The European soccer giants will kick off the UEFA Champions League tournament on Tuesday and begin their journey to reach the grand final at Wembley Stadium in London in June.
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This year's competition marks the final installment of the Champions League in the familiar format that fans have cherished for two decades. After the upcoming edition starting on Tuesday, UEFA is set to embark on a new path, unveiling an innovative league format system. Instead of the traditional 32 teams, a total of 36 teams will participate in Europe's top flight for the first time.
Barak Bakhar takes on the well-oiled Manchester City machine
Barak Bakhar, the Israeli coach of Red Star Belgrade, finds himself in Group G of the Champions League, set to face off against the defending champions and current favorites, Manchester City.
Bakhar masterminded Crvena Zvezda's exit from the Champions League last year while coaching Maccabi Haifa. His exceptional performance earned him a May signing in Belgrade with the goal of revolutionizing the club and implementing sweeping changes.
After initially dominating the early fixtures of the domestic league and receiving praise for his coaching style, the team has unfortunately hit a rough patch at the most inopportune time. With two losses in the last three games and expectations at an all-time high, Bakhar faces the formidable task of conjuring a magical performance against Pep Guardiola's squad at the Etihad Stadium. On the flip side, Cityzens continue their remarkable form from the previous season, maintaining their flawless record in the Premier League after five fixtures, and hoping to continue it on the opening night of the Champions League.
Group G also includes Swiss champions BSC Young Boys and RB Leipzig.
Significant transformations unfold at PSG
There has been a lot of change at PSG (Paris Saint-Germain), and they are considered one of the promising title contenders, alongside Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, as all three teams faced challenges last year but are always capable of delivering dominant performances.
PSG went through a major transformation, driven by their early exit from the Champions League in the previous season after being eliminated in the round of 16 by FC Bayern. The new coach, Luis Enrique, has the challenging task of leading the squad without superstars Neymar and Lionel Messi, who left the team.
Enrique, who previously won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona in 2014/15, prefers a possession-focused style of play. Instead of Neymar and Messi, the spotlight now falls on the all-French attackers, Kylian Mbappe and the rapid Ousmane Dembele and Randal Kolo Muani. Unfortunately, PSG has had a disappointing start to the league, most recently suffering a 3-2 defeat against Nice, and won only two of the five matches.
The French team has landed in a challenging Group F, often referred to as the "group of death." Their opponents include Newcastle, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund. The first major challenge awaits them as they go head-to-head against Dortmund on Tuesday.
Emerging talents at record-holding Real Madrid
Real Madrid, the record champions, faced disappointment last year as they had to cede the Spanish championship to their arch-rivals, Barcelona, and bowed out without a fight in the Champions League semi-finals, suffering a resounding 4-0 defeat in the second leg against Manchester City.
Carlo Ancelotti embarked on a subtle squad overhaul during the summer. The team commenced the new season without the services of Karim Benzema, who made a move to Saudi Arabia, and Marco Asensio, who joined PSG. Seasoned midfield maestros Toni Kroos and Luka Modric appeared to be on the periphery, while the spotlight now shines on the young talent Jude Bellingham.
The 20-year-old Englishman, secured for a hefty sum exceeding €100 million from Borussia Dortmund, assumes the role of a shadow striker in Ancelotti's tactical scheme. Bellingham's remarkable start saw him netting five goals in the first four league matches, as the Los Blancos have kicked off the new La Liga season with a perfect record of five wins in five games, while Bellingham, the new fan favorite secured the Player of the Month.
When questioned about Bellingham's continuous upward trajectory in Madrid and his outlook for the upcoming months, the seasoned Italian coach, Ancelotti, expressed no concerns about the young talent's path.
“He’s very focused and not someone who can lose his head. I don’t know how many goals he can score. The key is personality over quality, and that this shirt doesn’t weigh you down," the veteran Italian told the Marca.
Group C should not be a problem for the Blancos, as they are set to face Italian champions Napoli, who after the departure of Luciano Spalletti will hardly bring the same dominance on the pitch, and newcomers from Germany Union Berlin and Portuguese S.C. Braga.
Assessing Bayern Munich's position
Under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel, Bayern Munich successfully wrapped up its first pre-season and remained highly active during the summer transfer window.
The marquee signing of Harry Kane set a new record for the German champions, however, the team also faced the challenge of dealing with several significant departures. There was no suitable replacement for Benjamin Pavard, and the long-desired number 6, repeatedly requested by Tuchel, was not brought in, as a last-minute attempt to sign Fulham's Palhinha unfortunately fell through.
Their preseason preparations were also a mixed bag, conceding seven goals in five games, including a setback followed in the form of a humiliating 3-0 defeat to RB Leipzig in the DFL Supercup. However, the team swiftly bounced back. In the Bundesliga, they currently stand level on points with leaders Leverkusen, boasting three wins and one draw in their opening fixtures.
Group A with Manchester United, FC Copenhagen, and Galatasaray is perceived as an easy draw in Germany.
Other notable European giants: Barcelona, Arsenal, and Inter
Barcelona, the reigning La Liga champions, have faced disappointment in their last two attempts to advance beyond the group stage in the Champions League.
Under the leadership of Xavi Hernandez, the team is coming off an impressive 5-0 victory against Real Betis in La Liga. However, due to ongoing renovations at their regular home ground, Camp Nou, they will host the Belgian champions Royal Antwerp F.C. at the Olympic Stadium.
Antwerp is under the guidance of former Barcelona midfielder Mark van Bommel, and the Dutchman has emphasized that his team won't shy away from testing themselves. They are determined to showcase their aggressive, physical and attacking style of play.
After a lengthy seven-year hiatus, Arsenal has made its return to the UEFA Champions League. The summer transfer window saw Mikel Arteta's team bolstered in crucial positions, with the standout addition of Declan Rice providing added midfield stability for the London side.
Their Premier League campaign has also kicked off promisingly, boasting an unbeaten record in five games. On Wednesday the Gunners will play host to PSV Eindhoven as part of their Group B fixtures, which also includes French runners-up Lens and the reigning Europa League champions, Sevilla.
Last year's finalists, Inter, undoubtedly find themselves in the extended list of favorites. The Nerazzurri will face intriguing opponents in their group, including the Austrian serial champion RB Salzburg, a resurgent Benfica under the guidance of Roger Schmidt, and the traditional Basque club Real Sociedad.
Inter has carried its formidable form from the previous season, positioning the club as a top contender for the Serie A title. It has won every single one of its league matches so far. The club secured a 4-0 victory over Fiorentina and a thrashing 5-1 to AC Milan in the Milan derby. Inter will travel to Sociedad's San Sebastian for its UEFA Champions League opener on Wednesday.