Champions League Semi Final Predictions

It was a rather pleasing three out of four correct results for the Champions League Quarter Finals, with only the Atletico v Barcelona tie letting me down. The competition has been whittled down to just 4 teams, with just another three matches remaining until they get their hands on that illustrious European title.

Atletico Madrid v Bayern Munich

I would fancy Atletico Madrid if they had the away match first, particularly as how it worked so effectively against Barcelona. Pep Guardiola is in the hunt for his first European title in his last year with this Bayern side, and he will undoubtedly make this the priority. Bayern play an efficient style of play similar to Barcelona and can be lethal on the break. Robert Lewandowski has been in red hot form this year and he will need to rely on all of his goal scoring instinct if he is to penetrate a very strong defence.

Looking at Atletico Madrid, they delivered a masterclass in how to counter attack against Barcelona something which Bayern will need to be very aware of. Antoine Griezmann is lethal along with Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco. Captain, Diego Godin will undoubtedly make his presence felt, while Fernando Torres is beginning to recapture is form. A very interesting battle that could tilt the game is the one in the midfield between Koke and Gabi of Atleti and Arturo Vidal and Xabi Alonso of Bayern. If Bayern win or achieve a score draw in the first match, I would expect them to go through, particularly as Atleti would be chasing the game away from home.

With Barcelona having lost the last three league games until the 8-0 demolition of former Champions League semi finalists Deportivo, it threw the race for the division title wide open with Atleti sitting level on points with the Catalan giants. In the league, Atleti have conceded the least amount of goals (16) with Barcelona their closest competitors 13 adrift. Bayern have a comfortable 7-point buffer on Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. Like their opponents, they have conceded the least amount of goals in the league (14), but are also joint top scorers with 72. With Barcelona out, many will tip Bayern Munich as favourites to lift the trophy.

Manchester City v Real Madrid

Manchester City become the first English side since Chelsea in the 2013/2014 campaign. Undoubtedly they will be underdogs, particularly with their unpredictable league campaign of late. Vincent Kompany will play a big part, whether or not he is on the pitch as he has drastically improved City when fit. With Manuel Pellegrini being replaced by Pep Guardiola in the summer, the Chilean will want to go out with a bang, having already secured the Capital One Cup title in March. Like the other semi final, if City had the away match first I would fancy them as I don't see them keeping a clean sheet away from home. Kevin De Bruyne was an excellent purchase by Pellegrini and has been one of the stand out performers contributing 15 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for City this season.

On their day, Madrid will rip any team to shreds and are very dangerous on the counter attack. Cristiano Ronaldo has notched up 47 goals in just 44 games this season as well as assisting 15 times and just another 3 goals will mean that he has scored 50 goals in a season for the 6th year in a row. It's one thing about planning to stop him but actually doing it is a completely different thing. Gael Clichy will certainly have his hands full. Toni Kroos is an expert at controlling the game from midfield and it will be interesting to see if they can dominate possession against a useful City midfield. Like David Silva, James Rodriguez and Isco Alarcon tend to roam about making it very difficult for the opposition to mark. City have their work cut out to prevent this potent attack from firing Madrid to the final. 

Manchester City's league season is virtually over with the side sitting in fourth and just looking to consolidate Champions League football for next year. Fifth place Manchester United are snapping at their heels and just sit two points behind. This poor position most likely played a part in the downfall of Manuel Pellegrini, but he would be able to salvage a bit of pride with a trip to Milan on the 28th May. As for Madrid, what was looking like a disappointing season has all of a sudden sparked into life. They looked down and out of their domestic league, 12 points behind their Catalan rivals, however the 2-1 victory over Barcelona at the Nou Camp seemed to be the catalyst and 4 matches later, find themselves just one point behind the holders.

We have two ties that are quite close to call, even though it would be easy to pick out the favourites. I do think that Real Madrid will be able overcome Manchester City, helped by the second leg in the Santiago Bernabeu in front of their own fans. Atletico Madrid v Bayern Munich is one that could go anyway. Atletico will take confidence that the Bavarians play a similar style of football to Barcelona, but at the same time it will still be very difficult. If Atletico can keep a clean sheet at home then I do think they will win, however Bayern remain my favourites to progress.

Manuel Pellegrini and Manchester City

You would struggle to find anyone in the UK that would have thought Manchester City were trailing Manchester United going into the return derby. Both sides will want the bragging rights, but the game is the most important to Manuel Pellegrini.

Last May, Pellegrini was enjoying life, Capital One Cup in the bag followed by the league title. Many predicted this year to be a two horse race with Chelsea pipping City to the title and it looked like this was the case up until the New Year. Since then, City have lost 4 games, including 3 last month and have picked up just 18 points in the league - that's 8 less than their City rivals.

Rumours are flying about that Pellegrini is on his last legs at the Etihad. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest. Looking at last season, City should have had the title wrapped up in a present early. They had a far superior squad to Liverpool and Jose didn't seem interested in winning the league. Instead, they faltered and nearly handed the title to their North West rivals. The Premier League win papered over the cracks of a season that could have gone a lot worse.

Champions League is again, a major worry for Manchester City fans. This season was another year where they failed in the last 16 stage to Barcelona. Pellegrini will point to dodgy decisions made by the officials, however his tactical naivety cannot be ignored. In both years, they played in a 4-4-2 formation, suicidal when playing Barcelona who base their game on possession. Barcelona had the extra man in midfield and a comfortable first half, before Pellegrini decided to change, low and behold, City began to grow into the game and had chances. The damage was already done and a positive result in the Nou Camp seemed an impossible task.

The match on Sunday is a must win. A loss could see Liverpool move within 4 points of City, providing they secure maximum points at Newcastle. Manchester United have hit a run of form, with notable victories over Tottenham, Liverpool and Aston Villa. A win may not save Pellegrini's job, but it will go along way to banish nightmares of the poor results they have received over the last couple of months.

 City cannot allow United to dominate the midfield and this means playing 3 in the centre of midfield. United's duo of Carrick and Herrera are excellent at finding the passes in order to unlock defences. City will have to contend with the threat posed my Rooney up front, but more importantly, Fellaini in the hole behind the captain. A player like Yaya Toure or Fernandinho should have the power to deal with this threat, but as teams have found out in the past, you cannot underestimate the threat of Marouane Fellaini. Up front, Aguero is a match winner although has had his injury problems of late while David Silva can thread a ball through the eye of a needle.

Vincent Kompany has not been at his best this season for the blue side of Manchester, yet he is such an influential player. City feel much more secure at the back when he is on the pitch. When on the sidelines, City have to rely on the often eccentric Eliaquim Mangala, whom it seems they have severely overpaid for and Martin Demichelis who has seen better days. Mangala may prove his worth, but at the moment he is a long way off it and City are suffering. With Kompany an injury doubt, this could spell more trouble for City.

Looking onto the summer, City could go on a spending spree, buying players such as Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Jack Wilshere. The media has constantly criticised City for their lack of young, English talent and this option would be an attempt to rectify it. While this is only one of the many transfer rumours in full flight at this time of year, it is all wrong. Buying English talent is a costly business and only recommended if the results are a safe bet. It would be wise for City to look elsewhere and take the criticism on the chin.

I am a fan of Jordan Henderson as he is a proper leader of men and an excellent box to box midfielder, however he, like the others, would command a monumental fee. Jack Wilshere hasn't fulfilled his potential and even at the age of 23, injuries may hamper his progress further. As for Raheem Sterling, he is a hot prospect however City shouldn't spend an obscene amount of money when he is at such a young age.

No matter what happens on Sunday, Pellegrini could find himself looking for a new job in the summer. I would tip Carlo Ancelotti to replace him, as he could find himself unemployed if he doesn't grant Florentino Perez with more silverware. It may not be judgement day for Pellegrini, but the reaper is approaching and could be on his doorstep by 7pm on Sunday evening.