UEFA Champions League Final Four: Previewing the Semifinals
The UEFA Champion’s League has reached the final four and we have two intriguing semifinals ahead of us next week.
Real Madrid and Barcelona will go head to head for the third time in two weeks. In the other semifinal clash, Manchester United will need to get past Schalke 04 if they are to play a Champions League Final in their home nation.
Here, we take a look at the four remaining teams and analyze their chances of success.
Real Madrid
1 of 5
Real Madrid will come into their semifinal on a high after defeating Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey Final. Los Blancos will be keen to dispose of Barca and go on to win a trophy that does not get subsequently thrown under the bus by Sergio "Soap Hands" Ramos.
Why They Will Definitely Win
Manager Jose Mourinho is a proven winner in this competition. He has already won the UEFA Champions League with FC Porto and Inter Milan, neither of whom were preseason favorites to lift the cup. Doing it with a star-studded Real Madrid team should be relatively easy by his standards.
It will not be entertaining, but Mourinho will find a way to beat Barcelona 1-0 over two legs. In the final, Cristiano Ronaldo will destroy Manchester United at Wembley Stadium, scoring four free kicks, getting Wayne Rooney sent off and hurling Portugese swear words into a TV camera to celebrate.
Why They Have No Chance
Their Copa Del Rey win did nothing but raise the ire of the Spanish Champions elect. The semifinal will turn into a rerun of the 5-0 La Liga massacre earlier in the season, and Madrid will bow out of the tournament after a total of 17-percent possession over the two semifinal legs.
Barcelona
2 of 5
The Spanish Champions elect will be looking for instant revenge after losing the Copa Del Rey Final to bitter rivals Real Madrid.
Reigning FIFPro World Player of the Year Lionel Messi will be looking to lead the Barca attack after scoring his 50th goal of the season over the weekend. Messi is the only player to ever net 50 goals in a Spanish season.
Why They Will Definitely Win
Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Villa….the names roll of the tongue. Many believe we could be watching the greatest team to ever play the game.
Manager Pep Guardiola will rejuvenate his troops after the Cup defeat and the floodgates will open as Barca sides their way to a Champions League Final at Wembley Stadium. Whether they face Manchester United or Schalke is irrelevant, as Messi would likely score four if they played both teams at the same time.
Why They Have No Chance
Jose has figured them out! The Special One has pored over game footage for months now. He has finally found the optimal angle to park the bus so his defense is impregnable. Barca will see plenty of the ball, but run into the same brick wall they met when Inter eliminated them last season.
Manchester United
3 of 5
Manchester United is marching towards its 19th English league title under the guidance of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. It has German club Schalke standing between them and a semifinal in their home nation.
Why They Will Definitely Win
The Red Devils received a dream draw, as they face the Bundesliga mid-table outfit Schalke and will have a virtual home game when they reach the final. Wayne Rooney is rejuvenated since his break in the USA, and United has a deeply ingrained winning habit.
Should they face Madrid in the final, it is inevitable Ronaldo will perform the way he did when he played for United in their last Champions League Final against Barcelona.
Why They Have No Chance
This is the time of the season where athletes in peak condition take over. United’s core of Edwin van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have a combined age of 192 years old. They may begin to feel heavy legs at this time of year.
In addition, Wayne Rooney will find a way to be suspended, Ferguson will be banned from the touchline for his reaction to Rooney’s suspension and Patrice Evra will rally the troops and have them refuse to practice in a form of protest.
Schalke 04
4 of 5
Schalke is struggling domestically this season, but have produced a string of outstanding Champions League performances. To reach the final four, Schalke disposed of defending Champions Inter Milan 7-3 on aggregate.
Midfield playmaker Juan Manuel Jurado and ageless goal machine Raul have been key figures in the German club's run to the final four.
Why They Will Definitely Win
Great players have a habit of winning trophies, and Raul is one of the greatest Champions League players in history. It is written in the stars that he will dispose of Manchester United before hitting the winning goal against Real Madrid in the final. Such is Raul’s legendary appeal, the goal will be met with a standing ovation from Madrid fans.
Why They Have No Chance
They are 10th in the Bundesliga, are a rank average team and their luck will eventually run out. Raul is aging and likely tiring at this point in the season, and United will not be denied a Wembley Final. If they are, Madrid will be keen to show exactly why they replaced Raul.
Your Thoughts?
5 of 5
Who will be the last team standing in London on May 28? Who do you think will lift the trophy and why?
Thanks for reading and please share your thoughts below.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
