Leading 2018/19 Champions League contenders

This season’s exciting Champions League group stage has reached a pivotal point and there are plenty of top European giants still battling hard to edge closer towards achieving the greatest feat available in club football.

All of the leading contenders and key names are still very much on track for outright supremacy this current campaign but there can only be one victor who gets their hands on that world famous trophy come next year.

So, here are the main contenders for this season’s Champions League crown after such a dramatic start to proceedings in Europe’s elite club competition.

Real Madrid

Los Blancos are the reigning and defending champions, after rallying to an incredible three consecutive European Cup crowns in recent years, and they are 10/1 with bet365 in the football betting to prevail again for a fourth straight season.

That monumental success came under former boss and club legend Zinedine Zidane though, and it’s now the turn of previous Spain international coach Julen Lopetegui to help guide Real Madrid to even more glory.

They are also without all-time club top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for Juventus during the summer transfer window, but they can still call on the likes of Gareth Bale, Isco, Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos to help battle for more honours throughout the season.

Manchester City

Josep Guardiola 0525 by Thomas Rodenbücher (CC BY 2.0)

Manchester City rallied to a dominant Premier League victory last season under the guidance of Spanish tactician Pep Guardiola, who has instilled a dynamic attacking approach at the Etihad.

The European Cup still manages to elude the Sky Blues, despite their domestic dominance in England’s top-flight division.

Will this finally be their season in the Champions League? They have plenty of star-studded talent capable of going all the way, that’s for sure.

Juventus

There’s one key component that makes Juventus worth backing during this current term in the Champions League and that’s the fact that they signed arguably the greatest player ever to feature in the competition. That being the capturing of all-time Champions league hitman Ronaldo, who sensationally arrived in Turin for a huge transfer sum.

Alongside the likes of Paulo Dybala and co, the Portuguese ace has enough quality around him to win the competition for a remarkable fourth term in a row.

PSG

Can French giants PSG finally end their long wait for European glory? They have long been known for their financial power, but they want to put that to bed and become regarded for their dominance on the pitch instead.

Brazilian star Neymar is always the top dog within their squad, but they also have the biggest young talent in world football in the form of 2018 World Cup winning France frontman Kylian Mbappe. Watch this space.

Barcelona

With a certain Lionel Messi still within their glittering attacking ranks, Barcelona can simply never be written off.

The Catalan club will have an even bigger incentive to prevail outright with the current holders being bitter rivals and La Liga opponents Real Madrid. This could well prove to be Barca’s season if they continue their fine form.

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