The UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals get underway this evening, with the possibility that their could be an All-English Final in Paris. Both Liverpool and Manchester City are taking part in different sides of the draw, and if they can get the job done, will face off in Paris on 28 May.
Manchester City are the first team to get their tie’s started as they face-off with thirteen time winner’s Real Madrid.
Madrid overcame Chelsea in the quarter’s, despite a valiant comeback at the Bernabeu, eternal talisman Karim Benzema launched his team in the semi’s. City took on the other half of Madrid, Atletico Madrid in their quarter-final, getting the job done in the home tie, before surviving a scrappy affair in Spain.
City will have to contend with Benzema, and Real’s raft of experience to get in their second-ever UCL final.
Liverpool have an arguably easier task, taking on this year’s giant killers, Villareal.
Liverpool rolled past Benfica in the quarters, despite the Portuguese side scoring three at Anfield to give Jurgen Klopp a small scare, but were relatively untouched on their road to the semi-finals. Villareal on the other hand have had get through some European super teams to get here. They got past Juventus in the Round of 16, thanks to three late goals in Turin. They would then leave it late against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, scoring in the last minute to get into the semi’s.
Both English teams have their home-legs first, making this a pivotal game for both sides, as they look to set their dominance in familiar surroundings.
Should both teams get to the final, it would not only be good for English football, but add another game to this season’s on going saga between the Reds and Cityzens. The game would follow the conclusion of the closely contested Premier League between the two clubs, and after Liverpool beat City in an FA Cup semi-final.
Both games start at 8 PM GMT, with Manchester City playing on Tuesday and Liverpool on Wednesday. The return legs will played in the following week, with the teams swapping days.