Spanish, Germans kept apart in semis

AFP/Nyon

The prospect of an all-German or an all-Spanish European Champions League final next month remains alive after yesterday’s semi-final draw.

But with the Spanish and German teams kept apart when European football’s governing body UEFA made the draw for the last four, the Wembley showpiece could just as easily feature yet another Germany-Spain clash.

Last year’s beaten finalists Bayern Munich, who have already secured the Bundesliga title, take on Spanish league leaders Barcelona.

In the other match, Borussia Dortmund will play Real Madrid, as representatives of Europe’s current dominant footballing powers go head-to-head.

Remarkably, the four semi-finalists can boast a total of 18 European titles between them.

Real lead the way with nine victories, although their last success dates back to 2002.

“We respect Borussia Dortmund and I need to say that we played them twice already this season and weren’t able to beat them, so eliminating them will not be easy,” former the Real’s director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueno said.

Their arch-rivals Barcelona and Bayern both have four and Borussia weigh in with their single victory in 1997 when they upset favourites Juventus 3-1 in the final. Neutral fans were probably hoping for a Bayern v Barcelona final, promising a feast of football between arguably the continent’s two top teams of the moment.

The semi-final is given added piquancy in that former Barca coach Pep Guardiola is to take over the helm at Munich’s Allianz Arena next year.  

But Jupp Heynckes, the man he is to replace, will have reason enough of his own for wanting to reach the final – and not simply in order to bow out on a winning note in London.

He will no doubt also be hoping that Real win through to the Wembley showdown, as a fitting way to bring down the curtain on his long and distinguished coaching career against the side he led to the European crown in in 1998, bringing the Madrid giants their first title in the competition in more than 30 years.

Bayern, having comprehensively dispatched Juventus in the last round, again have home advantage first but are unlikely to find the Barca defence as porous as the Italians, who shipped four goals without reply over the two legs. However, if they are to reach their third final in four years, Bayern will have to do so without the services of leading scorer Mario Mandzukic, who is suspended for the first leg.

Barcelona, in their sixth semi-fial in as many years, showed just how reliant they are on World Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi in their hard-fought quarter-final triumph over Paris Saint Germain, eventually prevailing on away goals.

But they needed the less-than-fully-fit Messi to come off the bench in the second leg in Barcelona to orchestrate the equaliser on the night that saw them through.

Jose Mourinho’s Real are unlikely to relish the thought of another trip to Dortmund in this season’s competition.

In the group stages, the Germans overran Real 2-1 and then earned a deserved 2-2 draw in Madrid to finish top of the group.

And the way Real struggled to overcome game Galatasary, losing the away leg 3-2, while Dortmund were getting the better of another Spanish side Malaga with two late goals, will doubtless set the alarm bells ringing in the Spanish capital.

FIXTURES

Semi-finals first leg

Tuesday, April 23

1845 GMT Bayern Munich (GER) v Barcelona (ESP)

Wednesday, April 24

1845 GMT Borussia Dortmund (GER) v Real Madrid (ESP)

Semi-finals second leg

Tuesday, April 30

1845 GMT Real Madrid (ESP) v Borussia Dortmund (GER)

Wednesday, May 1

1845 GMT Barcelona (ESP) v Bayern Munich (GER)

The final will be played at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday, May 25.