1. AC Milan
AC Milan's Champions League triumph of 2007 feels like a distant memory. The Milan side that lifted the trophy that night was an ageing one, a group of players in the twilight days of their career. However, few would have expected Milan to struggle for so long after. Crippled by mounting debts, the Italian giants have struggled to find the right formula to recreate those memorable European nights. A new transfer policy has been undertaken by the club this summer, in attempt to sort out Milan's troublesome finances. The days of huge multi-million pound signings are gone, instead Berlusconi has adopted a more modest approach to transfer dealings. Indeed, the club's biggest summer signing was Alessandro Matri from Juventus, who was signed for just £8million. Not the type of spending you'd expect from a Champions League club. The return of Kaka will also be a welcome boost to fans and players alike. In keeping with the club's new policy, the Brazilian arrived on a free transfer, hoping to rekindle the form he showed when first at Milan. Whether his arrival is enough to send the club deep into the latter stages of the competition remains to be seen. Nonetheless, Milan will be a tricky opponent for anyone who comes across them. The San Siro remains a fortress and for that reason they could surprise a few this year.