Madrid poised for run at crown

With the world's two most expensive players, Real Madrid thinks it's in position to spoil Bayern Munich's attempt to become the first team since 1990 to defend its European Cup title when soccer's top club competition resumes this week.

Having signed Gareth Bale from Tottenham this summer for a world-record fee of 100 million euros ($132 million), Madrid can compete on all fronts this season and will be bidding for a first Champions League trophy since Zinedine Zidane scored the winner against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 final.

Since then, Madrid's fierce rival Barcelona has won the trophy three times and Madrid is confident it can end the Catalan's side dominance this year with its formidable pairing, although playmaker Mesut Ozil left for Arsenal.