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This year's Champions League semifinals will include four teams, each in the top two of their respective leagues. Real Madrid will continue their European rivalry with Bayern Munich on April 23rd and 29th while Chelsea will face La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid on the 22nd and 30th. Are we in store for a rematch of the 2012 Champions League Final between Chelsea and Bayern? Or will it be an all Madrid final in Lisbon? Here are our predictions:
Star power will be in full effect next Wednesday in Allianz Arena when Pep Gaurdiola and Bayern Munich face Real Madrid for a 6th time in the European Cup Semifinals. The two clubs are the best teams remaining and have combined for 14 European Cup championships and 8 runner ups. The last meeting was in 2012 when Bayern edged Real in penalties before suffering the same fate in the final versus Chelsea. Bayern Munich enters as the undoubted favorite, but don’t count out Los Blancos hailing from Madrid. Both sides feature dynamic playmakers up front in Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery. Ronaldo who was suffering from hamstring injury, is reported to be fit for the clash on Wednesday. Gareth Bale missed a training session today with the flu which leaves his availability in question, but if Real Madrid is at full strength, the Copa Del Rey Champions could have a chance to dethrone the German power.
If Cristiano Ronaldo can return from a hamstring injury, Real Madrid will have a good chance to knock off the defending champs. (Photo: Maxisport | Shutterstock.com)If Cristiano Ronaldo can return from a hamstring injury, Real Madrid will have a good chance to knock off the defending champs. (Photo: Maxisport | Shutterstock.com)
Bayern is one of the best teams in Europe at keeping possession, but that style shouldn’t come as a disturbance to Real. They have had their share of success facing possession-filled teams, beating Barcelona last week in the thrilling Copa Del Rey final. Though Bayern is more powerful than Barca, Real Madrid’s counter is one of the best in Europe. Bayern has yet to encounter a team as complete at Real Madrid and showed some lackluster moments against struggling Manchester United. A match up to watch will be Cristiano Ronaldo against Bayern Munich’s right back. Pep Guardiola has played around with Philipp Lahm, using him as central midfielder instead of his normal right back position. Rafinha usually starts at that position, so it will be interesting to see if Guardiola moves Lahm back to his homestead position to counter Ronaldo, or if he has enough faith in Rafinha to slow down the 2013 Ballon d’Or winner.
Prediction: (2-1, 1-1) Real Madrid 3-2 Aggregate
Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea FC
Both of these clubs enter the Champions League semifinals as the underdog, but don’t count either of these two teams out. Chelsea bleeds Champions League experience while Atletico Madrid probably played the best soccer in the quarterfinal out of the remaining teams. Atletico star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is currently on loan from Chelsea and talks from an earlier agreement between the two clubs stated if the they were to ever meet, Courtois would not be allowed to play unless Atletico pays Chelsea a £2.5 million fine per game. UEFA made it clear that such a rule would be unenforceable, and Atletico president Enrique Cerezo said Courtois will play.
Fernando Torres has 15 career UCL goals for Chelsea, and they’ll surely need his help come Tuesday. (Photo: AHMAD FAIZAL YAHYA | Shutterstock.com)
Despite the saga, both of these teams defense’s are their strong suit. Atletico shut down Barcelona in the quarterfinal, while Chelsea overcame a 3-1 deficit in the second leg to advance 3-3 on away goals. It sounds like Atletico will be with 26 time goal scorer Diego Costa who is recovering from a leg injury, and with Koke and David Villa bringing support, the Chelsea back line will have their hands full. Jose Mourinho may have more weapons than Atletico manager Diego Simeone. Samuel Eto’o did not travel with the team, and Eden Hazard's status is up in the air though he did travel. But Fernando Torres, Oscar and quarterfinal hero Demba Ba are more than capable of causing havoc for the Atletico back line. This is Chelsea’s 6th semifinal appearance in the past 9 editions of Europe’s club competition, and with more playmakers on the offensive end, they seem fit to advance to play Mourinho’s former club in Portugal on May 24th.
Prediction: (1-0, 2-1) Chelsea FC 3-1 Aggregate.
