The Final Four of the 2014 UEFA Champions League is set, with defending champions Bayern Munich, nine-time winners Real Madrid, 2012 champions Chelsea and surprise package Atletico Madrid making it through.
Before the actual draw to determine the two semifinal match-ups, let’s first take a closer look at each of the four remaining clubs, examine their strengths and determine who they most likely would want to face among the other three contenders.
2014 Champions League Semifinal Team Previews
Atletico Madrid
Atletico pulled off the biggest upset of the quarterfinal stage by knocking out Barcelona with a 1-0 home win despite missing leading scorer Diego Costa and key midfielder Arda Turan.
Strength: Defense
Once again, Atletico’s immense defense stepped up big by keeping a clean sheet against mighty Barca. Atletico has conceded just five goals in the tournament thus far, and hasn’t allowed more than one goal in a single game.
Coach Diego Simeone has his team exceptionally well-drilled in his physically taxing pressing style defense, but with a domestic title run-in to coincide with the semifinals, health will play a major factor in Atletico’s chances of progressing.
Most Ideal Match-up: Chelsea Least Ideal Match-up: Real Madrid
Despite beating Real Madrid in the Bernabeau this season, Atletico would still not want to face its city rivals in the semis. That win is Atleti’s only triumph over Real in 12 years. Instead, Atletico should prefer to face Chelsea, which possesses the weakest offense remaining among the three.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich went behind in both legs of their quarterfinal tie against Manchester United, but the defending champions powered through with a 3-1 win in the second leg at home.
Strengths: Priorities + Superior squad
[sc:Soccer240banner ]With the other semifinal teams still preoccupied with their respective leagues, Bayern has the luxury of concentrating solely on the semis after locking up the German league title in dominating fashion. This would allow them to rest key personnel ahead of the two legs.
However, after going winless in their last three league games (two draws and a loss – the first in 53 games), complacency might be their biggest enemy going forward.
The Germans have arguably the strongest squad left, and will have key midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez back for the semis after serving suspensions in the quarterfinal second leg.
Most Ideal Match-up: Real Madrid Least Ideal Match-up: Chelsea
Due to some unpleasant history with Jose Mourinho (who beat Bayern in the 2010 final with Inter) and Chelsea (who beat Bayern in the 2012 final), the Bavarians may not want to face the Mourinho-led English club again. On the flipside, Bayern would probably like to face Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid, a team that they knocked out in this stage just two years ago.
Chelsea
Down 3-1 to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg, Chelsea staged a dramatic 2-0 win at home to go through.
Strength: Managerial adjustments
Jose Mourinho’s bold substitutions – Andre Schurrle, who came on for leading scorer Eden Hazard and seldom-used Demba Ba – supplied the precious goals for the Blues. That outside-the-box thinking from their manager is Chelsea’s biggest strength. Mourinho’s wherewithal to adjust his tactics on the fly makes the English club a tricky match-up in the semis.
Most Ideal Match-up: Real Madrid/Bayern Munich Least Ideal Match-up: Atletico Madrid
Although Atletico is the weakest of their three possible opponents on paper, Chelsea may not want to face the Spaniards and their rabid pressing. Instead, Mourinho may fancy going against either his former team Real Madrid or Bayern, where his team can do what it does best: defend deep and hit back on the counterattack.
Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo-less Real Madrid suffered a second-leg scare against Borussia Dortmund, but the Spaniards survived to squeak through 3-2 on aggregate.
Strength: Attack
Real were shut out for the first time in this year’s tournament, but their prolific offense looks ready to fire on all cylinders with leading scorer Ronaldo set to return in the semis. Led by the BBC – Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo – Real are the competition’s leading scorers with 34 goals in 10 games.
Most Ideal Match-up: Atletico Madrid Least Ideal Match-up: Bayern Munich
Real beat Atletico 5-0 over two legs in the Copa del Rey semifinal earlier this season, and would definitely prefer to meet their city rivals in the semis again. Conversely, defending champions Bayern would obviously be the toughest tie for the Spaniards. Bayern knocked Madrid out in the semis back in 2012 on penalties.
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