Champions League Semifinal Preview 

Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid

This fixture is the most popular in Champions League history, with each of the ones in recent history being classic affairs. The two teams have clashed 26 times in the competition. 24 of the occasions have come in the knockout stages, this time is the eighth time it’s come in the semifinal. Real Madrid have been the dominant team recently, being on the winning side of the tie six of the last seven times, the last one coming in the semifinal of the 2017/18 campaign where Real went on to complete their historic three-peat of the Champions League. 

Los Blancos travel to Munich to meet Bayern at the Allianz Arena for the first leg of the tie with a lot of momentum. They’ve completed vengeful victory over the champions and their assailants of last year, Manchester City as well as a dramatic win in El Clasico in the meantime that only tightens their grip on the La Liga title. Bayern on the other hand, have had an… interesting season. They’ve been quite lacklustre, seeming to lack the prolificacy they’re usually synonymous with and they’ve just seen their 11 year reign over the Bundesliga end by way of an unstoppable, unbeatable Bayer Leverkusen. However, they’re European prowess seems to remain intact, as they firmly got the best of an albeit young and naïve Arsenal squad in the quarterfinal, although they had been in red hot form before the tie.

As far as advantages go, of course Bayern will feel more comfortable at home for the first leg, but neither team has been utterly dominant in any of the rounds leading up to this one. When considering both teams style of play – Real Madrid’s free flowing buildup in attack and Bayern Munich’s emphasis on ball possession and breaking the lines of the opposition – the signs point to a quite exciting and open game.

Borussia Dortmund vs Paris Saint-Germain 

This is only the third time that these two have met in the Champions League, the first was was during the Round of 16 of the 2019/20 season, where PSG went all the way to final and met fellow semifinalists, Bayern Munich. The second came only a matter of months ago in the group stage.

Dortmund have probably been overlooked during this Champions League campaign. They’re triumph over Atlético Madrid may have come as a surprise to many watching, but they’re course throughout the competition has maybe been the most difficult of any of the semifinalists. They were first drawn into the Group of Death at the start with this upcoming opponent’s, PSG, along with AC Milan and Newcastle United. They then met the dominant league leaders of the Eredivisie in PSV and convincingly beat them, and next beat perennial challengers, Atleti, in a neck-breaking, fast-paced, end to end event. Their nothing-to-lose open style of play and their tag as underdogs in this stage of the tournament will definitely play to their advantage here. Interestingly, the last time that the Champions League final was held at Wembley Stadium, Dortmund qualified for it.

PSG will be flying with confidence after their win over Barcelona, a tough draw where they had to come back from a losing position in the second leg away from home.  Wingers Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola shined, especially Dembélé in the second leg, scoring and winning a decisive penalty in front of a very hostile Barcelona crowd. Ironically, this will be the second consecutive fixture that Ousmane Dembélé will play against a former side, though he’ll most likely get a more welcoming greeting in Dortmund. Starman, Kylian Mbappé, was sort of missing in both fixtures of the Barcelona tie, despite scoring twice in the second leg, but more presence from him will certainly be required if PSG are to continue in the tournament and possibly win it. 

During the group stage, PSG came out on top overall with a draw away and a two-goal win at home. However, Dortmund’s home form has been nearly flawless in this Champions League campaign, drawing twice and winning every other fixture at the Signal-Iduna Park. This tie is sure to be entertaining, European nights that feature these two very seldom are boring. Plus with a bunch of fresh, young talent at either managers’ disposal, these two games are going to be a lot of fun to watch.