Champions League 2015: Schedule, Preview, Predictions for Semi-Final Return Legs
Juventus and Barcelona will enter the return leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final ties protecting leads against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, respectively, with the Serie A and La Liga leaders hoping to capitalise on their excellent performances and qualify for the final.
Barcelona completely dominated Bayern on Wednesday and look like near certainties to make the final, while Juventus will have their work cut out for them as they travel to the Bernabeu with just the one-goal lead.
Here's the schedule for the return legs:
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| Tuesday, May 12 | 7:45 p.m. | 2:45 p.m. | Bayern Munich | 0-3 | Barcelona |
| Wednesday, May 13 | 7:45 p.m. | 2:45 p.m. | Real Madrid | 1-2 | Juventus |
Bayern Munich v Barcelona
Barcelona didn't just beat Bayern Munich on Wednesday, they dominated the Bundesliga champions from start to finish and booked an emphatic 3-0 win, a final score that could have been a lot worse had it not been for Manuel Neuer's heroics.
The Germany international saved his club for 77 minutes before conceding three goals, with Lionel Messi finally finding the net twice in the span of minutes.
As shared by Sport's Samuel Marsden, manager Luis Enrique may feel comfortable leading 3-0, but he won't tell his players that:
Crazier things have happened, but if Barcelona look anything like the team that dominated at the Camp Nou, they'll qualify for the final. Their recent form suggests a similar outcome, via Squawka:
The Catalans were special on Wednesday, unlike the Bavarians, who played one of their worst matches of the season. The defence looked shaky, the midfield was overrun and the attackers displayed a general lack of creativity for the full 90 minutes.
The situation looks pretty dire for Bayern, but fans still have a glimmer of hope. After all, the Bavarians lost 3-1 in Porto, playing an equally sloppy match, and they bounced back and crushed the Portuguese side 6-1 at home.
Barcelona aren't Porto, but the Catalans are still battling for the La Liga title and can't afford to rest too many key players against Real Sociedad, unlike Bayern.
Still, turning around a 3-0 deficit against arguably the most in-form attacking team in the world seems impossible.
Prediction: Bayern 2-2 Barcelona, Barcelona advance
Real Madrid v Juventus
Real Madrid are in the same boat as Barcelona, in that they can't afford to sit most of their key players when they host Valencia during the weekend. Juventus should be well rested―they could use their primavera squad against Cagliari if they wanted―and boosted by the return of midfield ace Paul Pogba, per AS English:
His return would add another body to the Bianconeri midfield that dominated Real, who clearly felt the absence of Luka Modric. With Sergio Ramos looking disastrous as a midfielder, Juventus cruised to a 2-1 win in Turin.
Of course, a one-goal lead is never safe, and Real have the kind of attacking firepower to ridicule any club at the Bernabeu. A 1-0 win would even do for Los Blancos, who did manage to score the all-important away goal.
Fans shouldn't feel too confident, however. Juventus badly outclassed Real on a tactical level on Tuesday, as reported by Guillem Balague for Sky Sports, and the Italians know how to defend a lead:
With the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Gianluigi Buffon, Juve's defensive area is stacked with experience. Add to that the incredible pair of lungs Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio bring to the table, and Los Blancos will have very little room to operate in.
Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata are a deadly duo on the counter-attack―just ask Borussia Dortmund―and will have their opportunities, unless Real can open the score quickly.
Right now, this tie could go either way, but with how well Juventus have defended slim leads in this year's Champions League, you have to like their chances.
Prediction: Real Madrid 1-1 Juventus, Juventus advance
