Champions League: Power Rankings after semifinal first legs

The first legs of the Champions League semifinals are in the books. The favorites in each match won, but there is still room for the underdogs to comeback.

We were able to watch two very exciting and pulse-pounding Champions League semifinal games in which Liverpool and Real Madrid picked up wins. Roma and Bayern Munich are still in the running to come back and win these ties with some better shooting and tactics.

The rankings here are pretty simple. The losers are in the 4th and 3rd spots while the winners are in the top two spots in these power rankings. Who had the best win and who had the worst loss? The worst loser should be pretty clear. It’s Roma.

Roma played terribly in this game. Liverpool ran all over them and Roma couldn’t do anything about that. The defense had trouble against Salah’s brilliance and the extra speed Mane and Firmino gave this Reds attack.

Luckily, the new hero of Rome, Edin Dzeko, came up big off the bench with the first of two late away goals for the Italian side. Dzeko has played the role of hero all season for Roma. His away goal against Barcelona was the sole reason Roma had any chance of beating Barca in the quarterfinals.

Can history repeat itself? Yes. It will be the same situation Roma had in the quarterfinals. Score 3 goals at home and don’t concede. If they do this, they will go to the Champions League final and shock the world.

The key is the midfield. James Milner had his way in the middle winning the ball off of Radja Nainggolan and Daniele De Rossi. If those two can win the majority of the 50/50 balls, Roma could get more opportunities at goal. Edin Dzeko must start and manager Eusebio Di Francesco shouldn’t play three at the back.

The comeback is possible again. Don’t count Roma out of this one.