Champions League: Can Bayern Munich become just second team in history to retain the trophy?
(CNN)Only one team in Champions League history has previously won back-to-back titles.
Real Madrid's all-conquering team, led by Zinedine Zidane, won club football's biggest prize for an unprecedented three consecutive years between 2016 and 2018 -- now Bayern Munich has a realistic chance of doing the same.
Few could argue that the perennial German champion was not the best team in Europe last season and a deserving Champions League winner. Hansi Flick's side returned from the coronavirus-enforced break in unstoppable form, winning every remaining game of the season.
The most eye-catching victory in the record-breaking 23-game winning streak -- which began against Cologne back in February and ended with defeat to Hoffenheim at the end of September -- was the 8-2 humiliation of Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals.
It's also been estimated that Bayern could earn over $150 million for winning last season's tournament.
Perhaps most concerningly for Bayern's European rivals is that the Bavarian club has arguably only gotten stronger in the off-season. Despite losing midfield maestro Thiago to Liverpool and Philippe Coutinho returning to Barcelona, Bayern has bolstered its ranks with the additions of Leroy Sane from Manchester City and highly-rated Spanish youngster Marc Roca, as well as the return of winger Douglas Costa.
Bayern has a tricky but manageable group to kick off the defense of its title. Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid will likely be a contender for top spot, followed by exciting Austrian side RB Salzburg, which put in some thrilling performances in the group stages against Liverpool and Napoli last season.
Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow -- appearing in its first Champions League since 2003-04 -- completes the group.
Read:https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/19/football/champions-league-group-stage-preview-spt-intl/index.html
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