Five teams looking to make a statement in Europe this season.
With the Champions League underway again as we enter the knockout stages of the competition, here’s a look at five teams with a point to prove in the competition this season…
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1) Manchester City
After some tame exits from the Champions League in recent years, Manchester City will be hoping to do better against the team that knocked them out all too easily last season – Barcelona. Having won the Premier League last term, City really need to stamp their authority and show their quality in this competition when up against the very best. Could this finally be their year as they take on a struggling Barca side?
2) Arsenal
Serial underachievers in the Champions League, Arsenal have been handed a generous tie against AS Monaco this season and simply must take the opportunity to go further in this competition. The Gunners have been unlucky to draw the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich in recent seasons, but are also known for choking somewhat against inferior sides.
3) Borussia Dortmund
Finalists in 2013, Borussia Dortmund have undoubtedly gone backwards majorly since then. Big names such as Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski have left the club, and they now face a surprise fight against relegation in the Bundesliga. Jurgen Klopp is renowned as one of the best managers in the game and will be hoping his players can find some freedom in this competition after a difficult domestic season. Juventus will be a tough draw, but Dortmund still have the quality to get past them and make their mark in the tournament this season.
4) Barcelona
A long way from the side that dominated the Champions League from 2008 to 2011, Barcelona could really do with making a statement in Europe this season after more criticism of their form in La Liga this term. With the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez in their ranks, surely the Catalan giants can start to show their true colours and get past a Manchester City side that tends to choke on the European stage?
5) Juventus
Once a giant of European football, Juventus have been underwhelming in this competition for a long time now, and need to start getting back to their best as they start to build an exciting new-look team. The likes of Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal are constantly linked with bigger clubs, showing how far Juve have fallen in the transfer market food chain, and these players will surely want to do their best for their current team to prove they’re deserving of all the hype.