A display shows the results of the sketch for the Champions League semi-finals matches at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, April 12, 2013. There clearly was a doing the rounds on Twitter recently, in expectation of Friday morningas Champions League semi-final draw. The rest of the four sides come from Spain and Germany a Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund a' and the first part of the fun was that when the groups from exactly the same country were drawn against each other, it might be regarded as a repair by baseball fans. The payoff? If the teams were kept apart, it would be seen as a fix. It was hardly Abbott and Costello performing aWhoas on first?a but it might have made you smile (accusations have been made through the years that football draws have been fixed.) As it turned out, the German and Spanish sides were held apart from each other with Bayern Munich in the home in the first leg to Barcelona on Apr. 23 and Borussia Dortmund getting on Real Madrid these evening (the return legs are on Apr. 30 and May 1 with Madrid vs. Dortmund being performed on the 30th). If the Spanish giants, who both perform their second legs at home, which could possibly be viewed as a bonus, allow it to be through, then aEl Clasico,a the name by which their games are known, will require place at Londonas Wembley Stadium in the Might 25 closing. Letas take a peek at the mouth-watering match advantages. (MORE: Why Barcelona versus. True Madrid Is Higher than a Game) Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona The fast subplot that comes to mind is how probably the most interested observer of them all will be a certain Pep Guardiola. The former Barcelona director, who won 14 awards over four years for Barca, is taking over as Bayern employer next period, and has been on a year-long sabbatical in Ny. Whether he attends these activities isnat yet identified but he, along with basketball fans around the world, will realize that Barcaas amount 10, Lionel Messi, will function as the key for this semi-final. Barcelona made heavy weather of these quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, and required a maybe not completely fit Messi ahead off the seat and help save them with this weekas second leg (he experienced a hamstring injury in the first game). Messi was summoned after PSG took a shock lead, which may have now been adequate to begin to see the Parisian part through. While Messi didnat rating Barcelonaas equalizer, he played an important part in the develop to the goal, and it'll be interesting to see if present instructor, Tito Vilanova, will rest him over the next couple of weeks, with Barcelona all but assured the league title in Spain. aThey received in confidence when he got on,a said PSG coach, Carlo Ancelotti. aHe is the best person in the world, even if he's perhaps not entirely fit.a But Bayernas own report against Barca is reputable, having gained three, driven two and only lost one (that said, Barcelona haven't lost a European Cup knockout tie against German opposition, winning eight past ties). Bayern, who are last yearas losing finalists, have dominated the German group, securing their 23rd name last weekend, and have looked pretty convincing in their make an effort to go one step beyond last season (switch out the reigning champions, Chelsea, for Dortmund, and this yearas semi-final fall into line could be the identical to last season). Bayern dismantled Juventus in the quarter-final, winning equally games 2-0, and with participants of the calibre of Arjen Robben, Mario Mandzukic and Bastian Schweinsteiger, they can't be underestimated. And yet itas possible that despite having their defensive frailties a' the Catalan side hasnat kept a clean sheet within the last few 13 aClasicosa a' Barcelona could progress if Messi is on the subject in most of the 180 minutes (or perhaps 210, if it goes to extra time). The man who seemingly have a on the best player of the year award can orchestrate play, both by scoring targets and making them for his teammates, meaning that the aClasicoa final might be on the cards. Prediction: First leg Bayern Munich 1- 1 Barcelona. Next leg Barcelona 2-0 Bayern Munich. Barcelona to proceed through 3-1 on aggregate (this really is based on Messi playing many both fits). (MORE: Lionel Messi Is Person of the Year for the Last Time) Borussia Dortmund versus. True Madrid Borussia Dortmund would be the only unbeaten area left in your competitors, meaning that they should be taken seriously. Their charismatic coach, JArgen Klopp, has instilled a, gung-ho attitude in his small side, most recently established by their gorgeous injury-time recovery to score twice and knock out Spanish side Malaga in extraordinary circumstances (it absolutely was the first time a staff having to score two injury-time goals to gain in the Champions League had done so since Manchester United in the 1999 final). Theyave only defeated Real Madrid once (dropping twice, with three ties) but that 2-1 success came in the group levels last October and they managed a 2-2 tie in the Bernabeu a few days later. Polish striker Robert Lewandowski is a constant danger, with Mario GAtze and Marco Reus offering much assurance. But their 12th man is, to place it averagely, their excited house crowd, who'll surely never give up hope. But may enthusiasm be enough to get past one of the worldas best instructors, Jose Mourinho, who, in star guy Cristiano Ronaldo, has at his disposal a new player not exactly the equal of Barcelonaas Messi? CR7 won three of Madridas five goals inside their 5-3 mixture quarter-final victory over Turkish side Galatasaray, and itas hard to assume Dortmund being able to keep him from notching through the semi-final. However, Madrid probably wonat find a way to keep a clean sheet in the first leg in Dortmund a' Madrid has just kept the weight out once in 10 Champions League games this year a and if Dortmund does report an absent goal in the next leg, itas anyoneas guess regarding the final success. aI donat think Madrid will soon be afraid because of what happened in the party stage,a Dortmund common manager Hans-Joachim Watzke said. aThey will respect us, the same as we respect them.a Madrid, semi-finalists for a 24th time, and in the final four for the 3rd successive time, are bidding to win your competition for a 10th time, with Mourniho wanting to get to be the first man to win three European Cup or Champions Leagues with three different groups. Many neutrals would want to see Madrid allow it to be to the final, if their biggest competitors Barcelona also get there. But football cares little for love, and Dortmund and Munich is likely to be hoping to put up aEl Clasicoa of these own. Prediction: First knee Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Real Madrid. Next leg Real Madrid 2-1 Borussia Dortmund. Semi-final to be decided on fines, which is nigh on impossible to call! MORE: Could Cristiano Ronaldo Do a Maradona for England?
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