The almighty Bayern Munich fell fighting against PSG. The current monarch must give up his crown. And of course, once the first leg semifinals have been played, a possible final is predicted where many are already betting on City-Real Madrid.
In City-PSG, Guardiola’s men managed to win a hard victory from the Parque de los Príncipes. That does not guarantee that the key is defined, but the English did take an important step in seeking that long-awaited final on May 29 in Istanbul.
It is the great pending task of the collector of titles that is Guardiola, who precisely with those of the City has not managed to stay with the orejona, where every year, the sheikhs invest millions of euros to build mega schools that can reach the maximum scepter for the first time of Europe.
The Catalan, who has been playing again without net strikers (he has Gabriel Jesús, Sterling and Ferrán Torres on the bench), maintains his conviction in the midfielders as De Bruyne – his banner – Bernando, Gundoghan and Mahrez. There he has enormous potential for ball possession and depth, where although today his forwards are waiting for the opportunity, all the midfielders described above have firepower.
Pellegrino’s PSG, which continues to count on the trident of Neymar, Mbappe and Di María as its most lethal and forceful weapon, will have to go to the Etihad with a solid and solid proposal if it wants to put City out of the race. He has the players and the idea to do damage, but he must play a perfect game, something that happened to him in Paris, because two blunders in his defensive zone allowed him to embrace the English siege and take all three points from the City of Light.
My candidate and favorite is still City, because of their idea of the game and also, because if there is a coach who constantly tries to improve his squad, that is Guardiola.
In the other key, Real Madrid-Chelsea distributed points in Madrid and the London rematch promises to be a high-voltage match. The English were superior in various aspects of the game, but the meringues have a cup tradition that always supports them in these instances.
Although Zidane’s team has had important casualties and does not have a squad of the past, where it had two or three players per position, the ace of spade is Karim Benzema, where the French has been the stronghold for a long time. He has a goal and global influence in the game of the madridistas. To this, add the regularity of Kross and Modric, two modern and decisive steering wheels in the Spanish scaffolding.
This new Chelsea, charged with electricity and high intensity players, will be a tough opponent. Tuchel, the German former PSG, has already achieved a dynamic that can put the intentions of Hispanics in check. It is a reserved prognosis key, but slightly favorable for Real Madrid due to the history and pedigree in this type of instance. Havertz, Werner, Mount and Pulisic are going through a glorious time and if they can maintain that performance they can clearly manage to place Chelsea in the grand final.
It is a different Champions League, where several favorites were left on the road such as Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Liverpool and Juventus. Two Englishmen for glory, one of them with the obligation now more than ever to arrive, as it is for City and Guardiola. Another, like Real Madrid, which due to its history is required to always be there, and the glory that PSG will seek, which was already close to 2020.
There will be a new monarch of Europe and on May 29 we will know who is the best.
- The content in this opinion column is the sole responsibility of its author, and does not necessarily reflect the editorial line or position of The counter.
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