There’s nothing quite like the UEFA Champions League anthem that sets the football fans buzzing. The European elites battling out in what has become a perfect three-way marriage of football, fanaticism and business. 

And over the past decade, it has been the clubs from the Spanish premier league, La Liga, who have majorly dominated the yearly footballing carnival. Six out of the last 10 UCL trophies ornament the trophy cabinet of the Spanish clubs. 

Real Madrid, the most successful team in the competition, along with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid finished Top three in the La Liga 2019/20 points table to clinch promotion to this year’s UCL. 

Sevilla finished fourth on the table and also won the UEFA Europa League sealing a two-way entry in the competition. 

However, it’s not all glittery for the La Liga clubs as clear problems have emerged in their respective bases amidst the coronavirus-affected season. Here is a breakdown of their prospects in this season’s edition of the Champions League:

REAL MADRID

If you’re Real Madrid and going into the Champions League, there is only one simple goal – to win it!

However, the defending La Liga champions have found themselves in a bit of a fix this season. Their attack has looked uninspired with strikers Luka Jovic and Karim Benzema failing to find form. Even though they have won three, drawn one and lost another of their five league matches, there have been evident signs of fatigue and a monodimensional approach.

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This was the first transfer window in 40 years, where Real Madrid did not sign a single player. Although they managed to shift surplus players to free up funds, their squad depth has been hit.

Gareth Bale, who became quite the villainous figure amongst Madrid faithful, was loaned back to Tottenham Hotspurs. Fullback Sergio Reguilon too joined him at the London club on a permanent basis.  FIFA World Cup’s ‘Golden Boy’ James Rodriguez left the Madrid capital to join the blue side of Merseyside. 

However, the key to Madrid’s UCL success lies in the hands of one certain Eden Hazard. Bought for nearly 140 million pounds in 2019, the Belgian has failed to make any significant mark at the Spanish capital owing to injuries and fitness concerns. 

If he can regain his form and combine with the likes of Benzema, Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio then the ‘All Whites’ will surely be a force to reckon with.

Group B: Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Internazionale, Mönchengladbach  

FC BARCELONA

There was in this summer’s transfer window a point when every football fan across the globe reached out to the Google search box to find out what ‘burofax’ meant.

What it did mean and what it didn’t that hardly matters. But what it related to was one of the greatest transfer sagas in football history. 

Lionel Messi deciding to leave Barcelona. 

However, that failed to happen and Messi decided to stay for another year and see out his contract which ends in the summer of 2021. But what the hysteria bought to the forefront was the absolute shambolic condition of the Barcelona management. 

Sacking Ernesto Valverde after the 8-2 thumping in the hands of the eventual champions Bayern Munich in the UCL Quarterfinals, Barcelona roped in former Everton boss Ronald Koeman as their new manager. 

Ageing players like Ivan Rakitic, Arturo Vidal were let go although Barcelona swapped in 30-year-old Miralem Pjanic from Juventus in exchange of 24-year-old Arthur Melo. 

However, it was the transfer of Luis Suarez that set Messi off. Suarez, who had been a long-term servant to the club, was let go without any formal negotiation. 

The Catalan club has always been favourites going into the competition, but their recent ventures have been marred by their astonishing capability to blow off formidable leads on several occasions, whether it be “The Greek god in Rome” or “Corner taken quickly!”

But if going by Messi’s final decision, this is indeed his final season with the club, La Pulga will be looking to end it in a grandstand finish.

Group G: Juventus, Barcelona, Dynamo Kyiv, Ferencváros  

ATLETICO MADRID

If there’s one club that knows about UCL Final heartbreaks in recent years that is the Red and White outfit from Madrid.

Los Rojiblancos lost out to their city rivals in the 2013/14 and 2015/16 campaign in the ultimate stage of the competition, once in the Extra-Time and then more tragically in the penalty shoot-outs.

The Diego Simeone-managed side has always been a defensively solid unit, however, it’s been their attacking output that’s causing a few headaches.

Last season, Atleti comeback from 0-2 in the first leg against Liverpool to win the Round of 16 tie 3-2 after the second leg.

But they ended being knocked out by an inspired RB Leipzig performance in the quarters.

This summer, they have acquired gunman Luis Suarez from Barcelona. The Uruguayan could enjoy his stay at the Madrid club owing to his physical presence on the field. 

Meanwhile, their Portuguese prodigy Joao Felix failing to hit his peak has been a setback for the attacking department. That is evident from the two 0-0 draws that they have played out against promoted side Huesca and Villareal. 

Group A: Bayern, Atlético Madrid, Salzburg, Lokomotiv Moskva  

SEVILLA

What’s been Sevilla’s biggest achievement in this summer’s transfer market? Keeping hold of their centre-back duo – Diego Carlos and Jules Kounde. 

What’s been their worst setback in the transfer window? Having to let go of Real Madrid loanee Sergio Reguilon. 

Last season, Sevilla were on a high as guided by the managership of Julen Lopetegui, the club from Seville clinched the UEFA Europa League for a record sixth time, beating formidable opponents in Manchester United and Inter Milan on the way.

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Their pragmatic football and tactical approach attracted eyes and interest. 

However, it was evident that they were missing a conventional striker upfront. This summer they went for former Granada forward Carlos Fernandez to fill the gap. Although it could be argued that more clinical options should’ve been considered.

Sevilla have been a heavyweight in the Europa League, however, they failed to perform at a similar level when it comes to the top European competition. 

With tenacious Lucas Ocampos leading the line and the return of Ivan Rakitic, Sevilla and Lopetegui will be looking to change that discourse. 

Group E: Sevilla, Chelsea, Krasnodar, Rennes