Here we are. Barcelona got humiliated. Pep Guardiola’s dream of winning the Champions League outside of Barcelona got crushed, and Atalanta suffered a frantic crash. To sum up, we’ve got the Champions League’s top-four after a series of drama. Not only has this been entertaining, but it has shown how unpredictable European football can be. Two French sides go head to head against two German teams for the top-two, a rare sight, especially without Spanish, English, or Italian sides on the map.
Now that we have Paris Saint-Germain vs. RasenBallsport Leipzig and FC Bayern Munich vs. Olympique Lyonnais in front of us, let’s see the odds that these clashes currently have. Let’s go!
The battle of football’s left-wingers: PSG vs. RB Leipzig
Looking at how the clubs function and the monetary operations that occur within them, some believe football clubs can be divided into two wings: right-wing and left-wing. Right-wing football is something that believes in sacrifices, belief and hard work to make things happen and win games. However, left-wing football is what clubs like RB Leipzig and PSG are accused of following – investing heavily to sustain and over-objectifying the game. Hence, in the sayings of those who believe in this philosophy, the first semi-finals will be a clash of left-wingers.
One cannot merely ignore the level of progress that both PSG and Leipzig have done to get themselves into this position. PSG saw a resurgence with Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and their hopes of converting high investments into European titles have never been this close. Atalanta scared the Parisians, for real, but they proved deserving with a fighting comeback. Tonight, PSG have a solid chance of making it into the finals and becoming the first French side to contest in a Champions League after Monaco in 2003/04.
However, facing Paris are a side that are not only entertaining but seriously good in what they do.
RB Leipzig, often misworded with Red Bull Leipzig by many, didn’t even exist when Barcelona appointed Pep Guardiola to take charge of their sinking cruise. Despite being accused of ‘pouring money in football’ and hated by many outside of Leipzig, one cannot simply deny their brilliance inside the pitch.
This Leipzig side walks on the path laid by Ralf Ragnick and under Julian Nagelsmann, are quick and deadly. Breaking Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone’s defensive stronghold, RB Leipzig have arrived at Europe’s top four in 2020- after just 11 years of their formation. Despite not having their star Timo Werner against Madrid, Leipzig side displayed how their system works like an engine and isn’t particularly reliant on a single profile. Tonight, RB Leipzig will look to hunt another heavyweight – a thing that they’ve done on several occasions under Nagelsmann.
PSG will be looking to continue their impressive run against German oppositions in their maiden clash against RB Leipzig tonight. Being able to do so will land them in the European stage’s semis for the first time since 1994/95. On the other hand, RB Leipzig are a side that cannot merely be counted off, and we’re about to see a quick and dynamic progression tonight.
How confident will Bayern be? : Bayern Munich vs. Lyon
FC Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich.
Many expected Bayern to go through but only a few or no one expected it to happen this way. Barcelona lost the match twice – football-wise in the first half and mentality-wise in the second. With this loss against Hansi Flick’s mighty Bavarians, Barcelona have been put in a condition worse than it seems to everyone.
Bayern will be facing Lyon for the ninth time in their history. The sides met in 2009/10 knockouts last time, and Bayern won the tie 4-0 in aggregate. Bayern are the favorites to repeat the fate again and extend their winning run to 10 matches.
Over to Lyon, the underdogs thrashed Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in a thrilling encounter that saw City missing chances more than anything. Rudi Garcia’s main man, like the City game, will be Houssem Aouar. Aouar stands as the third highest assists provider in Champions League after he made his debut in 2018. In addition, Rudi Garcia’s tactical implications and Memphis Depay’s charisma might be vital if they are to somehow get through this Bayern side.
All in all, Bayern are the clear favorites here. Lyon will have to execute yet another emphatic display and knock Bayern Munich out if they dream of ending their disappointing league performance’s reminiscence.
Following the quarter-final drama, we can already anticipate and hope for things to get more tensed. Will UEFA Champions league get two new finalists? Only time will tell…