TUESDAY:
REAL MADRID V CHELSEA
Real Madrid dropped points in the La Liga title race at weekend by drawing 0-0 with Real Betis which was a big opportunity missed for them because a win would've taken them top as Atletico Madrid lost to Athletic Bilbao. With how close that title race is at the moment, they can't afford to drop any more points because Barcelona are hot on their tail and Atletico can easily increase the gap at the top if they win games and Real don't. It's very close in that league.
Real will have Eden Hazard back to face his former club for this one after coming off the bench at the weekend against Real Betis. Hazard hasn't quite been the player we know he is since his move to the Bernabeu two summers ago because of injuries and lack of form which he'll want to put behind him in this game. He'll want to show both teams that he's still one of the best players in the world by putting in a top performance for his team which we haven't seen for a couple of seasons. This is a big game for the Belgian.
Chelsea have the advantage in the race for the top four following their win over West Ham which increased the gap between themselves and 5th place to three points having been level on points with West Ham going into their game on Saturday. It was a good team performance from them on the day from start to finish and Thomas Tuchel will want the same in this one so they can have the advantage in this tie.
The Blues have the opportunity to reach another final in this tie as they're already in the FA Cup final next month. They'll be without a doubt the underdogs out of all the teams left because the other sides have a bit more quality than them which was the case for them when they won it back in 2012. That could give them some hope going into this tie because no one expected them to win it back then as they were clear underdogs like they are this year. Their underdog mentality could work for them again despite the players and manager being very different to the ones they had back in 2012.
I'm going for a draw in the first leg because I think it will be a close game with goals from both sides. I can see Chelsea really go for it and Real do enough for the draw because of the experience they have in their squad which is why I think this one will be a draw.
PREDICTION: 2-2
WEDNESDAY:
PSG V MAN CITY
PSG have knocked out two of European football's biggest clubs in the last two rounds in Barcelona and Bayern Munich which should give them some confidence going into this tie. Having lost in the final last season, the Parisians will be desperate to get their hands on the famous trophy because of the pain they suffered in losing that final in Lisbon last year. If they can pass another difficult test in this one against Man City, it could finally be their year.
PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino was involved in one of the craziest games in football when he last met City in the Champions League a couple of seasons ago when he was in charge of Spurs with his side losing 4-3 on the night but winning the tie on away goals. There was plenty of drama and VAR controversy in that one and it wouldn't be a surprise if this one was the same because of the quality both sides have.
This is Man City's first Champions League semi final under Pep Guardiola having broken their quarter final duck against Borussia Dortmund in the last round beating them 4-2 on aggregate. If they're to get their hands on the famous trophy this is the year to do it because they're one game away from the final and arguably the favourites to win the competition itself. This will be a huge test to their credentials because of the quality of team they're up against in PSG.
City began their quest for the treble on Sunday by winning the Carabao Cup with Aymeric Laporte's header winning them the final. With that trophy won and the Premier League title pretty much in the bag, City can now focus on the Champions League because it's the trophy they want to win as they've never won it before. They'll focus on the Premier League as well with the title yet to be secured but their main focus will be to win that all important Champions League.
I'm going for a Man City win in the first leg because I think they'll have just enough to take advantage of this tie. It will be a close game because of the qualities of both sides, but I think City will come out on top because they're better defensively.
PREDICTION: 0-1
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