Sports Champions League preview: Atletico,Chelsea,Bayern and Real Madrid aiming for the finals

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Four elite clubs go against each other with just one going to have the honour of lifting Europe's top football competition,the UEFA Champions League.

In aphabetical order: Atletico Madrid,Bayern Munich,Chelsea and Real Madrid could all win the 'holy grail' but they would have to cancel each other for a winner to emerge.

Both semifinal ties are worthy of the final itself,however it throws up an attractive four games in prospect over the two legs between the teams involved.

It is difficult to accurately call which team will progress ahead of their opposition to make the finals,because they both seem evenly matched.

However,it is the one that outwits each other that seems likely to be making the trip to Lisbon next month.

Here is an analysis of the game:


Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea:

The game seen as the one: "with so many headlines," Atletico Madrid would be hosting Chelsea in the first leg of their semifinal clash at the Vicente Caldreron on Tuesday.

Some headlines to draw up: Diego Simeone's tactical nous against Jose Mourinho's; Fernando Torres making a return to Atletico Madrid; Can Chelsea stop Diego Costa; Mourinho making a return to Madrid; and now the one that started even before the draws: Thibaut Courtois facing his parent club.

Factor in the one of Tiago Mendes facing Chelsea,and you would understand the possible melodrama this game portrays.

Atletico this season have proven that they are a team to reckon with,going by their exploits so far in this season.

Three more wins in their current Spanish La Liga campaign and they would be crowned champions in their local league.

But they would be coming up against a Chelsea side that has a wily manager and are still hurting from their shock home defeat to Sunderland over the weekend.

Atletico showed against Elche that they can be patient while looking for a result,which makes it more an intriguing prospect against Chelsea who are not too generous to the opposition.

No doubt the spotlight will be on two Atletico players: Diego Costa and Thibaut Courtois,the former with reports that he is Chelsea bound next season,and the latter because of his alliance to Chelsea.

Costa is a man in form and one who has been helping Atletico with the crucial goals that has been powering them on.

He has notched up seven goals in six Champions League games this season,and will definitely be a threat against the Blues.

Chelsea on their part have injury concerns. Samuel Eto'o has been ruled out of this game,and although Eden Hazard and Petr Cech travelled with the squad to Spain,they are doubts for the game.

Atletico ended Mourinho's reign in Spain with Real Madrid,winning the Copa Del Rey in an ill tempered game at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Much of this would echo in the mind of the Portuguese,as he would love to make a statement on his return to Spain after an inglorious exit from Real Madrid.



Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich

Pep Guardiola making a return to Spain,the obvious headline from this game.
Through out his time as Barcelona's coach,Guardiola never lost at the Bernabeu to Real Madrid. What a test he will get this time around when he leads Bayern on their quest to do the unthinkable: win the Champions League back to back.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti's team seems to have be finding their form at the right time,fresh from the defeat of Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey finals last week,not wrong if they are said to be on a roll.

Importantly for Madrid,Gareth Bale has started coming in good for them and his second goal against Barcelona last weekend would send jitters down Bayern's spine.

That sprint on Batra for that goal,would surely give Phillip Lahm or whoever would be at rightback,Rafinha some sleepless nights.

Crucially also,Madrid would welcome back Cristiano Ronaldo from an injury,his presence alone inspires belief in others and should lift spirits around.

Worryingly for Bayern they seem to have lost some steam after winning the Bundesliga title in March,but Guardiola is a manager to be trusted to get the best out of his players.

Both teams have talents in equal measures,boasting of good midfield and attacking force,ironically both of their defences are prone to errors that could cost their teams.

With different ambitions residing in both teams,one of them would have to surrender for the other to march on to the finals.

Bayern wants to become the first team in history to win the Champions League back to back,while Madrid feels that winning 'La Decima' is long overdue and feels it is the season to achieve it.

Definitely one of the ambitions of either Bayern or Real Madrid will not come to fruition this season,not when they are playing against each other in the semis.
 
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