6 of the best: Contenders to Bayern Munich's European crown

Who will challenge the European Champions Bayern Munich for the title this season?

So another season of European football’s premier competition kicked off in full last night with the opening games of the group stages.

After last year’s stunning run to the final and having strengthened again in the summer, Bayern Munich start as rightful favourites to retain the title under their new manager Pep Guardiola.

Of course, Bayern are not the only side under new stewardship since last year’s competition, with a large percentage of the clubs reaching this season’s group stages also having changed leadership. As we have seen already in the opening exchanges of the Premier League, a change at the top tends to cause some instability and this in turn could lead to one of the more open competitions for some time.

With this in mind, who looks the most likely to pose a threat to Bayern’s crown?

1. Real Madrid

After finding themselves on the wrong end of a breath-taking Borussia Dortmund performance at the semi-final stage in last season’s competition, serious questions began to be asked about Real’s ‘Galactico’ recruitment policy.

Real Madrid’s Christiano Ronaldo (C) celebrates his goal against Galatasaray with Gareth Bale (L)

Jose Mourinho strolled out the door in the direction of Stamford Bridge and the Madrid club reacted in the only way they really know how – by spending lots and lots (and lots) of money, over €150 million in all and including the world transfer record-setting capture of Gareth Bale from Tottenham.

Madrid may not have learned any lesson whatsoever, but this is Madrid. This is how Real operate and with a squad that boasts the combined talents of Isco, Modric, Di Maria, Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo to name but a few, it would surprise few people to see them still challenging towards the business end of the competition.