UEFA Champions League 2013/14: Expectations aplenty

Champions League is back!

It’s here at last – Champions League night! And I know that as soon as one hears these words, Tony Britten’s epic “Champions League theme” plays in their minds.

This Champions League season is special, more so than usual, because it follows what has been the best Champions League season in the last few years.

The 2012/13 edition of the marquee event played out in the most spectacular fashion, culminating in the memorable all-German final between arch-rivals Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, where Munich emerged victorious. Though, unlike most seasons, it wasn’t only about the final; a host of other matches contributed to making it a season to remember.

The undeniable romanticism that is inherent in the notion of the underdog who defies all the odds, overcomes all the barriers and thwarts his opponents to claim victory, was evident in Borussia Dortmund’s run to the final. Yet alas! They were not able to make it the perfect fairy tale, as they lost out to Munich on the final hurdle, in what was a most engrossing match.

Apart from the final, however, there were matches such as the group stage encounter between Celtic and Barcelona at Celtic Park, in which the hosts emerged shock 2-1 winners; thanks largely to an inspired performance by Victor Wanyama. The titanic clash between Bayern Munich and Barcelona was expected to be a tense affair, with the winner expected to make it through by a very tight margin; but what ensued over 180 minutes of football was anything but, as Bayern emerged 7-0 winners.

Another shocker was the Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid match – the score after 180 minutes was 4-3, but it was much easier for the Germans than the score implies; after all, they did rout Madrid 4-1 in the first leg. Others, such as the matches between Manchester United and Real Madrid, Dortmund and Málaga, Bayern and Arsenal, Spartak Moscow and Celtic were absolute crackerjacks.

Fans must be salivating over the prospects of this season, as the winds of change have been sweeping over Europe. Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, among others, have new men at the helm this season, and this will definitely add spice to the matches.