Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
We now know the lineup for the Semi Finals of both the Champions League and the Europa League after UEFA made the draws earlier today
Champions League:
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
Juventus vs Monaco
An all-Spanish tie means that there will not be a third part to the final trilogy between holders Real Madrid and their cross town rivals Atletico – it’s 2-0 in terms of finals but it will be the 4th straight season in which the two sides have met each other. The reading is no better as Real also knocked out Diego Simeone’s men in 2015 at the Quarter Final stage.
Real failed to win the 2015 edition of the tournament after being knocked out of the competition by Juventus and the Turin side will go up against the exciting Monaco side in the second semi final. Juventus were runners up in 2003 and 2015, while Monaco will be looking to go one better after their disappointemnt in 2004 when they were edged out by FC Porto. You get the feeling that Monaco’s exciting side will be broken up in the Summer so this could be the last opportunity to see them on the biggest stage.
With an Madrid derby in the Semi Finals, it does mean that there will be a Spanish side in the final for four years in a row, further asserting their domiance on Europe’s premier club competition
Europa League:
Manchester United vs Celta Vigo
Ajax vs Lyon
Manchester United fans are more than likely bemoaning the fact that they not going to be going on a euro-jolly in Amsterdam for the Semi Finals as they have been paired with Spanish side Celta. Unfortunately for them the Northern city of Vigo does not quite have the same appeal to it. That said I’m sure there will still be a large army of fans making their way to the Baladios stadium at the beginning of next month.
As for Ajax they have been paired against Lyon after edging past Schalke last night, there will be very little to choose between these two sides in the battle to more than likely become the opposition for Jose Mourinho’s men in the Europa League final.
