“Real Madrid’s Rich Connection to the Champions League: Preview of the Semi-Final Against Manchester City”

Record winner Real Madrid has built a close connection to the premier class, which is fed by history. The semi-final duel against Manchester City promises a lot of excitement

It’s a massive project that Real Madrid are tackling with the remodeling of the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Every now and then, drones take to the air to demonstrate to the public the progress at what is perhaps the most prominent construction site in the Spanish capital. Implanting new towers, a new roof and a new interior in the middle of a metropolis is by no means child’s play, but why is President Florentino Pérez a building contractor with the necessary change? The cost of the conversion has already increased to 800 million euros. Maybe it will come out in the fall, when everything is ready, that there will also be a billion. A gigantic investment that seems to be worthwhile at this location.

The Bernabéu is the place where history is repeatedly written, especially in the Champions League, and the semi-final against Manchester City (Tuesday, 9 p.m. / Amazon Prime) should again only be a stopover, like coach Carlo, who was blessed with royal composure Ancelotti after winning the Copa said: “We are preparing for City in the best of spirits. We are on the verge of another final and will give everything.” Although the clubs have long stood for the same standards and effort, Real have won the pot 14 times, while the Cityzens are still waiting in vain for this trophy in the showcase.

So the record winner has something that the others don’t have. Protagonists like Daniel Carvajal (31 years old), Toni Kroos (33), Luka Modric (37) or Karim Benzema (35) are far from satisfied with their five Champions League triumphs because they won their sixth title on June 10th in Istanbul could even trump the legend Alfredo di Stefano, who won the European Cup five times in a row between 1956 and 1960. The new epoch began in Lisbon in 2014, continued in Milan in 2016, Cardiff in 2017 and Kiev in 2018 until Paris in 2022. Individual class shone in the collective to bring city rivals Atletico to their knees twice, Juventus once and Liverpool FC twice.

Cristiano Ronaldo liked to strike a pose, but the final was never decided by an individual. In this respect, the Spanish perennial favorite Carvajal, the German conductor Kroos, the Croatian all-rounder Modric and the exceptional French striker Benzema are still indispensable pillars today. For them it has to be “real love” with the Champions League, which is fed by the history of the proud club with an implanted guarantee of the title. The younger ones like Eduardo Camavinga or Aurelio Tchouameni and maybe soon also a Jew Bellingham benefit from the experience and dedication of the older ones.

Art, combat and brains are the ingredients for a “Formula K” to win the premier class. Catch-up races of epic proportions only come about when inner conviction lives in an ensemble.

The Madrilenians have different players in all parts of the team; their squad is composed more cleverly than in many other big clubs, because the blood refreshment is carried out more cautiously, but then sustainably. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, the Belgian giant, is often underestimated, but drove the superior Liverpool FC to despair in last year’s final. Fede Valverde, the speedy Uruguayan, has been at the club for five years – but only got a major role when he was almost 25.

Up front, Vinicius Junior, that fantastic Brazilian, seems unstoppable at the moment. His compatriot Eder Militao, who is set to work alongside defense chief David Alaba, opens up a chance for German international Antonio Rüdiger to play, which could result in a physically impressive duel with Erling Haaland. Will Manchester’s goal machine feel a natural limit?

The title dreams of most of his team-mates were shattered last season by the comeback artists of the Madrilenians, who had previously driven Paris St. Germain and Chelsea FC to the brink of madness in the closing stages and overtime. After a 4-3 win in the first leg and a 1-0 lead, Pep Guardiola thought his team had almost two legs in the final when the 90th minute broke. A late double strike by substitute Rodrygo should shake the Bernabéu and lead to extra time, where Real prevailed again. “We’re up against a world-class team that’s almost used to winning this trophy a lot,” warns Manchester midfielder Ilkay Gündogan. A highly exciting giant duel on the royal construction site will show to what extent this trauma is still involved when the German captain leads the Skyblues onto the field.