UEFA Champions League 2013: How do the teams stack up?

With the 2013 Champions League all set to kick off, there are a lot of questions on everybody’s minds. Will Bayern Munich be the first team to retain the trophy? How will David Moyes fare in his first Champions League Campaign? Those are just a few questions on everybody’s lips, but let us take an in-depth look at the five things that everybody is looking forward to.

Will the German uprising continue?

Marco Reus of Dortmund challenges Arjen Robben of Bayern Munich

Last year saw over 85,000 people turn up at Wembley to witness the first ever all German European Cup final. Bayern Munich ended up with the trophy, but not before they were presented with a stiff challenge from Borussia Dortmund. This year again, both teams look very well placed to repeat the same, or, in the case of Dortmund, go one better.

Last year, Bayern won the treble and, now, with Pep Guardiola at the helm, nothing short of lifting the trophy in Lisbon, come next May, will be considered a successful year. With the Super Cup already in the bag and in a group that doesn’t look too deadly, Bayern will be expecting to ensure safe passage pretty soon.

Having had their star stolen from them in the summer, Dortmund have spent wisely and their new signings have eased in effortlessly. They are in red hot form, with five wins out of five in the Bundesliga and will be looking to take the group by storm. That is easier said than done, with Arsenal, Napoli and Marseille in their group, which certainly merits claims that it is the “Group of Death”.