Semi-final second leg of the Champions League and everything is still open? Um, yes please!
The first semi-final encounters led to two exciting second legs. Paris Saint-Germain must once again stage a second-leg comeback, only this time on home soil, while the battle for European heritage is limited to two players apiece as Bayern Munich host Real Madrid on Wednesday night.
The Wembley goal awaits the two winners and the two evenings ahead will be eagerly awaited. Expect the best of the Champions League on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
Here’s how 90min assumes that the coming second legs will be survived.
Tuesday, May 7th
There was a feeling of familiarity surrounding PSG’s defeat in Dortmund. Les Parisiens had struggled on the road so often in the competition before securing two successive away wins to open the knockout phase.
Borussia Dortmund put in an excellent performance in front of a rampant yellow wall. Jadon Sancho purred and Mats Hummels put in an outstanding performance, but their advantage is only one as Marquinhos parried an outstanding attack from Marquinhos in the closing stages and Julian Brandt parried away.
These two sites have been here before. In 2020, Dortmund took a 2-1 lead in the second leg of the round of 16 but lost 2-0 in Paris. Will history repeat itself on Wednesday night? Luis Enrique’s hosts will dominate even more territorially, but the guests pose a clear threat on the counterattack.
The key to PSG’s victory will be taming BVB in transition, while the hosts will also need to perform much more efficiently in the final third compared to their efforts in Germany.
|
Kick-off time (GMT) |
contraption |
forecast |
|---|---|---|
|
8:00 p.m |
PSG against Borussia Dortmund |
2-1 (PSG win on penalties) |
Wednesday, May 8th
A win for Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday would be a huge motivation for classic Rivals Bayern Munich, who face Real Madrid in the semi-finals the following day with a 2-2 draw.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid delivered a typical performance in Munich, as they dominated for long stretches and then struck when they least expected it. Vinicius Junior’s convincing opener and late penalty mean Madrid go into the second leg with a result after Bayern took a 2-1 lead early in the second half.
While the newly crowned La Liga champions have dominated the direct duel this century, Bayern have shown good performances at the Bernabeu and received little reward for it. The Germans have not lost for 90 minutes at Madrid’s home ground since 2014 and prevailed on penalties in the 2011/12 semi-final, knocking Jose Mourinho’s Los Blancos out of the competition.
Given the good margins in the first leg and Tuchel’s ability to develop a master plan on this big occasion, expect another close affair on Wednesday. A repeat of the 2012 semi-final is certainly possible.
|
Kick-off time (GMT) |
contraption |
forecast |
|---|---|---|
|
8:00 p.m |
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich |
2:2 (Bayern win on penalties) |