The business end of the season is upon us and it doesn’t get much more exciting than the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, as four teams compete for a place in the final of club football’s most prestigious competition.
After a hectic round of quarter-final ties, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Villarreal all made it through to the final four as, once again, English and Spanish football showed its dominance in Europe. Man City host Real Madrid on Tuesday, while Liverpool host Villarreal on Wednesday.
Former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker Michael Owen has given his verdict on the action in both games ahead of another huge round of fixtures, as the first legs take place this week.
Coming up first is Man City vs Real Madrid, as the English champions take on the 12-time Champions League winners for a place in next month’s final.
Pep Guardiola’s side overcame Real’s city rivals Atletico in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 aggregate win and will look for a similar outcome against Madrid’s other team, who defeated Chelsea 5-4 on aggregate in their last eight tie.
Speaking to BetVictor, Owen said: “What a tie this should be! City were impressive at the weekend, and they’ll enter this with some confidence. We all know how desperate City are to win the Champions League, I’m expecting a good performance. Real have done so well to get to this round, but I’m not entirely sure how they’ve done it.
“Chelsea had plenty of chances to knock them out in the quarters, I don’t think City will be as wasteful. I’ll never write off Real in this competition, but I have to favour City. City will keep the ball and I can see them frustrating this Real side. I think Real will score, but I’m going for a 3-1 City win.”
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Elsewhere, Liverpool will certainly feel they have the more favourable draw after being pitted against last season's Europa League winners, Villarreal, although they must not underestimate them after they shocked Bayern Munich in the last round. The Reds saw off Benfica with a 6-3 aggregate win, and Owen feels they’ll be too strong for Unai Emery’s team on Wednesday.
He told BetVictor : “It wasn’t the prettiest of games, but Liverpool’s win over Everton was a massive win. I actually think that will be a good warm-up game for this, Villareal will play a very similar way to Everton. They’ll sit deep and try to frustrate Liverpool.
“Villareal are very organised, and in Emery, have a coach who excels in cup competitions. They’re dangerous on the break, and the likes of Danjuma are a threat. I still think Liverpool will do enough to get the win, don’t rule out more Origi heroics! 2-0 Liverpool.”
Guardiola will be desperate to make it to a second successive final in this competition in order to have another shot at adding the only trophy he is yet to win at the club to his collection, but Karim Benzema and co. are all too familiar with this competition and will be their toughest test yet.
Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, will not only want to win his second Champions League trophy with the Reds but also to keep alive their hopes of a famous quadruple. Anfield has seen many drubbings of opposition in this competition in the past, and the German will hope for another one here.
City’s second leg with Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu takes place in eight days' time on Wednesday, May 4 while Liverpool and Villarreal have less time to prepare for their second leg at El Madrigal, which takes place six days after their first leg, on Tuesday, May 3.
