Last season was a shock to the system for Spain. Spanish clubs had won nine of the previous ten Champions League and Europa League titles, but turned reluctant onlookers as the Premier League delivered two all-English finals. “Bitter” is how Lionel Messi described the memory of Barcelona’s fate last May, sealed by an astonishing Anfield semi-final comeback. To erase the taste, the Spanish title- holders have recruited Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong. Over in the capital, Eden Hazard heads the new faces brought in to reinvigorate Real Madrid while Atlético have seen even more ins and outs, with Portuguese teenager João Félix spearheading a new era. Spain wants that crown back.
Quiz question: who was the last player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to finish Champions League top scorer? Answer: Kaká, who racked up ten goals for AC Milan in 2006/07. Since then, 12 seasons have gone by with at least one of that pair topping the charts. “We’ve had this battle the last 15 years, which is good – he has pushed me and I’ve pushed him as well,” Ronaldo said. It’s been a privilege to witness, but at 32 and 34 respectively, how much longer is their reign going to last?
Last season was a shock to the system for Spain. Spanish clubs had won nine of the previous ten Champions League and Europa League titles, but turned reluctant onlookers as the Premier League delivered two all-English finals. “Bitter” is how Lionel Messi described the memory of Barcelona’s fate last May, sealed by an astonishing Anfield semi-final comeback. To erase the taste, the Spanish title- holders have recruited Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong. Over in the capital, Eden Hazard heads the new faces brought in to reinvigorate Real Madrid while Atlético have seen even more ins and outs, with Portuguese teenager João Félix spearheading a new era. Spain wants that crown back.
Quiz question: who was the last player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to finish Champions League top scorer? Answer: Kaká, who racked up ten goals for AC Milan in 2006/07. Since then, 12 seasons have gone by with at least one of that pair topping the charts. “We’ve had this battle the last 15 years, which is good – he has pushed me and I’ve pushed him as well,” Ronaldo said. It’s been a privilege to witness, but at 32 and 34 respectively, how much longer is their reign going to last?
After Tottenham and Ajax gave hope to underdogs everywhere by going so far last term, it will be intriguing to see if anyone emerges from the chasing pack – Dortmund, perhaps? – to push the serial winners and mainstays again. Another question to ponder is whether those clubs who have dominated their domestic leagues in recent seasons – chiefly, Bayern München, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus – can translate that success to the European stage.
It will be ten years next May that Inter won the Champions League – the last time an Italian team lifted the trophy. Not since the 1970s has Serie A gone through such a barren spell. Could this season be different? Juventus have invested in defender Matthijs de Ligt, also bringing in midfield duo Adrien Rabiot and Aaron Ramsey; Antonio Conte’s new-look Inter boasts attacking talents in Romelu Lukaku (below) and Alexis Sánchez, as well as the experience and guile of Diego Godín. Napoli, meanwhile, have a coach who knows what it takes to win this competition in Carlo Ancelotti.
Last season was a shock to the system for Spain. Spanish clubs had won nine of the previous ten Champions League and Europa League titles, but turned reluctant onlookers as the Premier League delivered two all-English finals. “Bitter” is how Lionel Messi described the memory of Barcelona’s fate last May, sealed by an astonishing Anfield semi-final comeback. To erase the taste, the Spanish title- holders have recruited Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong. Over in the capital, Eden Hazard heads the new faces brought in to reinvigorate Real Madrid while Atlético have seen even more ins and outs, with Portuguese teenager João Félix spearheading a new era. Spain wants that crown back.
Quiz question: who was the last player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to finish Champions League top scorer? Answer: Kaká, who racked up ten goals for AC Milan in 2006/07. Since then, 12 seasons have gone by with at least one of that pair topping the charts. “We’ve had this battle the last 15 years, which is good – he has pushed me and I’ve pushed him as well,” Ronaldo said. It’s been a privilege to witness, but at 32 and 34 respectively, how much longer is their reign going to last?
Last season was a shock to the system for Spain. Spanish clubs had won nine of the previous ten Champions League and Europa League titles, but turned reluctant onlookers as the Premier League delivered two all-English finals. “Bitter” is how Lionel Messi described the memory of Barcelona’s fate last May, sealed by an astonishing Anfield semi-final comeback. To erase the taste, the Spanish title- holders have recruited Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong. Over in the capital, Eden Hazard heads the new faces brought in to reinvigorate Real Madrid while Atlético have seen even more ins and outs, with Portuguese teenager João Félix spearheading a new era. Spain wants that crown back.
Quiz question: who was the last player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to finish Champions League top scorer? Answer: Kaká, who racked up ten goals for AC Milan in 2006/07. Since then, 12 seasons have gone by with at least one of that pair topping the charts. “We’ve had this battle the last 15 years, which is good – he has pushed me and I’ve pushed him as well,” Ronaldo said. It’s been a privilege to witness, but at 32 and 34 respectively, how much longer is their reign going to last?
Last season was a shock to the system for Spain. Spanish clubs had won nine of the previous ten Champions League and Europa League titles, but turned reluctant onlookers as the Premier League delivered two all-English finals. “Bitter” is how Lionel Messi described the memory of Barcelona’s fate last May, sealed by an astonishing Anfield semi-final comeback. To erase the taste, the Spanish title- holders have recruited Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong. Over in the capital, Eden Hazard heads the new faces brought in to reinvigorate Real Madrid while Atlético have seen even more ins and outs, with Portuguese teenager João Félix spearheading a new era. Spain wants that crown back.
Quiz question: who was the last player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to finish Champions League top scorer? Answer: Kaká, who racked up ten goals for AC Milan in 2006/07. Since then, 12 seasons have gone by with at least one of that pair topping the charts. “We’ve had this battle the last 15 years, which is good – he has pushed me and I’ve pushed him as well,” Ronaldo said. It’s been a privilege to witness, but at 32 and 34 respectively, how much longer is their reign going to last?
After Tottenham and Ajax gave hope to underdogs everywhere by going so far last term, it will be intriguing to see if anyone emerges from the chasing pack – Dortmund, perhaps? – to push the serial winners and mainstays again. Another question to ponder is whether those clubs who have dominated their domestic leagues in recent seasons – chiefly, Bayern München, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus – can translate that success to the European stage.
It will be ten years next May that Inter won the Champions League – the last time an Italian team lifted the trophy. Not since the 1970s has Serie A gone through such a barren spell. Could this season be different? Juventus have invested in defender Matthijs de Ligt, also bringing in midfield duo Adrien Rabiot and Aaron Ramsey; Antonio Conte’s new-look Inter boasts attacking talents in Romelu Lukaku (below) and Alexis Sánchez, as well as the experience and guile of Diego Godín. Napoli, meanwhile, have a coach who knows what it takes to win this competition in Carlo Ancelotti.
Last season was a shock to the system for Spain. Spanish clubs had won nine of the previous ten Champions League and Europa League titles, but turned reluctant onlookers as the Premier League delivered two all-English finals. “Bitter” is how Lionel Messi described the memory of Barcelona’s fate last May, sealed by an astonishing Anfield semi-final comeback. To erase the taste, the Spanish title- holders have recruited Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong. Over in the capital, Eden Hazard heads the new faces brought in to reinvigorate Real Madrid while Atlético have seen even more ins and outs, with Portuguese teenager João Félix spearheading a new era. Spain wants that crown back.
Quiz question: who was the last player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to finish Champions League top scorer? Answer: Kaká, who racked up ten goals for AC Milan in 2006/07. Since then, 12 seasons have gone by with at least one of that pair topping the charts. “We’ve had this battle the last 15 years, which is good – he has pushed me and I’ve pushed him as well,” Ronaldo said. It’s been a privilege to witness, but at 32 and 34 respectively, how much longer is their reign going to last?
