Here's Everything You Need To Know And More About The UCL Semifinals

The Champions League, Europe’s most important soccer tournament regarding clubs, is almost coming to an end this year. As the semi-finalist have already been named, after fighting ferociously for their spot. For the first time in years, it doesn’t count with any German representative.

All of it after a thrilling round of quarter-finals phase that got a lot of controversy surrounding it. As Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich on the Spanish capital thanks to an off-side goal of Cristiano Ronaldo. Monaco overcame Dortmund after the German team was a victim of a terrorist attack. Finally, Juventus beat Barcelona just as Atletico Madrid beat Leicester City, ending their fairytale.

Final four

The draw was held on April 21st, at 3:30 pm, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The first-leg matches will be held on May 2nd and 3rd respectively, while the return leg of the similar, will be held a week later on May 9 and 10. The results of the draw matched both Madrid teams against each other, while Juventus will face this year’s revelation, Monaco. Being the favorite scenario for the final in Cardiff at June 3rd, Real Madrid against Juventus.

The team that has the upper hand in the Madrid derby is obviously the eleven-time European champions Real Madrid. Who despite the polemic regarding them eliminating Bayern Munich in the way, have an inspired Cristiano Ronaldo and will hope to have many of their injured players back for the semi-final matches. Also, they could become the first club in the Champions League era to win the competition in successive seasons. Both clubs have met twice in the competition’s last three years, both in Champions League finals. With Real Madrid coming out on victorious on both occasions, winning their 10th and 11th title regarding the competition.

Atletico will seek to win their first ever Champions League trophy is they get to the final. Since Real Madrid has turned their stocking point and most feared rivals regarding the competition. As the only time, they didn’t meet in the final was at the quarter-final stage. Again with Real Madrid coming on the top back on 2015. But Atletico has learned from their mistakes and have become a fierce competitor under Simeone’s direction. For the history records the last time Atletico reached the final, before recent times, was in 1974 when they lost against Bayern Munich.

Even Atletico director and club figure Clemente Villaverde have said that his club was not scared of facing their bitter neighbours and that they will not repeat their previous mistakes. While Real Madrid’s director of institutional relations and club legend Emilio Butragueno agreed and said that past encounters between the two sides will not be an influence on their next Champions clash. The Champions remains the only competition were Atletico haven’t got the best of Real Madrid yet. Something they’ve done locally in recent times due to the arrival of Simeone, winning the league on 2013-14 and the local cup on 2012-13.

Favorites or underdogs in this semifinals?

The other tie of the semi-final stage will face the Ligue 1 leaders: Monaco taking on Italy’s champions and league owners Juventus. The Italian side, being one of the greatest of all times have won the European competition in 1985 and 1996. The last time they reached a final was on 2015 where they lost against Barcelona 3-0 in Berlin. Also, this year they own an incredible defensive record as they’ve only conceded 2 goals in their last 10 Champions League matches. Making them the only team that hasn’t concede a goal in the knock-out stage.

Along with it, Juventus has the upper hand in history. Besides being a more successful club than Monaco, they’ve always beaten the french side in knockout stages of the Champions League on 1997-98 and in 2014-15. Something that the french side will look to revert as well as they seek revenge from their most recent elimination. Since even Monaco’s vice-president, Vadim Vasilyev has referred to the draw.

For Monaco, the dream of reaching a final is something they see possible. Something they haven’t achieve in over a decade. Since the french club has only reached the final once in their entire history, losing to Jose Mourinho’s Porto in 2004. Also, this season they have heavy artillery as they’ve scored at least 3 goals in all their knockout games. This firepower was what allowed them to eliminated Manchester City, with a surprise turnaround, and Borussia Dortmund on their way to the last four. With the 18-year-old Kylian Mbappé as their main goal-scoring machine, who has netted 5 in his last 5 Champions matches.

The match between Italians and French will be a display of two different tactics. Since Juventus have reached the final four by defending properly and Monaco by ripping everyone’s net with their amazing firepower. Something that even legend and director Pavel Nedved recognizes, as he wishes his club to reach the final but warned that Monaco will be a tough challenge. Real Madrid will host Atletico at the Bernabeu on May 2 before travelling to the Calderon on May 10. While Juventus will go to France to the Stade Louis II on May 3 before Monaco travel to Turin the following week on May 9.