Chelsea face Barcelona and Real Madrid face Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. Let us know your pick to win it and why.
Barcelona
Ah Barcelona, the bookies favourites, the football connoisseur’s favourites, and UEFA’s favourites, if Zlatan Ibrahimovic is to be believed. With Madrid closing out La Liga, Barcelona will be even more determined to finish the season with a major trophy, and hope to sweep Chelsea aside on their way to the final. Lionel Messi will take some stopping. He has scored 14 goals in this season’s Champions League, equaling a record, even scoring five times in one game against Leverkusen. It is odds on he sets his own record outright, and leads the club to becoming the first ever back-to-back Champions League winners.
Odds: 5/6
Chelsea
Chelsea may be the bookies outsiders but they have history with Barcelona and will be determined not to roll over. Their Champions League form has been far more consistent than that in the Premier League, and they may just have to go out and win it if they are to qualify for the tournament next year. Under Roberto di Matteo, Chelsea look a different side to how they did under Andre Villas-Boas, but a win would still be a major shock. If they are to succeed they might just need something special from the enigma that is Fernando Torres.
Odds: 9/1
Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s achievements this season have, much like Cristiano Ronaldo, been nudged to one side by the world’s fascination with Barcelona and Lionel Messi. This Madrid side should be underestimated at their peril, they are a relentless goalscoring machine, beating Cypriot minnows Apoel Nicosia 8-2 on aggregate. Their front three of Ronaldo, Benzema and Higuain eclipsed a Spanish record last night by scoring 101 goals, knocking aside the 100 previously set by Messi, Eto’o and Henry for Barcelona. The dream Barcelona-Madrid final is very much on.
Odds: 12/5
Bayern Munich
Bayern are the dark horses but are highly fancied. Their two legs against Madrid should be unmissable spectacles. Striker Mario Gomez is just two behind Lionel Messi, having scored 12 goals. Former Madrid winger Arjen Robben is also on fire, while Croatian Ivica Olic served a timely reminder of his abilities against Marseille on Tuesday night. Bayern were superb against Manchester City early in the season, and have a wealth of talent in their squad, including Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philip Lahm. They seem a better side than the Bayern team who reached the final in 2010, but this year’s competition seems stronger than ever.
Odds: 9/2
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image: © El Ronzo
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