of the favourites having first to test their mettle against another deadly front trio when they meet PSG for their campaign opener. Given their good start to the season and how strong they look along with Manchester City present the Premier League's best chance to bring the Champions League back to England.

WHAT OF BARCELONA?

Having at one point been the best team in the world Barcelona have found the competition a little too stiff in the Champions League as the Spanish champions have time and time again been thwarted as they looked to win the trophy they covet most.

The Blaugrana were the last team to win the Champions League before Madrid began their treble of trophy wins when they had a super trio with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Having lost Neymar to PSG Barca have made a few changes to their line up this term with reinforcements in key areas. The money spent last season on Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele seems to be paying off and Barca will look to the magic of Messi and the cunning of Suarez along with their new acquisitions to claim their place as kings of Europe.

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST

Part legend, part phenomenon and all round goal machine Cristiano Ronaldo's intentions are clear for all to see. He wants to be recognised as the greatest player of all time. To do that would require something spectacular and where else would he be more spectacular than the competition he shines most in?

Ronaldo currently tops the all time goal scorers list in European club football and in the eyes of many he is the greatest ever to strap on a pair of soccer boots. With the Ronaldo v Messi debate still on going, he looks to put himself beyond doubt by making history in all sorts of ways.

Ronaldo helping Juventus to their first Champions League win since 1996 would put him level with another Real Madrid legend in Paco Gento for the most European cup victories with six.

Not to mention he'll be emulating another European football great, Clarence Seedorf, by winning the trophy with three different teams.

And most significantly of all, he would win the Champions League with three of the most iconic teams in world football and in the process  proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is out and out the GOAT (greatest of all time).