Manchester City and Liverpool will hope to move toward setting up a second progressive all-English UEFA Champions League final as they start off their semi-final ties at home to Spanish rivals Real Madrid and Villarreal separately.
Man City out to hold onto control against Real Madrid
The last time these sides met, City caused a second progressive early UEFA Champions League exit on their Spanish rivals, a 2-1 triumph in Manchester in the 2019/20 round of 16 in August coming a half year after a 2-1 win in the Madrid leg. Pep Guardiola was joyous. "We took out Real Madrid and we know the exact thing this group can do - three Champions Leagues in column," said the previous Barcelona chief. "It will give us the mindfulness that: 'alright, we can make it happen.'"
City, obviously, have not figured out how to "get it done" yet, however they were finalists interestingly last season, missing out 1-0 to Chelsea. In any case, they are in unfavorable structure; they dispensed with resolute Atlético in the semis and have not surrendered in four knockout games this season.
Real Madrid presently can't seem to dominate in that frame of mind at City (D2 L1) yet this might be their second, with Karim Benzema in extraordinary structure. He has hit seven goals in this season's knockouts and needs only one more to draw level with Robert Lewandowski's table-garnish count of 13 for the mission.
Liverpool target end to Villarreal's radiant run
UEFA Europa League holders, Unai Emery's Villarreal are still on course to match the dazzling accomplishment of José Mourinho's Porto, who won the UEFA Champions League in 2003/04, the season in the wake of winning the UEFA Cup.
Having wiped out Juventus in the round of 16 and (seriously astonishing still) Bayern in the quarter-finals, the Yellow Submarine have matched their 2005/06 contest best by arriving at the last four, however their more experienced players will be aware as a matter of fact that Anfield is certainly not a simple arena to visit.
The Villarreal class of 2015/16 attracted Liverpool the UEFA Europa League semi-finals, and won the principal leg of the tie 1-0 just to unhinge in the return game, going down 3-0 to Jürgen Klopp's side, and the German won't underrate Emery's side. "It will be really, really troublesome against Villarreal," he said. "However, it's the semi-last of the Champions League - in the event that it was easy there would be an off-base thing."
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