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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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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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