Alan Shearer has named reigning champions Real Madrid as the favourites to be crowned the cream of Europe yet again this season.
The Newcastle United legend was blown away by their performance against Manchester City, as Carlo Ancelotti's side defeated the struggling Premier League title holders 6-2 on aggregate with Kylian Mbappe scoring a hat-trick in Wednesday night's second leg at the Bernabeu.
And with City, one of the antepost favourites, now out, Shearer reckons it will be hard for anyone to stop a front three of Mbappe, Rodrgyo and Vinicius Junior.
"They’re looking very dangerous, Real Madrid, after having one or two poor results in the league games," Shearer said on The Rest Is Football podcast. "Two performances against City, both home and away, which will send a huge warning out to the rest of Europe in terms of teams that are left in.
"They know it’s their competition, they know how well they do and they excel in it and they have to win it."
Asked whether Real Madrid should be installed as the favourites, Shearer replied: "Yeah, I would put them favourites, absolutely. Definitely."
Ancelotti was without his entire first choice defence against City owing to injuries but Shearer went on to add that Jude Bellingham should consider it "a dream" to have such a dominant attack in front of him.
"It must be a dream, a treat, for those guys with the amount of chances that they create and the amount of ability that they’ve got. So Real Madrid are very, very strong and they are, without doubt, my favourites to win."
The draw for the round of 16 took place on Friday morning with Real set to face Atletico Madrid in a mouthwatering clash. Get through that, and Arsenal may stand in their way in the quarter-finals - the Gunners having been drawn against PSV in the last 16.
Liverpool finished top of the new league phase and have been handed a testing last 16 clash with Luis Enrique's new-look Paris Saint-Germain, who thrashed fellow French side Brest in their playoff.
The other remaining Premier League representative, Aston Villa, take on Club Brugge.
HForca
93
After naming the following teams as to be dominant on this phase. I rule out your expectations completely a false. No team at this stage looks inferior. warning to reigning champions. This yr can be a reverse. Juv was eleminated to a club we consider inferior in the history of champions league. Thou you haven't mentioned Barca who had tirelessly did enough with the presence of the best attack in Europe right now. Real Madrid éleminating struggling city to me I never consider them as favorite. Liverpool and Barcelone stand the position to claim the title this year. mark my words.
Deobdeklpy
73
if real madrid wins cheapion league this season l will never watch football again. Barcelona will trash them during copa del rey final and Atletico will beat them during Champion league meet.
wowadrsyz
50
simeone formation in the first leg
dacacdnsuz
8
After naming the following teams as to be dominant on this phase. I rule out your expectations completely a false. No team at this stage looks inferior. warning to reigning champions. This yr can be a reverse. Juv was eleminated to a club we consider inferior in the history of champions league. Thou you haven't mentioned Barca who had tirelessly did enough with the presence of the best attack in Europe right now. Real Madrid éleminating struggling city to me I never consider them as favorite. Liverpool and Barcelone stand the position to claim the title this year. mark my words.
you've spoken and we've heard. we understand how jealous you can be to the fact that a once struggling real Madrid is still considered the favourite ahead of your darling Barcelona