Top 5 contenders for 2014/15 UEFA Champions League title

The UEFA champions league returns to captivate the football fans all around the globe as we look ahead to yet another enthralling season. The fixtures have been set and new faces enter Europes’ most prestigious tournament while some former heavyweights return to more familiar grounds. The group stages are about to commence and we are in for some mouthwatering clashes.While all the clubs have the desire to do great in this competition, a handful of the usual suspects are always stacked at the top of the tree who are favourites to lift the trophy. And for those expected names, they won’t settle for anything less than winning the coveted prize. Who are this season’s top contenders? We take a look.

#1 Atletico Madrid

They did not have the money to compete with their rich adversaries. As an obvious result, they couldnt acquire the star-studded players required in the modern daygame to win trophies. But what they did have was an unbreakable team spirit and a coach who made them believe that nothing is impossible. From a football fansperspective, Diego Simeone and his Atletico Madrid were a revelation and the undoubted winners that captivated many last season.

They contested evenly with Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga and transformed it into a three horse race, eventually managing to win it on the last day at the Camp Nou. They defied all the odds and reached the finals of the Champions League against crosstown rivals Real Madrid but came up short which was in no way demeaning to the champions of Spain. They displayed immense passion and character which was deservedly lauded and acknowledged by the footballing universe.

However, the story was similar for them in the transfer window just like every other season. Being a selling club, they had to offload two of their most decisive players Diego Costa and Filipe Luis to Chelsea in this window. Given their significant contributions, any team would have faced a downhill situation due to these departures.

But as long as Simeone is there, this club will not lie down and that statement has been already made by the champions by defeating Madrid in the two-legged Supercup and the La Liga fixture. The Rojiblancos have made a couple of notable signings upfront which includes Mario Mandzukic from Bayern Munich and Antoine Griezmann from Real Sociedad. And they have looked to be comfortable under Simeones tactics from the word go.

A strong determined outfit like Atletico can never be underestimated and they will certainly look to go all the way again this season. It is a very difficult side to breakdown and opposition have to be at their best to beat them.