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Friday 29 November 2013

The big surprise in the UEFA Champions League.

It is very rare that a Champions League campaign doesn't produce a shock or a surprise in the competition. Since the famous Jose Mourinho Porto side of 2004, almost year in year out there has been a team to surprise all in the competition. Whether it be Liverpool's shock in Istanbul against AC Milan in 2005, Arsenal in 2006, Liverpool again in 2007, Chelsea in 2008. It's hard to deny that in 2009 arguably the two best teams on the planet contested the final in Rome where ultimately Lionel Messi stole the show in a memorable 2-0 victory over Manchester United. Jose Mourinho clocked up his second Champions League title in 2010 coming from nowhere to beat Louis Van Gaal's Bayern Munich side in Real Madrid's Bernabau. 2011 seen Schalke and Manuel Neuer reach the semi final's against Manchester United when the German's weren't expected to get out of the group. 2012 seen Chelsea win the Champions League finally in Munich and 2013 seen Jurgen Klopp's Dortmund side take Europe by storm. So that just leave's 2014.....Who will that be?
Atletico Madrid:

Diego Simeone's young Madrid side have been wrote off numerous times by the media in recent times. The sale of Sergio Aguero to Manchester City in 2011 brought in the Colombian Radamel Falcao whose form caught the eye of Monaco manager Claudio Ranieri who took the option to purchase his buy out clause. Now, Diego Costa has stepped up and is alongside former Madrid striker Aguero, is the most on form striker in Europe. The youth of Koke and Arda Turan have swept aside Zenit, Austria Vienna and Porto in their group to secure qualification with two games to go. With Thibaut Courtois in goal, Simeone's side have conceded less goals and continue to go from strength to strength in La Liga.

Paris Saint Germain:

The mega rich Parisian club have made strides in the Champions League in the last two years. Now twenty-five games unbeaten at home in the Champions League, Laurent Blanc's side seem to be going from strength to strength in the UEFA competition. Possible Ballon D'or candidate, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is no doubt in the form of his life alongside record signing Edinson Cavani. Captained by Thiago Silva, PSG certainly are right up there with the favourite's to win the competition. The one flaw to their game is arguably their weakness upon the counter attack and lack of pace at in their defence.

Manchester City:

Finally after the money spend, Manchester City's Champions League dream is becoming a reality. The form of Argentine striker Sergio Aguero is spearheading Pellegrini's side into the last sixteen of the competition. The former Real Madrid manager has strength in dept throughout his squad so it is little wonder why Sheikh Mansour's club are finally becoming one of Europe's elite. The failures in the past two campaign's seem a lifetime away with the form and style City are sweeping past teams in Europe. The return to fitness of skipper Vincent Kompany pay prove to be pivotal for City should they have ambitions of going all the way to Lisbon in May.

Juventus:

Antonio Conte has really transformed this damaged Juventus side into one of Europe's finest teams. The midfield of the Old Lady is arguably the best combination in Europe that consists of Paul Pogba, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio. The purchase of Carlos Tevez for a bargain €12m and free transfer of Fernando Llorente could be the key in the Turin side reclaiming the glory days of Platini. There is no doubt Juventus' solidity at the back is as good as ever, however wide of midfield is an area Juventus are certainly lacking. Reports claim they are in talks with Dnipro starlet Yevhen Konoplyanka.

There is no doubt one of these sides will make up one of the semi final places of the Champions League, and let's face it, how many people would have considered these four teams contenders for the title when the draw was made. This truly signifies the glory of the UEFA Champions League.

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