Champions League semi-finals preview: Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund vs Paris Saint-Germain

The UEFA Champions League semifinals are set to take centre stage this midweek as four teams will aim to stamp one foot at the final. 

Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain will square up for their third encounter this campaign while Bayern Munich and Real Madrid will be set to reignite what is arguably the longest-standing rivalry between any two teams in the competition’s history.

As all four teams prepare to clash for a place in the grandest stage set to be played at Wembley Stadium, here’s a preview of what to expect from the two matches:

Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid

Bayern host Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg at Allianz Arena on Tuesday by 8 pm.

Bayern are having a tumultuous season, having lost the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen. Despite this, the Bavarians are having a remarkable Champions League campaign, having knocked out Lazio in the round of 16 with a 3:1 win against Lazio and a 3:2 aggregate win over Arsenal in the quarter-finals.

Madrid on the other hand overcame a spirited RB Leipzig side in the round of 16 with a 2:1 aggregate score before knocking out defending champions, Manchester City on penalties in the quarter-final clash after playing out a 3:3 draw in the first leg.

Both Bayern and Madrid have played a combined 30 Champions League semifinals in the competition, with the 32-time German Champions featuring in 13 semifinal matches, while the 35-time Spanish Champions have featured in a record 17-time Champions League semifinals. Both clubs hold the record for the first and second most semifinal appearances in the competition.

Both teams will be set to square off for a record 27th time in the Champions League, marking the most-played fixture in the history of the competition. Although the Los Blancos hold a slim lead in the overall head-to-head– recording 12 wins against Bayern’s 11, the Spanish side have been the dominant side in this fixture for over the past decade. Madrid have lost only two of the last 13 matches played between these two sides since the first-leg defeat to Bayern in 2002.

Both teams enter this match with impressive unbeaten streaks. While Thomas Tuchel’s side is unbeaten in their last 15 Champions League matches at the Allianz Arena, Carlo Ancelotti’s side are unbeaten in 10 Champions League matches this season, avoiding defeat in all their matches from the group stage.

However, Los Blancos have won their last three away matches against Bayern, becoming the only side with the longest-ever winning streak away to Bayern in a European competition. Those fans travelling to Munich holding Real Madrid tickets will be quietly confident they can take home a positive result ahead of the second leg.

Team news

Bayern have a plethora of long-term injury absentees which includes Sacha Boey and Tarek Buchmann who are both sidelined with hip and hamstring injuries respectively. Gabriel Murisic and Bouna Sarr are potentially out of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Tuchel is sweating over the fitness of Konrad Laimer(ankle) and Matthijs de Ligt(knee) who were both injured in last weekend’s clash against Eintracht Frankfurt and their availability for the clash against Madrid remains uncertain.

In another blow to the Bavarians, Jamal Musiala was not in the squad that faced Frankfurt last weekend with a tendon issue and it remains to be seen if the Germany International will pass a late fitness test to be fit for the match.

The trio of Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry and Dayot Upamecano will be accessed ahead of the game while Kingsley Coman remains out with a groin injury.

On a positive note, Alphonso Davies is back in the squad and is in contention for a starting berth after missing the second-leg clash against Arsenal due to a one-match suspension.

For Madrid, they have a parked squad ready to take part in this game bar a few long-term injury issues from Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba. While Courtois is tipped for a return this season, Alaba is out of the season with a knee injury.

Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy recovered from illness and fatigue and will be in contention for this clash while Dani Carvajal will not take the trip to Germany due to suspension.

Prediction

Tuchel holds a remarkable record against Madrid, losing only once against the Spanish side.

Heading into this fixture with a depleted squad, especially in a key area like defence might prove costly against a rampaging Los Blancos attack.

The Spanish giants are tipped to take advantage of Bayern’s injury crisis and are on course to end Bayern’s 15-game unbeaten run at home.

We’re predicting a 2:1 win for Madrid. 

Borussia Dortmund vs Paris Saint-Germain

Dortmund will host Ligue 1 Champions, PSG for the third time this campaign, on Wednesday by 8 pm.

These two sides already clashed twice in the group stages with the French side winning 2:0 in the first leg before a 1:1 draw in the second leg meant Die Borussen finished top of F.

Dortmund showcased a terrific performance to knock out Atletico Madrid 4:2 at Signal Iduna Park despite losing 2:1 in the first leg.

The win over Atletico ensured Dortmund’s fourth-ever semi-final qualification and their first since the 2012-13 season where they eventually reached the final.

For the visitors, Luis Enrique’s side have been flying in both domestic and continental competitions this season. They will enter this game basking in the euphoria of their French League triumph.

They also impressively knocked out Barcelona in the round of 16 despite losing 3:2 in the first-leg clash at the Parc des Princes. A red card to Barca’s Ronald Araujo completely turned the tide around as PSG exerted more dominance to ensure a 4:1 win and a 6:4 aggregate score to seal qualification into the semifinals.

Both Dortmund and PSG are now set to gear up for their seventh meeting in the Champions League. The Parisians hold the upper head-to-head record with two wins against Dortmund’s solitary victory while three of these clashes have ended in a draw. However, the German side have never lost to the Ligue 1 champions at home but faces a stern test against a PSG side that are one of the favourites to win the title.

Team news

Dortmund will be without Ramy Bensebaini who is out with a knee injury while Sebastian Haller will not make the squad as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

In a major blow for Terzic’s side, Donyell Malen remains a doubt for the clash due to a reoccurring thigh injury while the availability of Mats Hummels hinges on a late assessment after the 35-year-old was taken off in the clash against RB Leipzig last weekend.

For the visitors, Presnel Kimpembe has begun individual training after an achilles injury kept him out for a large duration of the season. However, the France International will not feature in the game as he continues to recuperate from his lengthy injury.

Sergio Rico has recovered from his injury but is not match-ready yet. The goalkeeper is expected to build his match fitness but will unlikely feature for PSG this season.

Prediction

Dortmund have shown resilience this season by going above the odds. Their 4:0 triumph away to Bayern, their draw against Leverkusen and their comeback win against Atletico are testament that Die Borussen are strong contenders against any opponent.

However, PSG are also capable of causing Dortmund problems but the home side would be boosted playing in front of a ferocious “Yellow Wall”.

We’re predicting a 2:2 draw.