With all the summer transfer activity in Europe’s top clubs the stability at Real Madrid opens the door for a Champions League treble.
Stability is not a word you associate with Real Madrid. Despite a history littered with success and trophies they always seem a bad month away from firing their manager. This summer has been as steady and drama free as any in recent memory. Winning does that.
The club is coming off the back of a La Liga title and repeating as Champions League winner. With club legend Zinedine Zidane at the helm the Real hierarchy have been able to relax and watch the rest of Europe go crazy trying to catch them. The season is shaping up nicely for them to ‘threepeat’ in the European cup.
Barcelona have had a torrid summer. After missing out on Marco Verratti and Hector Bellerin they faced the embarrassment losing Neymar to PSG. There is, of course, still time to bring in quality replacements; Ousmane Dembele is close but they may have to wait a year for Philippe Coutinho. However it will be a tall task for Barca to overcome the Real juggernaut at home and in Europe.
Elsewhere there is nothing for Real to be nervous about. PSG are making all the noise but it has been much harder for the ‘new money’ clubs to win the Champions League than they thought it would. Chelsea are the only team to manage it. The lack of weekly competition in Ligue 1 does not help being ready to play at the level to defeat top European clubs.
The opposite is true for the English teams. There are six clubs who have a realistic shot at the title. This makes the season long and grueling. Without a winter break the English Champions League sides have struggled to make a dent in the later round in recent years.
Bayern Munich are perennial contenders but they have looked horrid in preseason. Their aging attack looking stagnant against quality opposition. They too will also need to pay more attention to the league with Dortmund and RB Leipzig eager to overtake them.
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The hardest test for Real Madrid in Europe may come from 4 miles down the road. Atletico Madrid are the team best equipped to frustrate their rivals. Perhaps they are the only thing standing in the way of another double for Los Merengues