Madrid aim for consistency as Champions League returns

The Champions League is back on Tuesday, and with it the promise of more upsets, drama and high-stakes nights under Europe's brightest lights.

After Paris Saint-Germain's historic 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in May, the tournament that introduced a radical new format last season is set for its second run.

UEFA's revamped 36-team league phase, replacing the traditional eight groups, injected unpredictability into the competition. Gone were the days when Europe's elite could coast through early rounds; instead, last season giants like Real Madrid and Manchester City found themselves fighting for survival until the final fixtures.

Even so, PSG's eventual triumph showed that powerhouses still hold the edge -- though the shake-up gave mid-tier clubs a better shot at progressing.

Now the chase begins again, and attention quickly turns to whether anyone can stop PSG from defending their crown. No team has retained the trophy since Real Madrid, who famously won three straight titles between 2016 and 2018.

Madrid themselves enter this season with renewed ambition. The 15-time European champions open their campaign at home to Marseille on Tuesday (Wednesday, 1:00 am, Bangladesh time), hoping that former midfield maestro Xabi Alonso can guide them back to continental dominance.

Last season was a sobering one for Los Blancos. Carlo Ancelotti's side were thrashed 5-1 on aggregate by Arsenal in the quarterfinals, exposing flaws in both tactics and squad balance. Despite boasting a "fantastic four" attack of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham, Madrid's defence too often crumbled. Six defeats in the competition left them empty-handed while Barcelona celebrated a domestic treble.

Alonso has quickly imposed order since his arrival in the summer, alongside €170 million worth of new signings. Madrid have started La Liga with four wins from four, keeping two clean sheets and showing resilience, notably in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad when they played more than an hour with 10 men.

"The players made a huge effort and dug deep for the benefit of the team," Alonso said after that win, stressing the collective focus that seemed absent last year.

The Basque coach has already shown a willingness to rotate and adapt, benching Vinicius in one game and substituting him early in another. With eight matches in the Champions League league phase, rotation will be key.

For Madrid, consistency is the target, with Mbappe's sharp form -- four goals in four La Liga games -- offering encouragement. If Alonso's pragmatic edge matches his squad's attacking brilliance, Europe's most decorated club could once again set its sights on the throne.