Post by Gianni Infantino on Apr 20, 2014 20:17:39 GMT
We're into the final four of this season's Champions League now with the city of Madrid proudly parading its two biggest teams at this stage. Getafe and Rayo fans were unavailable for comment. Holders Bayern Munich feature yet again looking for a third final in a row while Chelsea will look to reach their 2nd final in the last three seasons.
22/30 April 2014: Club Atlético de Madrid, SAD & Chelsea FC
Yeah, it's official so full club names are appropriate I think. Atléti are relative new boys to this latter stages lark while Chelsea have had plenty of experience here since the Abramovich years began. Atléti host the first leg boasting the best record in the competition being the only team unbeaten in the tournament. Main striker Diego Costa has been a Chelsea target for a while but is enjoying a simply ridiculous season for Spain's third team, who interestingly enough hold top spot in their league. Playing against teams in such a predicament is going to be a familiarity for Chelsea this week *ahem*. Chelsea stumbled across the line against a strong PSG in the last round with star player Eden Hazard limping off. Their league form has taken a hit but they have to be considered a strong likelihood to win the Champions League given their experience in this part of the tournament. Should Hazard play he could influence this tie strongly in their favour, but Atléti are a solid team so either way, it's going to be difficult for Chelsea.
23/29 April: Fußball-Club Bayern München e.V. & Real Madrid Club de Fútbol
Possibly the game of the round. If you disagree, then you think the other game is game of the round. Your opinion, I shan't judge. Real Madrid are fortunate enough to have Cristiano Ronaldo, who has ludicrously averaged a goal every 50 minutes in this year's competition with 14 goals, nine more than Bayern's top scorer Thomas Muller. To add to this, los Blancos have one of the strongest records in the competition with the only blemish being the 2-0 defeat to Bayern's German rivals Dortmund in the last round. Real are still battling for the title in Spain while Bayern have had it wrapped up for a number of weeks. This doesn't detract from the fact that both sides have a massive amount of pressure going into this one. Real spent a lot of money assembling a trophy-winning squad by ensuring Tottenham did the opposite and Bayern will want to add yet another Champions League trophy to their collection. If Real do indeed go on to reach the final, their first in 12 years, and win, they will be the first club in European Cup history to reach double figures in terms of wins. However, that 12-year barren run isn't to be ignored, and Bayern are considered to be the best team in the world, and with acclaimed boss Pep Guardiola, who has accumulated three titles in this competition as a player and boss, who's to say they can't make Real Madrid wait for two years more?
ITV will show the Tuesday 22nd game between Atlético Madrid & Chelsea and the Tuesday 29th game between Bayern Munich & Real Madrid.
Sky Sports 1 will show the Wednesday 23rd game between Real Madrid & Bayern Munich and the Wednesday 30th game between Chelsea & Atlético Madrid.