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Andoni Zubizarreta: 'Barcelona can retain Champions League'

Former Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta backs the Catalan outfit to retain the Champions League title this season, and also tips Athletic Bilbao for success.

Former Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has suggested that the Catalan outfit are capable of retaining the Champions League this season.

No team in the modern era has successfully defended the European Cup, but Barca have been tipped by many to lift the trophy once again following their success last season.

Zubizarreta believes that another title is a real possibility and has also backed another of his former teams, Athletic Bilbao, to win the Europa League title.

"Barca and Athletic Bilbao can win the Champions League and Europa League. But it will be very difficult. The group stage is easy when you don't have to play it," Zubizarreta told beIN Sports.

"The Champions League is a very demanding competition. There are other competitions, travel, the knockout rounds. And there are some extraordinary teams in the Premier League, and Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain."

Zubizarreta, who represented Barcelona as a player between 1986 and 1994, was relieved of his sporting director role in January of this year.

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Marcel Desailly of AC Milan in action during a Series A match against Verona on September 2, 1996
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona55001741315
2Atletico MadridAtletico532092711
3Real Madrid532092711
4Villarreal5320118311
5AlavesAlaves631297210
6Athletic Bilbao631286210
7Celta Vigo5302131039
8Real BetisBetis52215418
9Mallorca62224408
10Rayo Vallecano52127617
11GironaGirona52128807
12Espanyol52125507
13Osasuna5212610-47
14Sevilla612358-35
15Leganes612337-45
16Real Sociedad611437-44
17Real ValladolidValladolid5113213-114
18Getafe503224-23
19Las PalmasLas Palmas5023610-42
20Valencia5014310-71


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