Real Madrid clinched a record-extending 15th Champions League trophy at Wembley last season and they look good value to make it 16 in Munich next year.

They have won 15 of their 18 appearances in the final and have won six of the last 11 instalments, with their last defeat in the final of this competition coming back in 1981 against Liverpool.

Los Blancos’ storied history in this competition would have put them among my favourites for the trophy even before their business in the summer, but the transfer window has been kind to them and they head into the 2024/25 campaign with arguably the best squad in the world.

The world-class talents of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior remain instrumental to Carlo Ancelotti’s side, but the arrival of arguably the world’s best player in Kylian Mbappe could send them stratospheric.

As if that wasn’t enough, teenage sensation Endrick has also arrived in the Spanish capital and scored on his home debut against Real Valladolid.

Led by a manager who has won the Champions League a record five times with two separate teams, it would take a brave man to oppose Real Madrid.

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