Champions League begins: Which clubs can challenge PSG?

PSG begins its Champions League title defense with a record in sight. Luis Enrique’s team is pursuing a third consecutive crown, something only Real Madrid has achieved in the competition’s recent era.

Thirty-five teams begin the campaign, but the field of realistic contenders is considerably smaller. Real Madrid remains the competition’s dominant club with 15 titles, and starts against Inter Milan. The match also reunites José Mourinho with the club he led to European glory in 2010.

Mourinho returned to Real Madrid this summer after a trophyless year for the Spanish club. A 1-0 defeat by Real Betis in Seville on Friday has left Madrid under pressure to produce results for its supporters, particularly after the club’s spending on players including Cucurella, Dumfries, Konaté, Bernardo Silva, Diomandé and Espí.

Barcelona has also strengthened as it seeks a return to the top of a competition that has eluded it in recent years. The club has made only two semifinal appearances since winning the tournament in 2015. Rodri is its headline signing, adding to a squad built around eight players who won the World Cup with Spain less than two months ago.

The main uncertainty concerns who will replace Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres as the team’s leading scorer. The pair scored 40 goals between them last season. Barcelona added Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Gabriel Jesus, but missed out on Julián Álvarez. Its 17 goals in the first four league matches have eased concerns for now, while the club faces Feyenoord at Camp Nou on Wednesday. Bayern Munich, another major contender, hosts Norwegian surprise package Bodo/Glimt after a quiet transfer window and the addition of Morocco’s Ismael Saibari to an attack featuring Harry Kane, Luis Díaz and Michael Olise.