New Delhi: A blockbuster weekday awaits for football fans as the coveted Champions League tournament returns with it semi-final schedule.
Having defeated their respective opponents in the quarters fixture, four teams- Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Monaco FC, have all come forth in the thrilling semi-final round, where just two will make it to Cardiff, next month.
Here is everything you need to know about the semi-final 1st leg matches…
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid:
And it is Madrid Derby all over again, yet for the the first time in the semi-final stage. Tuesday night’s clash will be their fourth consecutive meeting at this tournament where on all three occasions it is Los Blancos who have crumbled down their Spanish neighbours.
However, despite the stats and numbers going for the hosts, coach Zinedine Zidane feels, “We’re not favourites. It is a 50-50 possibility, as it is always in the knockout stages.”
As for team changes, well, Zidane will be delighted with the return of Raphael Varane post his hamstring injury, but is likely to miss the experience of centre-half Pepe. A big blow however for the team will be the absence of the Welshmen Gareth Bale.
Atleti, on the other hand, will be facing some major concerns dealing with defence as Diego Simeone will miss the likes of Juanfran and Jose Gimenez
Date– May 3, 2017
Time– 12:15 am
Venue– Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
Channel– Ten 2
Live Streaming– Tensports.com and SonyLIV
Likely XI–
Real Madrid– Keylor Navas(gk), Sergio Ramos(c),Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Marcelo, Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Isco, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema
Atletico Madrid– Jan Oblak (gk), Diego Godin, Yannick Carrasco, Stefan Savic, Lucas Hernandez, Gabi, Koke, Saul Niguez, Gameiro, Antoine Grizemann, Fernando Torres.
Prediction– Real Madrid 2-0 Atletico Madrid
Juventus vs Monaco AFC-
After thumping down the mighty Barcelona side in the quarters, the Italian Giants will fly north to France to face the tournament’s underdogs who have astoundingly seeped through riding on the likes of a young attacking team. However, a big blow awaits Juventus as they will head into the match without Daniele Rugan, owing to right-knee injury.
For Monaco, there has been not much of a concern with injuries before the match, with their new revelation Kylian Mbappe all geared up to rock the visitors.
Date– May 4, 2017
Time– 12:15 am
Venue– Stade Louis II
Channel– Ten 2
Live streaming– Tensports.com and SonyLIV
Likely XI–
Juventus– Gianluigi Buffon (gk, c), Leonardo Bonucci, Dani Alves, Giorgio Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Pjanic, Sami Khedira, Cuadrado, Paulo Dybala, Mandzukic, Gonzalo Higuain
Monaco– Subasic, Dirar, Glik, de Jesus, Bernardo Silva, Mendy, Joao Moutinho, Tavares, Lemar, Falcao, Mbappe
Prediction– Monaco 1-3 Juventus
Source: Zee News