After witnessing some incredibly thrilling football in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, football fans from all around the world can’t wait for the semi-finals to come around. The four teams that are going to participate in the semi-finals are in for a thrilling battle out of which only the best two will book a place in Paris.
The first leg of the 2021/22 Champions League semi-finals will take place on the 26th and 27th of April, while the return dates are booked for the 3rd and 4th of May. Below we will reveal what you can expect out of each of the Champions League semi-finals matches.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid
After losing in last year’s Champions League final, many thought that Manchester City would enter a crisis period as many other great European clubs do. But they have proved everyone wrong and are now marching yet again towards the final.
Their path to the semi-finals wasn’t as perfect as one would imagine, as Atletico Madrid showed a tremendous performance in the second half of the second leg, which saw Pep’s team become very vulnerable at certain moments.
Although the Citizens are having a phenomenal season, for Pep Guardiola this is the time of the season where everything goes sideways. As they are up against a team that has the Champions League in its DNA, this is the time to prove whether they’ve learned from their mistakes in the past.
Real Madrid has progressed through to the semi-finals after a thrilling finish in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. Benzema has yet again proved to everyone that he is amongst the best players in the world, after scoring 4 goals in both legs against the current European Champions.
The season for Real Madrid has been fantastic when you look at the league table and the Champions League results, but judging from performances on the pitch, they have a lot of work to do. Most of their wins, especially in the knockout stages, are thanks to Benzema and Modric, which shows a lack of quality in the rest of the players.
Both teams have nearly similar paths in their domestic leagues and the Champions League and there is no doubt that this match will provide the excitement that the fans are seeking. Sportsbooks are giving an advantage to Manchester City, but no one knows for sure what the outcome will be.
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Liverpool vs Villarreal
Jurgen Klopp is after his second Champions League title in four years and those of you who have been following Liverpool this season know that they can absolutely manage it. The Reds were amongst the favourites to win it this season, which is no wonder because of their unbelievable squad depth and spectacular modern football.
Many are complaining that Liverpool had the easiest path towards the final after eliminating Inter and Benfica in their first knockout games and are up against Villarreal in the semi-finals. Nevertheless, no one can deny the incredible form that they are in and the attractive football that they are playing.
Villarreal on the other hand is the surprise of the season after eliminating Juventus and Bayern Munich, the team that many saw as the favourites to win the Champions League. Their performance in the LaLiga might not be excellent, but their football in Europe is truly extraordinary.
We can surely expect a highly entertaining match, where Villarreal is going for another miracle while Liverpool is looking for a steady dominance throughout both legs.
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