Are Bayern favourites for the UEFA Champions League? Can Barca go all the Way?

Now, fans are counting down for the release of Champions League final tickets with the all-important Round of 16 around the corner.
We look at key contenders for finalists, and one team to not ignore is Bayern Munich.
20/09: Bayern 4-3 Man United – Sane 28, Gnabry 32, Kane 53(p), Tel 90+2; Hojlund 49, Casemiro 88 90+5
03/10: Copenhagen 1-2 Bayern – Lerager 56; Musiala 67, Tel 83
24/10: Galatasaray 1-3 Bayern – Icardi 30(p); Coman 8, Kane 73, Musiala 79
08/11: Bayern 2-1 Galatasaray – Kane 80 86; Bakambu 90+3
29/11: Bayern 0-0 Copenhagen
12/12: Man United 0-1 Bayern – Coman 70
Bayern has once again showcased that they are heavyweights in Europe with a convincing performance in the UEFA Champions League group stage. The Germans, managed by astute manager Thomas Tuchel, were group toppers with five wins and a single draw.
With their new superstar signing Harry Kane, they look invincible. Kane is the team's top scorer in the Champions League, scoring four goals.
The group stage kicked off with a thrilling 4-3 win for Bayern against Manchester United. It was a scintillating game and a fitting start to the competition. Goals from Leroy Sane, Sergio Gnabry and Harry Kane put Bayern on top.
Bayern continued their scoring spree to win easily against FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray, with Kane playing a key role.
The only disappointment will be the goalless draw on Matchday 5 against Copenhagen.
Finally, another 1-0 win at home against Manchester United concluded their campaign.
This victory further solidified Bayern's reputation as group-stage conquerors and contenders for the Champions League title.
It also invoked a new sense of hope amongst German fans to start looking for Champions League final tickets.
Regarding the fantasy football arena, Kane is the star performer for Bayern with 41 points. With Kane comes the likes of Kingsley Coman and Joshua Kimmich, who have 32 points each.
Defensively, Bayern was a much-improved outfit this time in contrast to the earlier years, and much of the credit should go to Dayot Upamecano. This performance in the Champions League has earned him 29 points.
The campaign was not only about securing victories but also about breaking records. Bayern extended its ongoing records for most consecutive wins in the group stage.
They also have the longest unbeaten streak in the Champions League in the group stage. The side now has an unbeaten competition record of 40 group-stage matches.
They also had 17 consecutive wins before the draw with Copenhagen on matchday 5.
The blend of tactical understanding and the prowess of Harry Kane elevates them to a level where they have a complete side that gives early indications that this team can go all the Way.
The group stage journey provided a sense of belief within the squad as they looked for a successful knockout stage.
19/09: Barcelona 5-0 Antwerp – João Félix 11 66, Lewandowski 19, Bataille 22(og), Gavi 54
04/10: Porto 0-1 Barcelona – Ferran Torres 45+1
25/10: Barcelona 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk – Ferran Torres 28, López 36; Sudakov 62
07/11: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 Barcelona – Sikan 40
28/11: Barcelona 2-1 Porto – João Cancelo 32, João Félix 57; Pepê 30
13/12: Antwerp 3-2 Barcelona – Vermeeren 2, Janssen 56, Ilenikhena 90+2; Ferran Torres 35, Guiu 90+1
One of the regulars in the Champions League knockout stages, Barcelona had to face the wooden spoon on the last three occasions in the previous two seasons and failed to make it through.
This year, the household name in the UEFA Champions League is back. The Spanish giants took four wins out of the six group-stage games, returning after three years of absence.
Coach Xavi Hernandez has been rallying the team for this comeback for a while, and after winning the La Liga title last season, progress in the Champions League was coming. What differentiated Barca's campaign against the three failed ones this year was consistency and the free will to play.
Earlier, financial concerns and manager conflicts kept the side from reaching their true potential.
Home performances against Antwerp and Shakhtar displayed ebullient football, setting the tone for a group-winning endeavour. The wins against Porto, which included a bold away win, set the foundation for a successful group stage campaign.
Now Barcelona fans are also heavily invested in Champions League final tickets.
Tactical adaptability became a hallmark of Barcelona's play, with Xavi making consistent modifications due to injuries. The side was constantly challenged, but the ability to shift into a 3-4-3 combination or a 2-3-5 mix was what made the Catalan side push through to the next round.
When it came to fantasy football, the key players for the team were João Cancelo, İlkay Gündoğan, and João Félix.
Cancelo, the rejected Atletico Madrid player, now playing for Barca, has 37 points under his name for his impressive impact in both defence and offence.
The squad's ability to adapt tactically and the stellar performances of key players contributed significantly to their success in Group H.
One of the biggest achievements for Barcelona was winning all three of their home games - a first since 2017/18. On matchday 3, they joined a set of elite teams to be the third club to register 200 wins in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League.
Only Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have more wins than Barcelona.
The campaign was also historic for Barca, with Lamine Yamal becoming the youngest to start a Champions League game in just 16 years and 83 days.
As Barcelona looks ahead to the round of 16, their triumphant return to the knockout stages signals a resurgence under Xavi's guidance.
Despite the local league form, the idea that Barcelona will go all the way is likely and brings a high level of anticipation ahead of the knockout stages.