Luis Figo Names Two Clubs to Win Champions League This Season Ahead of Real Madrid

• Luis Figo has downplayed the chances of Real Madrid in this season's Champions League
• The Portuguese has tipped Bayern Munich and Manchester City to win the trophy
• Real Madrid won the Champions League last season at the expense of Liverpool

Legendary Real Madrid winger Luis Figo has identified the two teams with the best chances of lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy this year.

Real Madrid are the defending champions of Europe, beating Liverpool 1-0 in the final in Paris to win their 14th European championship.

Despite their success and thrashing the Reds 6-2 on aggregate in the round of 16, club icon Figo has ignored the Santiago Bernabeu outfit as the team to beat in the competition.

Speaking at the opening of a new campus of the Vicente del Bosque Academy, via 90mins, Figo named Manchester City and Bayern Munich as his two favourites to win the competition.

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“In the Champions League, you always have to count on Real Madrid, but my favourite is between Manchester City and Bayern Munich.”

Last season, Carlo Ancelotti's side were written off in the race for the Champions League when they faced Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Manchester City on route to the final.

The Madrid-based club overcame all and even came from behind to win in most of those games.

In the final eight matches that will take place next month, Real Madrid will take on Chelsea, and Bayern Munich will battle Manchester City.

If Los Blancos advance to the semifinals, they will play the victor of the Bayern-Man City tie.

Inter Milan, one of Figo's former teams, will face Benfica in a tricky two-legged matchup before possibly facing either Serie A leaders SSC Napoli or inner-city rivals AC Milan in the next round.

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Figo's career at Real Madrid

Figo's move from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 was, it's safe to say, not without controversy. Later, when he returned to Camp Nou with Los Blancos, Barca fans threw a pig's head at their hero, which wasn't exactly well received.

Despite the snide remarks, Figo had a great five-year stay at Santiago Bernabeu, taking home two La Liga championships, a UEFA Champions League trophy, a Ballon d'Or, and the FIFA World Player of the Year honours.

Real Madrid's contract rebels

Real Madrid could have a chunk of their tried and tested players exit the doors of the club in the summer, Sports Brief earlier reported.

The La Liga giants are currently in a transitional phase of fading out their experienced core for the next generation.

Fresh faces such as Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and their ilk are expected to fill the big shoes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and co, who could exit the club this summer.