The Sports Buff ⚽️ ⚾️ 🏈

Hello, good evening Sports fans, football fans the wait is over! The Champions League is making a very welcome return!

Just like every football fan, we too here at The Sports Buff, missed the lack of Champions League competition.

We were able to keep ourselves entertained as over the summer there was plenty of sport to write about. Now though, let’s shift our attention to football’s grand stage, the Champions League.

Manchester City, who won the treble last year, when they beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the final, will no doubt be the team to beat.

As is the norm at the start of the season, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are also mooted as favourites.

In the case of Barca, although they won La Liga at a canter, we think Real will be Spain’s best-performing side.

Two seasons ago Los Blancos striker Karim Benzema was the Champions League Golden Boot winner, but with him leaving at the start of this year, questions will be raised of the 14-time Champions.

If their league form is anything to go by, Don Carlo has the crew that he will be able to lead. With a midfield, that can only be dreamt of on Championship manager, Real Madrid seems to be near perfection.

Me saying that may be due to me being influenced by their La Liga form, but Real have upgraded a midfield which was already elite.

Now the Spaniards have the legs in midfield to to go with Toni Kroos’ craft and guile. Joselu who has been brought in from Espanyol, although not glamorous has shown he is capable at this level.

Think Eric Chupo-Moting. Talking of the Cameroon forward, he will again be potentially key for Bayern Munich.

The German champions who have won the last 11 titles in a row, have not been able to lay an assault in Europe the past 2/3 seasons.

After winning the title in 2020, they have gone out of the competition fairly early. The Bavarians have signed Harry Kane, who is a replacement for record goal scorer Robert Lewandoski.

On paper, Bayern have addressed and filled what was a gaping hole in their side. Write off Bayern at your own will.

Another side we mentioned Barcelona, who didn’t make is past the group stages last year, although might go further than the group stage this year, appear to be in transition.

Joao Felix has been signed and Ansu Fathi loaned out, just goes to show the change at Camp Nou, which isn’t the case this season.
The Catalan giants are having to play away from Camp Nou as their iconic ground undergoes development work.

In seasons gone by, Barcelona had Messi, Sergio Busquets or Jordi Alba for example, this year they don’t have that.

It’s going to be a tough campaign for the five-time champions. As for the English sides, it appears obvious that one can’t look past Manchester City, who are also the defending champions.

After seeing key players Riyadh Mahrez Ilkay Gundoguan leave, City have been working on replacing personnel with something close to like for like.
Despite that fact as far as the English clubs go, it looks like The Blues seem the most equipped to go the furthest in the tournament.

Six-time winners and England’s most successful in European competition, Liverpool are arguably in a period of transition so it would be hard to talk up their chances this term.

Other teams that could surprise people are the two Milan clubs. Yes, both were semi-finalists last term, but it’s widely not expected they would repeat the feat this year.

Having said that both have strengthened. The signing of Marcus Thuram by Inter Milan already looks like an eye-catching one.

So, we think Inter will be this year’s Dark Horses and Real Madrid will be the favourites for the Champions League this term.
What are your thoughts?

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