Real Madrid this season will never be the same as Real Madrid a few seasons ago. Real Madrid's strength and long history in the Champions League will not always be able to make other players' mental collapse, in fact they no longer have players who are as scary as before.
I don't know which player is most respected by his opponents in the Real Madrid squad apart from Modric and Toni Kroos at the moment. Almost all the other players are young players, they are unstable even though so far the team's overall performance has been good. Without Kroos and Modric, I think Real Madrid is no longer a scary team even though they have a long history in the Champions League.
To be honest Real Madrid seem stronger than last season at least. After Benzema left the team in the summer and Real Madrid didn't want to sign a top striker in his place I doubted them a little. However they seem even better this season. They are doing great in the La Liga and I can say the same thing for the Champions League as well.
Because they won against Napoli away which was the toughest match of the group. Probably they will finish as leader.
Bellingham effect is really hard to deny of course. He has been playing extra since the beginning of the season. He is the main striker of the team now.