MBAPPE IS OMINOUS FOR PRETENDERS TO THRONE

WATCHING Manchester City's humbling of Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final two seasons ago, it was easy to assume the changing of the guard at the summit of European football had finally arrived.

- Dan Kilpatrick

Pep Guardiola's side thrashed the holders 4-0 in the second leg in Manchester - one of the key results on the way to their historic treble - to suggest the combined might of the Premier League and City's Abu Dhabi ownership was ushering in a new era.

And yet, 16 months later, Real begin another Champions League campaign at home to Stuttgart tonight as the holders and favourites for a seventh crown in 12 years. The competition's format may have changed but Real's status remains the same.

Since squeaking past City on penalties in the last-eight and beating Dortmund in last season's final at Wembley, Real have lost midfield metronome Toni Kroos to retirement but added the best player in the world to their attack in Kylian Mbappe.