Any successful line-up has strength in both defence and attack, which is aptly illustrated by the latest issue of Champions Journal. One of our cover stars is Matthijs de Ligt, the Dutch centre-back who blazed a trail as a teenager at Ajax and is now relishing the challenge at his new club Juventus. The other is Karim Benzema, the French forward who has nothing left to prove yet continues to break records and defy logic with his goalscoring exploits at Real Madrid.

The interviews don’t stop there. Carlo Ancelotti reflects on the leadership skills that have made him a serial winner of the Champions League, Dele Alli dissects his role as dressing-room DJ and Divock Origi looks back at the moment that crowned Liverpool’s final win over Tottenham last season. With in-depth features on backroom staff and sleep science, fashion chat with adidas’s Gary Aspden and a photographic exploration of Napoli’s Stadio San Paolo to enjoy too, there’s plenty to keep you busy.