FC Barcelona: The 12 Biggest Threats to Barça's UEFA Champions League Crown

FC Barcelona are the UEFA Champions League holders, and even though nobody has won it back to back in its modern format, Barça are the early favorites to win it once again in 2011/12. But who will challenge them this season?

Truth is, it's more than likely the Blaugrana won't win the UCL again this season.

However, I will be very surprised if they don't compete right up to the semifinals or even the finals themselves.

The question still remains, though: Who are Barça's main competitors to win Europe's most prestigious trophy for this year's edition? 

12. Valencia CF

Probable Starting XI

               Diego Alves

Miguel    R.Costa  Rami    J.Alba

               Topal  T.Costa

Pablo      Banega (Canales?)   Piatti

                   Soldado

Coach: Unai Emery

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Key Player: None (for now) 

Other Important Players: No. 9 Roberto Soldado (CF, SPA), No. 19 Pablo Hernández (WF, SPA), No. 10 Éver Banega (MF, ARG)

2011/12 UCL Prediction: Round of Sixteen

Valencia had a fantastic Champions League last year.

However, they still had Juan Mata among their ranks and now that they've lost him, they'll have to find someone to drive this team through in the tough moments.

That said, Unai Emery is a fantastic coach, and I have no doubt he'll find a way to make this team win.

11. OSC Lille

Probable Starting XI

                Landreau

Debuchy  Basa  Chedjou   Béria

                   Mavuba

          Balmont        Pedretti

Hazard            Sow           Payet

Coach: Rudi García 

Formation: 4-3-3 

Key Player: No. 10 Eden Hazard (Attacking Midfielder, Belgium) 

Other Important Players: No. 8 Moussa Sow (FW, SEN), No. 7 Dimitri Payet (WF, FRA), No. 24 Rio Mavuba (DMF, FRA) 

2011/12 UCL Prediction: Round of Sixteen

Rudi Garcia's Lille are as close to Barcelona as they come these days.

At least tactically.

Truth is, level-wise they're on a whole different level than the Blaugrana, but the attacking philosophy itself can take this French team from laughingstock to a serious contender this year.

They do have Eden Hazard, after all.

10. SSC Napoli

Probable Starting XI

                De Sanctis

 Aronica   Cannavaro  Campagnaro

Maggio  Inler   Dzemaili  Dossena  

          Lavezzi      Hamsik

                  Cavani

Coach: Walter Mazzari

Formation: 3-4-2-1 

Key Player: No. 7 Edinson Cavani (Striker, Uruguay)

Other Important Players: No. 17 Marek Hamsik (AMF, SLO), No. 88 Gökhan Inler (MF, SWI), No. 22 Ezequiel Lavezzi (FW, ARG) 

2011/12 UCL Prediction: Round of Sixteen

They were just smoked five-nil in the Joan Gamper. So what?

Napoli have a very good team, and, with Cavani leading them, they will be a very tough opponent this year not only for Barcelona, but for any team they face in the UCL.

9. Borussia Dortmund

Probable Starting XI

                Wiedenfeller

Piszczek Subotic Hummels Schmelzer

           S. Bender  Gündogan

Götze          Kagawa         Grosskreutz

                   L. Barrios

Coach: Jürgen Klopp

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Key Player: No. 11 Mario Götze (Attacking Midfielder, Germany) 

Other Important Players: No. 23 Shinji Kagawa (AMF, JAP), No. 15 Mats Hummels (CB, GER), No. 19 Kevin Grosskreutz (WF, GER) 

2011/12 UCL Prediction: Round of Sixteen

Dortmund were impressive last year, winning the Bundesliga by overpowering giants like Bayern Munich.

Just like Schalke 04 had a good run last year, expect the Mario Götze-led team to be one of the best teams for 2011/12.

8. Inter Milan

Probable Starting XI

                   Julio César 

Maicon    Lucio  Rannochia   Chivu

               Cambiasso  Motta

Forlán           Sneijder       Pandev

                   Diego Milito

Coach: Gianpiero Gasperini

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Key Player: No. 10 Wesley Sneijder (Attacking Midfielder, Netherlands) 

Other Important Players: No. 22 Diego Milito (CF, ARG), No. 13 Maicon (RB, BRA), No. ? Forlán (FW, URU) 

2011/12 UCL Prediction: Round of Sixteen

Inter Milan have gotten rid of Samuel Eto'o, who is now the best-paid man in sports. 

They're just not as dangerous without the Cameroon international, and even if they sign Diego Forlán, they just will not be as good as last year.

However, they'll still be dangerous, even if they're not a contender per se.  

7. FC Porto

Probable Starting XI

                   Hélton

Fucile Rolando Otamendi Pereira

                  Fernando

          Guarín       Moutinho

Hulk             Kléber       Varela

Coach: Vítor Pereira

Formation: 4-3-3

Key Player: No. 12 Hulk (Winger, Brazil) 

Other Important Players: No. 6 Freddy Guarín (MF, COL), No. 8 Joao Moutinho (MF, POR), No. 5 Álvaro Pereira (LB, URU) 

2011/12 UCL Prediction: Quarterfinals

Some might be misled by the fact they sold Falcao to Atletico and Villas-Boas left for Chelsea.

Don't be—the men leading Porto are Hulk, Guarín and Moutinho.

And they have Brazilian striker Kleber to replace Falcao at centre-forward.

In short, they're still very dangerous. 

6. Manchester City

Probable Starting XI

                      Hart 

Richards   Lescott  Kompany   Clichy

               De Jong  Barry

A. Johnson  Yaya Touré  D. Silva

                Kun Agüero

Coach: Roberto Mancini

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Key Player: No. 16 Sergio "Kun" Agüero (Striker, Argentina) 

Other Important Players: No. 42 Yaya Touré (AMF, CIV), No. 11 Adam Johnson (WF, ENG), No. 21 David Silva (AMF, SPA) 

2011/12 UCL Prediction: Quarterfinals

Manchester City just might have the best squad in Europe.

However, having the best squad is not the same as having the best team.

They will still cause some problems for their opponents and have a good UCL nonetheless.

5. Bayern Munich

Probable Starting XI

                     Neuer 

Rafinha   Boateng  Bastuber  Lahm

      Luiz Gustavo  Schweinsteiger

Robben        Müller            Ribery

                   Gomez

Coach: Uli Hoeness

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Key Player: No. 10 Arjen Robben (Winger, Netherlands) 

Other Important Players: No. 25 Thomas Müller (AMF, GER), No. 31 Bastian Schweinsteiger (MF, GER), No. 33 Mario Gómez (CF, GER) 

2011/12 UCL Prediction: Quarterfinals

From the midfield forward, Bayern are fantastic.

In the back, they're not so good.

They got Boateng, Rafinha and Neuer this transfer window, but make no mistake, the men that run this team and that will make them succesful and dangerous are Robben, Müller and Gomez.

4. AC Milan

Probable Starting XI

                     Abbiatti

Abate     Nesta      T. Silva  Zambrotta

    Gattuso van Bommel Seedorf  

                    Boateng

                 Pato      Zlatan

Coach: Massimiliano Allegri

Formation: 4-3-1-2

Key Player: No. 11 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (FW, Sweden) 

Other Important Players: 7. Alexandre Pato (FW, BRA), No. 33 Thiago Silva (CB, BRA), No. 4 Mark van Bommel (DMF, NTH) 

2011/12 UCL Prediction: Quarterfinals

Milan are always tough to beat in Europe.

And this season they could be even tougher if Zlatan Ibrahimovic finally makes a mark in Europe.

If Pato and Robinho join him, Milan could really be a tough opponent for any team, let alone the Blaugrana.

3. Chelsea FC

Probable Starting XI

                   Cech

Bosingwa   Luiz Terry   A. Cole

                  Obi Mikel

          Ramires     Lampard

Mata         Torres       Malouda

Coach: André Villas-Boas

Formation: 4-3-3

Key Player: No. 8 Frank Lampard (MF, England) 

Other Important Players: No. 9 Fernando Torres (FW, SPA), No. 26 John Terry (CB, ENG), No. ? Juan Mata (AMF, SPA) 

2011/12 UCL Prediction: Semifinals

Villas-Boas will bring football back to Stamford Bridge. 

With Mata, Chelsea has the playmaker they've been sorely missing.

Fernando Torres, Anelka and Drogba will be very glad to have the ex-Valencia No. 10 on the pitch with them.  

I expect them to be a very strong team this season and to make a run for the UCL title.

2. Manchester United

Probable Starting XI

                   De Gea

Smalling Ferdinand Vidic   Evra

            Carrick  Cleverley

Nani                             A. Young

          Chicharito  Rooney

Coach: Sir Alex Ferguson

Formation: 4-4-2

Key Player: No. 10 Wayne Rooney (Forward, England) 

Other Important Players: No. 14 Chicharito (CF, MEX), No. 15 Nemanja Vidic (CB, SER), No. 17 Nani (WF, POR) 

2011/12 UCL Prediction: Semifinals

Last season, Manchester United was a finalist with a far worse squad.

The additions of Ashley Young, Phil Jones, David de Gea and youngsters Cleverley and Welbeck will prove to be valuable additions for the Red Devils.

They will also make Sir Alex Ferguson's pupils one of the clear favourites to win it all in Europe this season. 

1. Real Madrid

Probable Starting XI

                  Casillas

Ramos  Pepe   Carvalho    Marcelo

           Khedira  X.Alonso

Di Maria        Özil             Ronaldo

                   Benzema

Coach: José Mourinho

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Key Player:  No. 7 Cristiano Ronaldo (Forward, Portugal) 

Other Important Players: No. 10 Mesut Özil (AMF, GER), No. 1 Iker Casillas (GK, SPA), No. 9 Karim Benzema (CF, FRA) 

2011/12 UCL Prediction: Semifinals

Madrid has the best team in Europe. 

If it weren't for Barcelona, I'm sure they'd be dominating football right now and setting a dynasty of their own.

This season they seem stronger than ever, and if Coentrao and Sahin can be the signings they're expected to be, and Benzema finally realizes the potential he has within him, Los Merengues will be the team to beat in Europe.

But to do that, first they'll have to beat their rivals.

And Barcelona showed us all in the Supercopa that they still have the upper hand.

Follow Andrés Ehrli on Twitter!   @ehrli