As the UEFA Champions League enters the semifinal phase, Real Madrid and Barcelona are on the verge to making it an El Classico final but Bayern Munich and Chelsea will have plenty to say.
THE MOTIVATED AND THE RUTHLESS
BAYERN MUNICH VS REAL MADRID (ALLIANZ ARENA)
Tuesday 17 April 2012: 20:45 CAT
This is a mouthwatering clash semifinal, both teams have been impressive throughout the competition but now one of them has to go out. Real Madrid are a machine going forward and Ronaldo is on fire having scored 41 goals in the domestic league and setting a new record alongside Lionel Messi.
Every week you see Jose Mourinho’s men thrashing Spanish teams but in all fairness their schedule has been easy in the Champions League, they haven’t been really tested.
It is difficult to predict the winner because Munich are a great side and nothing motivates them more than the prospect of a home final. The home side has great attacking players so are Real Madrid. In the mid-field the likes of Xabi Alonso and Bastian Scweinsteiger are all great players.
It will be tremendous to see who comes out top because it’s hard to envisage how it will pan out because both sides are evenly matched.
The interesting thing will be position, Madrid have enjoyed possession against their opponents, the only time they struggled was against Barcelona in a league match. On the other hand Munich are a great passing side and they like to keep the ball. Let’s see how they handle each other but something has to give.
THE FAMILIAR FOES MEET AGAIN
CHELSEA vs. BARCELONA (STAMFORD BRIDGE)
Wednesday 18 April 2012: 20:45
Chelsea managed to scrape to the last four after beating Portuguese outfit, Benfica but the Blues were not anywhere near impressive. This Chelsea side is vulnerable especially when you play quick football and keep the position in the mid-field.
The likes of Lampard and Mikel struggled against Benfica especially when their defensive duties were needed and that must be a concern because against the Catalans they will need to up their game.
Since Roberto Di Matteo came in he has set them in such a way that his system gets the best out of a player who is certainly not at his best at the moment and thus Juan Mata. They always play him but if he is not on the ball and on the game, they are really struggling unless they start hitting Drogba long.
They are still battling to play football compared to the Chelsea that played Barca 3 years ago. When you look at the transformation that AVB wanted to bring, they are not anywhere near it.
Barcelona will be playing in their fifth semifinal in a row and are about to retain the title, something that has never been done in the Champions League era. What we have seen with Barcelona is the kind of the way you have to deal with them; you have to be a little braver because you will not be allowed to possess Barca. At the end of the day you are forced to play on a counter attack but it’s just how far you go with it. The more you throw more players forward to supplement the counter attack, the more chance you will concede against them. Both of the teams haven’t been impressive this season but it should be interesting.
How do you see the semi finals panning out and what’s the worst that could happen? I would love to hear your predictions again.
Chelsea vs Bayern in the final.
Only because I dislike Spanish football
Why the vendetto against Spanish football? Is it because they play it so well that they make you nasty?
lol you haters amaze me! probably a narrow-minded, ignorant epl fan who doesn’t know anything about football outside of the epl. jealous that spain has the world no. 1 national team, the 2 best coaches, the 2 best players, the 2 best teams? 3 of the last 4 teams in the europa league are spanish as well, atleast appreciate beautiful football and give credit where its due . . .
hi terry, nice preview as usual – man have i been looking forward to these games . . . has kept me going the last few weeks! the bayern real games are impossible to call but i still dream of a clasico final!
1st legs :
bayern 1 – 2 real
chelsea 1 – 3 barca
gonna be fun watching great grandfather terry etc. up against messi, sanchez, iniesta, fabregas . . .
Chelsea will get demolished, Bayern and Real Madrid is too tough to call, I’ll hope for a Barca vs Real Madrid final with Messi and Ronaldo tied on goals for the season and Ronaldo scoring the winner, cause I don’t like Barca,I just don’t. Also, on a personal note, if Mourinho wins he might consider coming over to Man City in the summer
Well. Exactly my point. I don’t watch football beside EPL and Champions’. Spanish football bores me.
It’s rather obvious you’re a fanboy of every new “in-trend” like Spanish La Liga is atm.
So Chelsea vs Bayern for me.
I’m not jealous of Spain being the Nr 1 in the world (if they even are?). I didn’t play against them in the SWC Final. National pride in football is non existent.
It’s all about clubs really. So I watch club football, preferably those of an/a English/Dutch/Deutsche theme.
Maybe If I spoke Spanish..
madrid doesn’t really enjoy posession in La Liga, they not barca, they dont need to. they rely more on their counter attack even against the minows.
scipio, each to their own! all good.
I’ve gone for an upset , Bayern to beat Real just, Gomez has looked in fine touch, and with Ribery and Robben supplying him with top ball, he might score a few…The other game I’ve gone 4-1 to Barcelona, although there are signs (they may just be my imagination) that Barca aren’t finding the back of the net as easily as they used to.
finally a football blog that made the main blog space! freakin hell, that took forevever!!!! well done terry
inhlanzi, come on like them! push the like button! everythings gonna be alright
I hear your grounds of hating on Spanish football. But as for lack of National Pride in their football that’s a social problem in Spain where you have 2 divided regions,; Catalan and Castella and we see that being reflected on their football. But I don’t think that’s good enough to hate it… As for me Spanish teams play good football, look at a team like Athletic Bilbao struggling in the league but they turn the so called English Champions into school boys..
You are spot on there. People have to give credit where it’s due…
Fascinating stuff between Barca and Chelsea. Lets hope it will be controversial free tie.. Thanks for the support man. we always try..
Thanks man… We always try. But lets hope its not the last time…
I also that Madrid defense haven’t been tested in this competition. I want to see how they will respond to Robben and Ribery.
Yep you are right, What I meant is that they dominate position even though it does not mean complete starving the opponent like Barca.They knock it around a bit even though they rely mostly on counter attacks.
Barca and Real in final that will be excting; Messi and Ronaldo tied in on goals that could make them selfish on the day. I also think Mourinho is gonna leave even if he lose the final…But lets wait and see.
i disagree with you there terry, of cause they can knock it around a bit if they really want to but they generally dont, real madrid is like f1 racing car, it all it knows how to do is attack, it is ridiculously stacked with with fast, super fast talented footballers that will take you on at every opportunity!!! thats how they get scores like 4 – 1 in la liga even when they arent that dominent! because they are that frightening – lightening frightening with the speed at which they strike!
The talk of technical brilliance, looking forward to a night of spectecular football with brilliant teams. Barcelona all the way !!!
As per the extract, Madrid will finally have some sort of competition. They do have the capability secure a win over munchen