The draw for the Champions League semi-final takes place on Friday and there are no shortage of storylines amongst the four semi-finalists: Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Manchester City and Real Madrid.
For example could we have anther Madrid derby? Atletico knocked Real out of the Champions League last year, but they have been incapable of beating them this season in La Liga. Sergio Ramos’ 93rd-minute goal in the Lisbon final is another memory shared by the two, with Diego Simeone looking to improve upon the achievements of the squad he crafted two years.
If that happened that would mean that Bayern get Manchester City, with Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola crossing paths.
Guardiola has agreed to leave Bayern at the end of the season for Man City so imagine the controversy as he meets his future employers?
If Real Madrid met either Man City the focus would be their former manager Manuel Pellegrini who left the capital in poor fashion and has since criticized president Florentino Perez.
Pep versus Real Madrid conjures up memories of these memorable Clasico meetings between Real and Guardiola’s Barcelona. Guardiola would be looking for revenge after Madrid knocked Bayern out of the Champions League semi-final defeat two years ago.
If Man City draw Atletico, there would also be some potential ill-feeling. The tie would constitute Sergio Aguero’s return to Estadio Vicente Calderon, after his controversial exit from the club five years ago – which would undoubtedly be very special. Finally, if Atletico were to come up against Bayern, it would be the eventual opportunity for Los Colchoneros to avenge the defeat to the German club in the European Cup of 1974.
The Semi-Finalists
Atlético Madrid
Last SF: 2013/14 (won 3-1 v Chelsea)
SF record: W2 L2
This season: W5 D3 L2 F14 A5
Top scorer: Antoine Griezmann 6
European head-to-heads
v Bayern W0 D1 L1 F1 A5
v Manchester City N/A
v Real Madrid W1 D1 L4 F4 A9
Bayern München
Last SF: 2014/15 (lost 3-5 v Barcelona)
SF record: W10 L7
This season: W7 D2 L1 F28 A9
Top scorer: Robert Lewandowski 8
European head-to-heads
v Atlético W1 D1 L0 F5 A1
v Manchester City W3 D0 L3 F9 A8
v Real Madrid W11 D2 L9 F33 A31
Manchester City
Last SF: first semi-final
SF record: W0 L0
This season: W6 D2 L2 F18 A11
Top scorers: Kevin De Bruyne/Raheem Sterling 3
European head-to-heads
v Atlético N/A
v Bayern W3 D0 L3 F8 A9
v Real Madrid W0 D1 L1 F3 A4
Real Madrid
Last SF: 2014/15 (lost 2-3 v Juventus)
SF record: W13 L13
This season: W8 D1 L1 F26 A5
Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo 16
European head-to-heads
v Atlético W4 D1 L1 F9 A4
v Bayern W9 D2 L11 F31 A33
v Manchester City W1 D1 L0 F4 A3
