TOP FIVE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TEAMS OF THIS CENTURY

The history of the beautiful game has seen several great teams light up European Club Football's greatest stage: The Champions League. However, there are few teams in particular that have stood out. Let's take a look at five of those teams from the current century, with each club being represented by only one team in case of multiple victories:

5. Manchester United (2007-2008)

Manchester United has reached the zenith of European football three times, the latest victory coming in 2008. Boasting a sturdy defence and capable midfield, United quickly became the team to beat as they boasted a marauding front line of Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, who was emerging as the world's best player. Filled with fast, hungry and energetic youngsters, as well as experienced players of the previous triumph in 1999, United ripped apart opposition on their road to glory, finding a way to win even during hopeless cases.

4. AC Milan (2006-2007)

Defeated by Liverpool in 2005, 'That Night in Istanbul' must have inflicted a deep scar in the minds of anyone associated with Milan. However, they stood strong and from tears came joy, as the Rossoneri lifted the trophy in 2007, which had so painfully eluded them in 2005. From the veteran Maldini to the maestro Pirlo, Milan oozed talent in every position. A resounding victory over Manchester United in the semi-finals left no doubt as to who was Europe's top team that year. With a vastly improved and dangerous Kaká leading the way, the memories of Istanbul were buried at last.

3. Barcelona (2014-2015)

The sides of 2009 and 2011, widely regarded as the greatest teams of all time, do not make the list. The team of 2015 does. Unlike the previous sides which had to ride their luck at times on the way to the final, this Barcelona needed no such thing. With a forward line of Messi, Suarez and Neymar, I need not explain myself further. Throw in a dash of midfield experience through Iniesta and Busquets and defensive solidity thanks to Pique and Dani Alves, this Barcelona team was the one to beat. 

2015 > 2009, 2011 (when it comes to the Champions League).

2. Bayern Munich (2012-2013)

Bayern in 2010 and 2012 were so close, yet so far. However in 2013, they formed one of the most dominant teams in European history. Perhaps the greatest team to have won just a single European title in a given period with the same squad, Bayern shocked the world by defeating Barcelona 7-0 in the semi-finals. With Robben and Ribery on the wings, Bayern was perhaps the first major team to depict the use of two top-quality inverted wingers on the flanks. Couple that with their sturdy defence, controlling midfield and their keeper Manuel Neuer's unique 'sweeping' talents, this Bayern team could beat any other team. Except the next one.

1. Real Madrid (2017-2018) 

Obviously. The only team to have won two consecutive titles, let alone three, since the complete revival of the competition as the Champions League, Real Madrid of 2018 are undoubtedly the greatest Champions League team of this century. Despite riding their luck a bit during the two previous campaigns in 2016 and 2017, in 2018 it was pure class and domination.

Defeating the French, Italian and German champions en route to the final, where they beat the most successful English team in Europe, Real Madrid's third consecutive title was undoubtedly the one where they stamped their authority on the competition. With the world's best players at every position, and a re-modelled Ronaldo, Real Madrid were the masters of the European game.

.....

Other brilliant teams include the Barcelona teams of 2009 and 2011, the Real Madrid side of 2014, Inter Milan in 2010 and Liverpool in 2019. The Barcelona teams rode their luck way too often in crucial stages in the competition, most notably in both their semi-finals in 2009 and 2011 against Chelsea and Real Madrid, where bad decisions favoured them. As for Real Madrid in 2014, they were a minute away from losing the final, and narrowly beat Dortmund in the last eight, despite crushing Bayern in the penultimate round. Inter is debatable, but they relied heavily on Mourinho's brilliant tactics, and as for Liverpool, they were great, but they faced teams that were a shadow of their former selves.