Can anyone stop Real Madrid in Champions League?

Carlo Ancelotti's side looks sensational

Real Madrid look unstoppable but there are one or two teams out there that can stop them, Alex Johnson has a look.

Last season Real Madrid claimed a record 10th elite European crown and many expect them to challenge for the title again this term.

Real have breezed through the group stages, winning all six of their games against Liverpool, FC Basel and Ludogorets Razgrad, and they are the only side to enjoy a 100% record in the competition this season after the first stage.

However, history is not on Los Blancos' side as no team has managed to successfully defend Europe's top prize in the Champions League era, with AC Milan the last team to do so in 1989 and 1990, and there are a number of sides who should be considered serious contenders for Champions League glory.

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Barcelona

Real's biggest rivals at home could also be their main threat in Europe. It is probably fair to say Barcelona have not been quite the same since Pep Guardiola's departure as manager, but it is hard to dismiss a team containing the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.

It remains to be seen if Luis Enrique can get the best out of the Catalan side in his first year in charge, but with the wealth of attacking talent at his disposal a fifth top European title is a realistic target this term.

Bayern Munich

Winners in 2013 after finishing as the runners-up in 2012, Bayern Munich are a team who regularly reach the latter stages of the Champions League and 2014 could well be their year.

In Guardiola they have a coach who knows how to secure silverware, and how to beat Real - the former Barca boss has lost just three times in 16 games against the Spanish side.

The German champions have the advantage of breathing space domestically, with a seven-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga table, meaning players can be rested if needed ahead of a big European night.

Bayern boast quality throughout the side starting with keeper Manuel Neuer, arguably the world's finest in his position, a rock-solid defence, a formidable midfield and an attack with Robert Lewandowski as a focal point.

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is seeking to secure the Champions League title with a third different club having won the tournament with Porto and Inter Milan.

The Blues reached the semi-finals last season and they should be confident of going even further this year following the arrivals of Diego Costa and Thibaut Courtois plus the return of Didier Drogba over the summer.

Like Bayern, Chelsea have a settled team, a top keeper and a strong spine to the side. Costa could prove the difference in Chelsea's European ambitions this term, providing the striker remains fit.

The other contenders

Real, Bayern, Barcelona and Chelsea should probably be considered the favourites but there are plenty of other sides who will fancy their chances of securing the trophy.

Atletico Madrid, last season's beaten finalists, were rarely troubled in the group stages and will be desperate to go one better this season. On paper they have a weaker team following the end of Courtois' loan stint at the Vicente Calderon and Costa's exit, but the arrival of Mario Mandzukic from Bayern seems to have been a shrewd bit of business from coach Diego Simeone, who has established a winning mentality in Los Rojiblancos' squad.

Manchester City scraped through in the final round of group fixtures after an underwhelming start to the season both at home and abroad. However, back-to-back European victories over Bayern and Roma demonstrate their credentials as legitimate challengers, but they will be hoping for a favourable last-16 draw having finished second in their group.

French champions Paris Saint-Germain should not be discounted after a strong group campaign, which included a win over Barcelona. PSG's hopes could well rely on star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but there are question marks over whether or not their defence is strong enough to cope with Europe's top attacking sides.

Borussia Dortmund have been regulars in the latter stages in recent seasons and could prove to a surprise package, of sorts, despite their domestic woes this term, while Juventus are also worth a mention, but group stage defeats to Olympiakos and Atleti hardly inspire confidence in the Italian champions.