Where do PSG rank among Europe's greatest dynasties?

Paris St-Germain (PSG) are currently poised to become Europe's latest dynasty, having made a strong start to their Champions League campaign with ambitions of securing their third consecutive continental title. To contextualize their rise, it is worth examining how they compare to other clubs that have achieved enduring success in European football.

When considering the most dominant eras in European competition, there are several clubs that stand out. One such team is Benfica, who won the European Cup three times in the 1960s under the management of Bela Guttmann. Guttmann's radical approach of promoting young talent helped Benfica to dominate the competition during that period.

Another formidable team is Bayern Munich, who clinched three consecutive European Cup titles in the late 1970s with the likes of Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer and Sepp Maier forming the backbone of their successful squad. Their victory over Atletico Madrid in the inaugural European Cup final of 1956 is often regarded as a watershed moment in the history of the competition.

One of the most iconic clubs in European football is undoubtedly Barcelona. Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, the Catalan giants experienced a transformative period during which they won the European Cup twice in three years. This era was characterized by the emergence of a generation of young players, including Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi, who all honed their skills at La Masia and went on to shape the team's winning philosophy of tiki-taka football.

Though Guardiola's tenure at Barcelona ended after four seasons, the legacy of his impact on the club continues to resonate more than a decade later.