Following Friday's Uefa Champions League draw, Ian Hawkey provides his analysis and predictions for the outcome of both semi-finals and who will be playing in the final in Cardiff on June 3.
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid
So here we go again. A Spanish team in the final for the fourth time in a row and, for the fourth season in succession, a derby in what might soon declare itself the capital city of the Champions League.
To a catalogue that consists of two finals, and a last-eight clash there is now added an all-Madrid semi-final meeting.
Real would like the form guide to be considered only on the basis of those clashes. They have inflicted repeated heartbreak on their neighbours in European competition, from victory in Lisbon and Milan in 2014 and 2016 to the knockout blows of 2015 and indeed 1959.
In each case, the margins have been tight. Atletico led the Lisbon final until the late equaliser from Sergio Ramos, and then a one-sided extra time in which Real scored three times.
The following season, a single goal after 178 minutes of stalemate put Real through. Last May, Real won the final on penalties.
Expect then, a tight contest, much like the last Primera Liga meeting only two weeks ago at the Bernabeu, when Atletico’s Antoine Griezmann equalised late on for a 1-1 draw.
The pattern of modern derbies is well known: Real have greater possession, Atletico absorb and counter-attack.
For this one, there is a spicy extra twist. The second leg will be played at the Vicente Calderon arena, the last ever European match to be staged there before Atletico move to their new arena.
The atmosphere should be electric.
Prediction: Real Madrid to go through
Monaco v Juventus
If there is any defence in Europe that might not quiver at the astonishing potency of Monaco this season so far, it must be that of Juventus.
Fresh from keeping the combined might of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar at bay over 180 minutes in the quarter-final, Juve’s iron rearguard now attempt to stymie the bright young team who have scored 141 goals so far this season across all competitions, who lead their domestic league and, in spite of having started off their European run way back in the third qualifying round, appear full of stamina still.
That Monaco stuck six goals past Dortmund in the quarter-finals supports that theory they still have plenty in the tank as they also push to win the Ligue 1 title.
Against Juventus — finalists in 2015, having knocked Monaco out at the last-eight stage — the upstarts from the principality will feel especially youthful.
Kylian Mbappe, who has scored in every match of the knockout stage, turned 18 only in December. Gianluigi Buffon is 21 years his senior.
Buffon, who has never won the European Cup, made his first appearances in the Champions League before Mbappe was born.
How Buffon’s reliable lieutenants Giorgio Chiellini and Leo Bonucci handle Mbappe, and a resurgent Radamel Falcao, will have a significant bearing on the tie, as will the tests given to Monaco’s adventurous full-backs by the likes of Juan Cuadrado, Alex Sandro and Paulo Dybala.
Monaco’s aim must be to take a lead to the Juventus stadium, a notorious fortress.
Prediction: Juventus to prevail
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport