Group A, Atletico Madrid: Gabi
We start in Group A with Atletico Madrid, last year's beaten finalists.
Central midfielder Gabi is captain for them and remains absolutely key to their team setup, combining a ferocious and combative work rate with the technique and the presence of mind to contribute going forward, too.
He's an all-round machine who is extremely effective at both ends of the pitch, setting the tone for the way Diego Simeone wants his players to approach each match. Others might be the stars, but Gabi is the man to make Atleti tick.