The Primera Division champion has been pitted against the English titleholder, the Eredivisie's finest and the Bundesliga powerhouse.
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REAL MADRID
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SEASON 2011-12
League: Winner Europe: Champions League semifinalist |
| Coach: Jose Mourinho Appointed: 2010 Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu Capacity: 85,454 Best Champions League performance: Winner nine times (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002) |
 THE DANGER MANCristiano Ronaldo The attacker is one of the best players in the world and enjoyed a sensational 2011-12 season. Ronaldo scored 46 goals in La Liga, helping Real Madrid to the title. He scored 10 more goals in the Champions League, including goals in the round of 16 against CSKA, in the quarterfinals against APOEL, and in the semifinal against Bayern Munich. He also impressed at Euro 2012 with three goals as Portugal reached the semifinals. |
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MAN CITY
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SEASON 2011-12
League: Champion Europe: Champions League group stage; Europa League round of 16 |
| Manager: Roberto Mancini Appointed: 2009 Stadium: Etihad Stadium Capacity: 47,805 Best Champions League performance: Third in group stage (2011-12) |
 THE DANGER MANYaya Toure Many thought leaving Barcelona was a step down for the Ivorian, but he has flourished in Manchester, becoming the roaring engine of the City machine. His relentless drive was arguably what saw his side over the line to win the Premier League last season and he already knows how to win the Champions League. City can lose Sergio Aguero and fall back on Carlos Tevez - there is no substitute for Toure. |
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Ajax
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SEASON 2011-12
League: Champion Europe: Champions League group stages, Europa League round of 32 |
| Manager: Frank de Boer Appointed: 2010 Stadium: Amsterdam ArenA Capacity: 52,960 Best Champions League performance: Winner four times (1971, 1972, 1973, 1995) |
 THE DANGER MANChristian Eriksen The Danish playmaker is regarded as one of Europe's biggest talents and has already shown what he’s capable of in the past few seasons. Eriksen is still only 20, but has already won two Eredivisie titles, as well as one KNVB Beker. The young midfielder impressed last term with a phenomenal assist in the 4-0 home win over Dinamo Zagreb. |
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Dortmund
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SEASON 2011-12
League: Champion Europe: Champions League group stage |
| Manager: Jurgen Klopp Appointed: 2008 Stadium: Signal Iduna Park Capacity: 80,720 Best Champions League performance: Winner (1996-97) |
 THE DANGER MANMario Gotze After missing much of the tail end of last season through a series of frustrating injuries, the 20-year-old is fit and raring to go. He hardly featured during Germany's Euro 2012 campaign, but has started the season well, setting up a goal in his coutnry's friendly loss to Argentina and scoring the winner against Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. Having endured last season's continental failure and missed much of the domestic double, he will be all the more eager to make his mark on the biggest stage. |
