Barcelona Have Quality and Depth to Make History and Retain Champions League

Barcelona begin their quest for another Champions League in a couple of weeks at a venue where they have good memories.

In 2009, when the Catalans stopped Manchester United from becoming the first team in the modern era to retain the title in its current format, the Stadio Olimpico was the setting.

Barca now have the opportunity to go one better than the Red Devils, and they have the quality to do so.

If Luis Enrique can enjoy the luxury of having all his marquee players fit and active throughout the campaign, then who would bet against the reigning European champions doing it all over again?

The loss to Athletic Club de Bilbao in the Spanish Supercup, which denied Barca another sextuple, will have stoked the fire.

It was still burning, but complacency almost certainly played a part in Barca's downfall at the San Mames.

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While nobody at the club will have wanted to lose the doubleheader, Athletic were worthy winners, and in defeat, Enrique will have learned a little more about his side—lessons he will take into the first match against AS Roma, one of his old sides. 

Of all of the teams that were paired with Barca in the group stage, the Italians arguably present the biggest threat to their aspirations of finishing top of the group.

Roma will be keen to avoid a repeat of the horrific 1-7 defeat against Bayern Munich from last season, knowing that if Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar are in the mood, there is every chance of another nightmare.

The front three remain key to the Blaugrana's charge for glory. 

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Twenty-seven goals in last season's competition speak volumes about the trident's prowess in front of goal.

Even Real Madrid's fabled "BBC" couldn't match up to the 122 goals in all competitions.

The three have scored 87 goals between them in 2015. That's three more than the entire Real Madrid side and more than any other team in Europe's top five leagues.

Barca have had a decent attack before now and not been successful at Europe's top table, but where the Catalans win again is with their miserly defence.

Much was made of pre-season and how many goals were shipped, but it's competitive games that count, and thus far, Claudio Bravo is up to his old tricks again with no goals conceded.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen could find his cup place at threat, but if we are to assume Enrique opts for the same status quo as last season, then the German has an immediate chance to put his performance against Athletic Club to bed.

Thomas Vermaelen is beginning to emerge as the defender everyone knew he was. In Gerard Pique's absence, the Belgian has been a rock at the heart of defence alongside Javier Mascherano, giving the technical team more options when desired.

As long as he stays injury-free, there's every chance he will be more involved, especially within the group stages this season.

Sergi Roberto has finally found his niche, and although he is unlikely to usurp Dani Alves once the Brazilian is back to full fitness, his emergence in the right wing-back role has come as an added and unexpected bonus for Barca and, one might assume, for the player himself.

With a midfield of Andres Iniesta, signing of last summer Ivan Rakitic and the ever-reliable Sergio Busquets, Barca are set throughout the side.

Rafinha, Munir El Haddadi, Sandro Ramirez and others are ready to step into the breach if required, all with a season's worth of experience now behind them.

The loss of Pedro Rodriguez is a blow. As he showed against Sevilla in the European Super Cup, he can always be relied on to bag an important goal or two, but this is the standard Barca's youngsters can aspire to.

Over two legs, there isn't another squad to touch Barca's.

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Manchester City fans may have something to say about that. Their club has blown everyone out of the water with the signings of Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne, but neither has excelled in this competition thus far.

There will be a settling-in period for the latter and for Nicolas Otamendi, another summer capture, this time from Barca's top-flight rivals Valencia.

The usual suspects will be about at the business end, of course, but looking objectively at the rest of the runners and riders, there isn't much to trouble Enrique and Co. from making history.