London, Sep 27 : Rafa Benitez reckons that this season’s Champions League will be tougher than ever for the Premier League clubs.

There has been an English side in every final since 2005 but Benitez, whose Liverpool side travel to Italy to face Fiorentina on Tuesday, believes Real Madrid’s massive spending to challenge Barcelona in Spain has shifted the balance in the chase for a place in this season’s Madrid final.

“Barcelona is a very good team and Real Madrid have signed some very good players,” News of the World quoted Benitez, as saying.

“The English teams will be there but there are more options because other teams are improving,” added Benitez, who also sees Bayern Munich, Inter and Juventus as big threats. (ANI)