CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WRAP-UP

SportsBeat!

Written by Aaron Cantin

Another Champions League wrap-up? You know it. The quarter-finals are complete and the path to the finals is that much more clear. Each side of the bracket provides very different stories. On one end it's the two favorites as PSG and Manchester City are set for a high-profile fixture. On the other side, we have two sides that feel lucky to be there but both feel destined for silverware. One of those “lucky” teams is Real Madrid so luck may not be as big a factor as we all believe.

Manchester City players celebrate Phil Foden's goal; Source: SkySports

RECAP

Liverpool 0 - 0 - Real Madrid - Madrid advance 3-1

Right on trend this year, Liverpool created chance after chance but failed to deliver a positive outcome. Klopp’s side has failed to produce when it really matters in 2021 and for the first time they truly paid for it. Madrid took advantage of mistakes in the first leg producing three goals. Liverpool failed to hold their side of the bargain on home turf and that was the difference. What looked like a disastrous season for Madrid has quickly turned into a season to remember. Madrid has another Premier league foe ahead in Chelsea. More on that later.

Bayern Munich 1 - 0 PSG - PSG advance 3-3 (away goals)

Without a doubt, this was the most intense quarter-finals we have seen in years. A re-match of last year's finals did not disappoint as the French side took a big step forward to their first-ever Champions League title. If Bayern Munich had striker Robert Lewandowski you have to believe Bayern would have found a way. Especially considering Bayern subbed off their only striker Choupo-Moting in the final ten minutes for Leon Goretzka, a much more talented midfielder in hopes of finding a deciding goal. PSG deserves credit for scoring three away goals against a team like Bayern. If there was ever a bad matchup for Munich it's against a team like PSG with strikers willing to make runs behind the backline. In the end, PSG was able to expose Bayerns weakness in a slow backline and that proved to be just enough.

Chelsea 0-1 Porto - Chelsea advance 2-1

The story from this game is possibly the goal of the tournament coming in the 93rd minute when all hope was lost. Chelsea went into this game with a comfortable 2-0 lead and yes Porto produced chances but there was always that “whatever you can do I can do better” feeling coming from the Chelsea sideline. I have no doubt if Porto would have scored early Chelsea would have responded with one of their own. Nonetheless, Chelsea was able to put this game to rest and advance to the semi-finals.

Borussia Dortmund 1 - 2 Manchester City - City advance 4-2

A quarter-final matchup to remember. Although City eventually walked away victorious from both matchups, it could not have been tenser. Dortmund scored early in this one thanks to Englishman Jude Bellingham picking the top corner and for a while, it seemed like it was Dortmund's night. Unfortunately for the Germans, City caught a huge break early in the second half being awarded a penalty shot caused by an unforeseen error from the Dortmund defense. After that, it was all City. The second goal allowed City to sit back and control the game. That was it for Dortmund. A great effort by the black and yellow and another reason to believe City may not reach the peak this year.

SEMI-FINALS PREVIEW

PSG vs Manchester City

Just like PSG’s quarterfinal matchup, this is worthy to be the finals. The two favorites entering the tournament have crossed paths and we, as spectators, will all benefit from it. Both teams are thirsty for their first Champions League trophy and whoever prevails from this matchup will be the heavy favorites in the finals. First things first, though. The public likes City in this matchup but not me. I’m leaning towards PSG. PSG proved they can overcome the best, outlasting Bayern Munich last round. Manchester City seemed much more vulnerable. Dortmund scored early in the first half of the second leg and at that point, City would have been eliminated. No team has provided an answer to Kylian Mbappe and Neymar upfront for PSG and I don't think City can stop them either. City has a tendency of becoming complacent when in control of a game and PSG can make a team pay for that more than any. I like both teams to win at home but in the end, PSG to score more goals and advance to the finals.

Chelsea vs Real Madrid

This is a matchup no one was expecting after the group stages, yet here we are. On one side, we have the most successful club in Champions League history in Real Madrid, who have been labelled underdogs from the beginning of the year. On the other end we have a Chelsea squad who were left for dead in the first half of the year, managed to sneak out of the group stage, and now have a real chance of winning the Champions League. Chelsea can credit a lot of their newfound success to new manager Thomas Tuchel who has found a way to make outcasts like striker Timo Werner and midfielder Kai Havertz feel comfortable in their new surroundings. However, I do not think it will be enough. When it gets down to crunch time, it's never a bad bet to go with Real Madrid. There are many ways Chelsea can win and I do believe they are the more talented side, but Madrid has a squad that has won the Champions League before and knows what it takes. I’m not betting against that. Real Madrid vs PSG in the finals!