"." (CC BY-ND 2.0) by Philippe Agnifili
When Paris Saint-Germain romped to a 4-0 win at home to Barcelona in the last 16 of last season's Champions League, there was much talk about the end of the Spanish dominance in the competition. However, when the French side slumped to a 6-1 defeat in the second leg, the tone of the conversation changed again. This time, it was suggested that the collapse proved that they were not ready or did not have the winning mentality required to go all the way in Europe's elite competition.
This term, with Spain's big three looking unconvincing again, the team from Paris have once again emerged as genuine contenders for the crown. They are now 7/2 favourites in the football betting odds with a number of major bookmakers including Paddy Power. Since crumbling in the face of that iconic comeback at the Camp Nou, Unai Emery's men have won four-straight Champions League matches and scored 17 goals without reply. They are also unbeaten in their domestic league and sit four points clear of nearest rivals Monaco.
In the same period, Atletico Madrid have failed to win a single match in the competition. Barcelona have looked laboured, despite topping Group D, and were held to a 0-0 draw in Piraeus last time out. One of the most fancied sides prior to the competition, Real Madrid came away with just a point from back-to-back games with serial Euro-underachievers Tottenham Hotspur. Meanwhile, Spain's other representatives, Sevilla, were humiliated 5-1 away to Spartak Moscow back in October and currently sit second in Group E behind Liverpool.
So is the hype around the current PSG line-up justified? And what has happened to the Spanish teams?
"Neymar Jr Presentation | Press Conference" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Antoine Dellenbach
One obvious factor in the whole equation is Brazilian star Neymar. In one complicated and often bitter transfer deal, the French side were strengthened, while Barcelona lost arguably their second most influential player behind Lionel Messi. With Luis Suarez misfiring of late Neymar's absence is being felt by Barcelona and their air of invincibility has been diminished.
Over the border and after years of flirtation with the truly top-table clubs, the signing of Neymar signalled PSG's arrival among the elite and ushered in a shift in attitude across Europe. Taking one of Barcelona's key men away was big business as much as it was a big statement. The message was clear - Paris St Germain are to be taken very, very seriously.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have also had to adapt to having a new coach at the helm, with Ernesto Valverde bringing a noticeably different style of play to the Blaugrana. There is a sense that these teething problems are easing as the side enter 2018, however, and many expect them to get stronger as the season goes on.
Over in the Spanish capital, the mini-crisis that has unfolded at Real Madrid has been a little harder to explain. Some have suggested that the incredible success they have enjoyed in the last two years has made the team complacent. But it should not be forgotten that young players such as Hakimi, Vallejo, Hernandez, Mayoral, Ceballos, Llorente and Asensio have all been given a chance to shine under Zinedine Zidane this term. Perhaps in that context, their results should not be seen in such a negative light - this is the first Madrid side in many years to attempt to build for the future. What's more, Los Blancos have a proven record of coming into their own once the competition enters the knockout phase.
So, while PSG have been grabbing the headlines by crushing all before them this term (with the exception of a pair of away draws in Ligue 1), it is in the two-legged knockout stage of the competition where they still need to prove their worth, and whether they themselves truly believe they have what it takes to be European champions.
In the last five editions, they have been eliminated three times by Barcelona, twice by English sides - Manchester City and Chelsea - and they have never made it past the quarter-finals. Will this be the year that the seemingly bottomless investment of their owners finally pays off?
There is little doubt that this represents their best-ever chance. In Unai Emery they have a manager with a proven track record of success in European competition, undoubtedly a large part of the reason they employed him in the first place, and with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani around Neymar they boast one of the most potent strike forces in the world.
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