Champions League semi-final fixtures

Champions League semi-final fixtures  

By Laolu Olugbenga  

The draw for the Champions League Semi-Final was conducted on Friday, with Barcelona and Bayern Munich facing off and defending Champions Real Madrid taking on Juventus. Here’s what you need to know about the teams involved.

               

Barcelona:
It is yet another semi-final test for Barcelona, their 8th in the last 10 years. Barca won their last Champions League title in 2011 and have won 4 overall. The Catalans will be coming up against a familiar face in Pep Guardiola, the man who brought up arguably the greatest ever Barcelona team that won all six competitions they participated in during the 2009/10 season. Their last meeting against Bayern ended on a rather sour note as they were slammed 7 - 0 on aggregate by the ruthless Bavarians. This season they have been in solid form and gave a good account of themselves against PSG. Lionel Messi is the competition’s top scorer with eight goals and has scored the second most goals in a single campaign, with 14 in total.

                                                                
 Bayern Munich:
One of the dominant teams in Champions League history, Bayern have won the prestigious title five times, including three in a row from 1974 to 1976. They last won the title in 2013, beating rivals Borussia Dortmund in the final in a pulsating all-German war. Despite having a squad badly hampered by injuries, the Bavarians showed determination and grit to reach the semis, overturning a 1- 3 first loss to qualify 7-4 on aggregate. They are also the favourites against their semi final foes, having registered a 7-0 victory back in 2013. In Manuel Neuer they boast of the best goalkeeper in the world, and he has kept 19 clean sheets in 30 Bundesliga games, a joint record held by former Bayern great Oliver Kahn. The team’s top scorer is Thomas Muller with six strikes.

                                                                  
Juventus:

The underdogs, Juve, are the least most successful side in the race for the semi finals, winning two medals in 1985 and 1996. They, are, however Italy’s second most successful team in the competition after AC Milan, and will aim to pull an upset against Real Madrid. The Old Lady should have Paul Pogba back from injury in what will be a huge boost for Massimiliano Allegri. Juve are on the verge of securing their 3rd consecutive Serie A championship as they are 15 points clear with eight games left. The team’s top scorer is Carlos Tevez with six goals.


                            

 Real Madrid:
No introduction is needed for the defending champions and the most successful team in Champions League history. Los Blancos have won the competition a record 10 times, including a staggering five times in a row from 1956 to 1960 in the era of the likes of the legendary Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano. Real won their 10th title last season after beating Atletico Madrid 4-1 in the final, and are firmly on course to become the first team to retain the rebranded Champions League crown. Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo has hit the most goals in a campaign, 17 in total, and is the joint top scorer this season with eight goals.