ATLETICO MADRID
VS
CHELSEA
Atletico had their own stressful experience against Barcelona. They scored very early through a Koke rebound and like PSG were without their all-world striker, Diego Costa. Unlike the Parisians, Atletico was able to weather the Barcelona storm and hold on for a 2-1 aggregate win. It put them through to their first semifinal in over 40 years.
Atletico hope to have the aforementioned Diego Costa back in uniform after he featured and scored in this past weekend's La Liga contest versus Elche. He will be vital in an attack that is trying to penetrate the most solidified back four left in the competition. Their defensive lineup are no slouches themselves (they are the stingiest in Spain) but may be in front of a shaken goalkeeper behind them in Thibaut Courtois. The 21 year old Belgian, on loan from Chelsea, has been in the middle of a contractual controversy ahead of this game. Though officials have deemed his 3 to 4 million euro "play against parent club" clause as unenforceable, the cloud over his selection may affect the usually unflappable Atletico keeper. With all that being said, I still think Los Rojiblancos have too much talent not to be able to make Chelsea squirm.
For Chelsea, they'll need to have the same fortitude that propelled them past PSG against the Spaniards. Eden Hazard's participation is doubtful with a calf injury. Defenseman Branislav Ivanovic will miss the game through suspension on yellow card accumulation. They are coming off a demoralizing loss in the league to bottom of the table Sunderland. Petr Cech is recovering from illness that kept him out of the Sunderland contest. The deck has been stacked against the Blues before however, and in this competition they seem to find the will to win. Forgotten man Demba Ba was the hero last time. Is it possible that former Atletico Madrid icon Fernando Torres could play the same role this time? Can Andre Schurrle fill in for Hazard at least one more time and produce? We'll see but keep these two stats in mind going into the first leg at the Vicente Calderon: Atletico has never lost at home in the UCL to an English side and Chelsea has only won 3 of their last 14 away legs at La Liga opponents.
In conclusion, I think Atletico will get a couple goals past Petr Cech on their home ground. If they can do what PSG couldn't and keep Chelsea off the scoreboard with an away goal, I think they'll have full confidence going into Stamford Bridge to hold a lead after their Herculean effort against Barca.
PREDICTION: Atletico Madrid 3-1 on aggregate (1st Leg April 22nd @ Atletico Madrid/2nd Leg April 30th @ Chelsea)
REAL MADRID
VS
BAYERN MUNICH
Munich will have midfielder and vice captain Bastian Schweinsteiger back as well as Javi Martinez after both served suspensions for the second leg against Manchester United. After Patrice Evra gave Man U a glimmer (about 50 seconds worth) of hope against the Bavarian giants, Bayern did their best Scorpion impression and tore out the Red Devils' spine with two unanswered tallies to cruise to a 3-1 win. They are scoring goals in bunches and had scored in every game they'd played this campaign until a 3-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund on April 12th. Look for Mario Mandzukic and Thomas Muller to get plenty of opportunities to pepper Iker Casillas' net in this one. With Madrid fullbacks Marcelo and Alvaro Arbeloa doubtful and out respectively, look for Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery to take advantage of the second string Blancos on the back line as well. The German champions look to be firing on all cylinders and have a fairly clean bill of health.
Real Madrid does not have a similar luxury. Cristiano Ronaldo sat out the Copa Del Rey final with a hamstring injury but looks like he will be back for Wednesday's first leg at the Bernabeu. But when the injury gods giveth, they also taketh away. Gareth Bale, whose scintillating run and goal to clinch the Copa for Los Blancos was a thing to behold, is now in doubt with a flu. He may still go but there is speculation as to whether the Welshman will be 100%. The previously mentioned injuries on the outside of Madrid's defensive line means more pressure than ever will be heaped on Sergio Ramos and Pepe. They are both world class players but are both susceptible to emotional outbursts at inopportune times. They must stay composed to keep the waves of attack Munich will bring at bay.
I am banking this prediction entirely on the notion that both Ronaldo AND Bale will play both legs. I think Ronaldo has fallen short so many times for Real Madrid in this competition that he can not and will not let them down with the final in Portugal. Bayern Munich is a great team and the defending champions but I don't see it coming down to penalties like it did in 2012. If Real's two scoring dynamos can stay on the pitch, I have Real Madrid eking out a shootout, just not of the penalty variety.
PREDICTION: Real Madrid 5-4 on aggregate (1st Leg April 23rd @ Real Madrid/2nd Leg April 29th @ Bayern Munich
Stay glued here to Bleeding Your Colors for more UCL coverage. You can watch the games along with me (not really but in spirit) on Twitter @TREVORutley and be sure to mark your calendar for the final in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday May 24th. Take care and enjoy the games!
Image Credits: All crests (Wikipedia.org)