As the UEFA Champions League enters the semifinal
phase, Real Madrid and Barcelona are on the verge to making it an El Classico
final but Bayern Munich and Chelsea will have plenty to say.
THE MOTIVATED AND THE RUTHLESS
BAYERN MUNICH VS REAL MADRID (ALLIANZ ARENA)
Tuesday 17 April 2012: 20:45 CAT
This is a mouthwatering clash semifinal, both teams
have been impressive throughout the competition but now one of them has to go
out. Real Madrid are a machine going forward and Ronaldo is on fire having
scored 41 goals in the domestic league and setting a new record alongside
Lionel Messi.
Every week you see Jose Mourinho’s men thrashing
Spanish teams but in all fairness their schedule has been easy in the Champions
League, they haven’t been really tested.
It is difficult to predict the winner because Munich
are a great side and nothing motivates them more than the prospect of a home
final. The home side has great attacking players so are Real Madrid. In the
mid-field the likes of Xabi Alonso and Bastian Scweinsteiger are all great
players.
It will be tremendous to see who comes out top because
it’s hard to envisage how it will pan out because both sides are evenly
matched.
The interesting thing will be position, Madrid have
enjoyed possession against their opponents, the only time they struggled was
against Barcelona in a league match. On the other hand Munich are a great
passing side and they like to keep the ball. Let’s see how they handle each
other but something has to give.
THE FAMILIAR FOES MEET AGAIN
CHELSEA vs. BARCELONA (STAMFORD BRIDGE)
Wednesday 18 April 2012: 20:45
Chelsea managed to scrape to the last four after
beating Portuguese outfit, Benfica but the Blues were not anywhere near
impressive. This Chelsea side is vulnerable especially when you play quick
football and keep the position in the mid-field.
The likes of Lampard and Mikel struggled against
Benfica especially when their defensive duties were needed and that must be a
concern because against the Catalans they will need to up their game.
Since Roberto Di Matteo came in he has set them in
such a way that his system gets the best out of a player who is certainly not
at his best at the moment and thus Juan Mata. They always play him but if he is
not on the ball and on the game, they are really struggling unless they start
hitting Drogba long.
They are still battling to play football compared to
the Chelsea that played Barca 3 years ago. When you look at the transformation that
AVB wanted to bring, they are not anywhere near it.
Barcelona will be playing in their fifth semifinal in
a row and are about to retain the title, something that has never been done in
the Champions League era.
What we have seen with Barcelona is the kind of the
way you have to deal with them; you have to be a little braver because you will
not be allowed to possess Barca. At the end of the day you are forced to play
on a counter attack but it’s just how far you go with it.
The more you throw more players forward to supplement
the counter attack, the more chance you will concede against them. Both of the
teams haven’t been impressive this season but it should be interesting.
By Terence Mthembu
Twitter: @Terrypedia
