The Champions League is one of the most revered trophies in all of sport.

There are some footballers that would even prioritise winning the European crown over World Cup success and a slew of the greatest players in history have all lifted 'Big Ears.'

Of course, Real Madrid are the most successful club in the competition's history, winning the first five installments of what was then the European Cup.

Los Blancos have come close to replicating that success in recent years and with four victories in the last five seasons, they now have almost double the wins of their closest competitor AC Milan.

However, they won't be adding to their remarkable European trophy collection this year and eight teams remain to seize the famous accolade from the Bernabeu.

Champions League victory

Manchester City, Liverpool, Barcelona, Ajax, Tottenham, Manchester United, Porto and Juventus are all in with a shout of emerging victorious at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Nevertheless, given the incredible difficulty behind winning the competition, it seems there are only a few ways in which teams can dominate Europe.

Well, that's certainly the theory behind a viral Reddit post this week, with user 'malalatargaryen' rising to the top of r/soccer with no less than 13,000 up-votes.

Football fan's theory

Pretty impressive stuff and they theorised that since 2004, there have only been  four different ways that a team has won the Champions League and they could be on to something.

The quartet of methods are described and each of the examples are assigned to each category - so check out the theory down below:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo's team

Manchester United 2007-08 and Real Madrid 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18.

2. Lionel Messi's team

Barcelona 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11 and 2014-15.

3. Team led by a manager with past success in UEFA competitions

Liverpool 2004-05 (Rafael Benitez), AC Milan 2006-07 (Carlo Ancelotti), Inter Milan 2009-10 (Jose Mourinho) and Bayern Munich 2012-13 (Jupp Heynckes)

4. English team led at the start of the season by a Portuguese manager who had recently won the Europa League, who was sacked due to underwhelming league results, and replaced by a former player who formerly had very little success as a Premier League manager

Chelsea 2011/12 (Andre Villas-Boas/Roberto di Matteo)

How does that apply to 2018-19?

Rather amusing, we're sure you'll agree, but also scarily accurate.

But what gives the theory that extra bit of brilliance is how cleanly it can applied to the current Champions League contenders, with four of teams fitting into the criteria.

1. Juventus

2. Barcelona

3. Manchester City (Pep Guardiola)

4. Manchester United (Jose Mourinho/Ole Gunnar Solskjaer)

Of course, the most amusing comparison is between the current United side and the Chelsea team that would won in 2012, perhaps a source of optimism for the Old Trafford faithful.

You could also flip the theory on its head and then suppose that Liverpool, Ajax, Porto and Tottenham don't stand a chance of lifting the trophy this season.

However, with two of those teams already leading their quarter-final ties, perhaps the last 15 years of the Champions League could finally see a fifth method of victory.

Who do you think will win the Champions League this season? Have your say in the comments section below.