Early UEFA favorites gain next round qualification

After the latest round of Champions League games, the early favorites have started emerging from the group stages. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, PSG, and Arsenal have laid down an early marker as the last round games of the group stages draw closer. For many, all the aforementioned teams stand a chance of advancing past the quarterfinal stages, if not winning, this season’s Champions league. Many feel that this is Arsenal’s season and the vital win against Ludogorets only cemented that view.

The teams which have got the fast passage to the next round are definitely better placed given that all they will be fighting for is 1st place in the next game. This mostly applies to Arsenal and PSG, who face off at the Emirates. With Unai Emery at the helm, PSG has a real shot at the European title, Arsenal has thrived under Arsene Wenger but the fruits and evidence of it have been little.

Borussia Dortmund has transformed so far under Thomas Tuchel, and they are sharper and more incisive. Atletico Madrid feel they have a score to settle given they were minutes away from clinching the title last season. Bayer Munich is just Bayern Munich, and they will feature among the favorites list always.

It seems the landscape will change this season, and many will hope that it does, after many years of domination from the domestic giants of European football. The giants obviously being the three bigwigs from Spain and Germany. Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and defending champions Real Madrid, who are undoubtedly this year’s favorites too. Other teams which haven’t booked their place early on but are also favorites include Italian giants Juventus and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.