HEADING INTO THIS morning’s last-four draw in Nyon, La Liga was represented by two clubs with one each from the Bundesliga and the Premier League making up the pots.
Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid (alongside Barcelona) are currently battling it out in a three-horse title race but have managed to avoid each other this time around — leaving the door open for a mouth-watering All-Spanish final in Lisbon on 24 May.
It ended in a 2-2 draw when the teams last met in a Madrid derby at the Vincente Calderon last month thanks to a late equaliser from Cristiano Ronaldo and if they do both progress, it will be the second consecutive final contested by two clubs from the same country.
2. A tale of four strikers
Diego Costa has been an absolute monster for Atleti this season — scoring 33 goals in all competitions to fire Diego Simeone’s side to the top of the table.
The Brazilian-born Spanish international is in the form of his life going into this summer’s World Cup finals in his land of birth and, having missed the quarter-final second leg against Barcelona with a leg injury, should return well in time to face Chelsea.
On several occasions, Jose Mourinho has let the world know about his lack of a world class striker and when you consider that Samuel Eto’o, Fernando Torres and Demba Ba combined have scored five goals less than Costa this term, you do see his point.
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The Portuguese tactician came up trumps in the second leg against Paris Saint-Germain and you get the feeling he will be quietly confident after managing to steer clear of former side Real Madrid and current champions Bayern Munich for now at least.
However, the Belgian stopper appears to be set to feature after UEFA released a statement this morning saying any non-play clauses are “null, void and unenforceable” in the eyes of the European football governing body.
It is a huge boost for Atleti as 21-year-old Courtois is one of the best young keepers around and has been touted as a long-term successor to Petr Cech.
That said, though they are professionals, it must be difficult facing a parent club… especially when it’s in a European cup semi-final.
4. Pep faces old foes
It was always going to be a massive ask for Pep Guardiola to emulate the final achievements of his predecessor Jupp Heynckes by clinching the treble in his first season.
Eights months on from his first competitive game in charge and the dream is still alive, however. The Bavarians have already wrapped up their domestic league title and a German Cup semi-final meeting with second-tier Kaiserlautern awaits next week before Guardiola is reacquainted with his old rivals Real Madrid.
The Spaniard, who picked up an unprecedented 14 trophies in four seasons at Barca including three La Liga titles on the bounce, must pit his wits against an equally-accomplished opposite number in Carlo Ancelotti.
5. 2012 repeated
Madrid and Bayern before their meeting two years ago. EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Two years ago, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were paired together for what turned out to be a thrilling semi-final match-up.
The first leg saw Bayern earn a narrow 2-1 win at the Allianz Arena with Mesut Ozil grabbing a valuable away goal for Madrid. Two early Cristiano Ronaldo strikes and a penalty from Arjen Robben ensured there would be extra-time before it ended 3-3 on aggregate after 120 minutes.
Manul Neuer then denied Ronaldo and Kaka from the spot, Sergio Ramos drove his penalty over the bar and Bastian Schweinsteiger converted the winner in a 3-1 shootout victory.
Let’s hope for something similar later this month…
5 talking points from the Champions League semi-final draw
1. Madrid two kept apart
HEADING INTO THIS morning’s last-four draw in Nyon, La Liga was represented by two clubs with one each from the Bundesliga and the Premier League making up the pots.
Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid (alongside Barcelona) are currently battling it out in a three-horse title race but have managed to avoid each other this time around — leaving the door open for a mouth-watering All-Spanish final in Lisbon on 24 May.
It ended in a 2-2 draw when the teams last met in a Madrid derby at the Vincente Calderon last month thanks to a late equaliser from Cristiano Ronaldo and if they do both progress, it will be the second consecutive final contested by two clubs from the same country.
2. A tale of four strikers
Diego Costa has been an absolute monster for Atleti this season — scoring 33 goals in all competitions to fire Diego Simeone’s side to the top of the table.
The Brazilian-born Spanish international is in the form of his life going into this summer’s World Cup finals in his land of birth and, having missed the quarter-final second leg against Barcelona with a leg injury, should return well in time to face Chelsea.
On several occasions, Jose Mourinho has let the world know about his lack of a world class striker and when you consider that Samuel Eto’o, Fernando Torres and Demba Ba combined have scored five goals less than Costa this term, you do see his point.
The Portuguese tactician came up trumps in the second leg against Paris Saint-Germain and you get the feeling he will be quietly confident after managing to steer clear of former side Real Madrid and current champions Bayern Munich for now at least.
3. Courtois gets the green light
Atletio Madrid’s president Enrique Cerezo declared on Thursday that they would not play goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois against Chelsea as a clause in his loan deal meant they would have to fork out a reported €6m over the two legs.
However, the Belgian stopper appears to be set to feature after UEFA released a statement this morning saying any non-play clauses are “null, void and unenforceable” in the eyes of the European football governing body.
It is a huge boost for Atleti as 21-year-old Courtois is one of the best young keepers around and has been touted as a long-term successor to Petr Cech.
That said, though they are professionals, it must be difficult facing a parent club… especially when it’s in a European cup semi-final.
4. Pep faces old foes
It was always going to be a massive ask for Pep Guardiola to emulate the final achievements of his predecessor Jupp Heynckes by clinching the treble in his first season.
Eights months on from his first competitive game in charge and the dream is still alive, however. The Bavarians have already wrapped up their domestic league title and a German Cup semi-final meeting with second-tier Kaiserlautern awaits next week before Guardiola is reacquainted with his old rivals Real Madrid.
The Spaniard, who picked up an unprecedented 14 trophies in four seasons at Barca including three La Liga titles on the bounce, must pit his wits against an equally-accomplished opposite number in Carlo Ancelotti.
5. 2012 repeated
Two years ago, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were paired together for what turned out to be a thrilling semi-final match-up.
The first leg saw Bayern earn a narrow 2-1 win at the Allianz Arena with Mesut Ozil grabbing a valuable away goal for Madrid. Two early Cristiano Ronaldo strikes and a penalty from Arjen Robben ensured there would be extra-time before it ended 3-3 on aggregate after 120 minutes.
Manul Neuer then denied Ronaldo and Kaka from the spot, Sergio Ramos drove his penalty over the bar and Bastian Schweinsteiger converted the winner in a 3-1 shootout victory.
Let’s hope for something similar later this month…
Thibaut time? Courtois CAN PLAY against Chelsea in Champions League semis, UEFA say
It’s Real v Bayern, Atletico v Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals
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UEFA Champions League Mouth-watering Atlético Madrid Bayern Munich Chelsea Real Madrid