This past week proved pivotal for several clubs across the various domestic leagues in Europe. In Germany, Bayern Munchen smoked Wolfsburg 6-0 at the Volkswagen Arena en route to clinching FC Hollywood’s 5th consecutive Bundesliga title. Leaving them 26th overall since the current league was formed just 54 years ago. Meanwhile in England, Chelsea made the Champions League football for next season after defeating Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park. In addition, the Tottenham Hotspurs sealed a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in what was the final North London Derby at White Hart Lane.
The win not only kept the Suprs’ slim Premier League title hopes alive, but also assured the club of finishing the season ahead of rival, Arsenal, for the first time in 22 years. Lastly in Spain Real Madrid seized all three points against Valencia after Marcelo’s late game heroics via a long range danger and Barcelona won El Derbi 3-0 courtesy of 2 goals from Luis Suarez. Thus the LaLiga title race is still finely balanced with just three matches to go for La Blaugrana and four matches left for Los Blancos.
This week however, we’ll once again turn our attention to Europe’s two elite competitions in the Champions League and Europa League as the first leg of the semifinals will be taking place Tuesday through Thursday. Therefore I’ll be providing short and sweet synopses on each of the four marquee matches. Here we go!
UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid C.F. vs Club Atletico de Madrid
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017 2:45PM EST FS1
The first semifinal of the week is the Madrid Derby! This marks the fourth consecutive season that these two clubs will have squared off during the Knockout Stages, with Los Blancos getting the better of their crosstown rivals Los Colchoneros on each of the previous three occasions. Real beat Atletico 4-1 in extra time in the 2013-14 final, 1-0 on aggregate in the 2014-15 quarterfinals, and 1-1 (5-3) on penalties in the 2015-16 final. Thus there’s a bevy of intrigue in this semifinal as Los Rojiblancos look to finally avenge their shortcomings against Real. Meanwhile the Galacticos are eyeing back-to-back Champions League titles, a feat that no club as ever achieved in the modern era. Edging out Atletico will get them one step closer to achieving that goal.
LSB Prediction: Take out the recent heartbreak from Messi’s magic in the dying seconds of El Clasico and the 2-1 Copa del Rey defeat to Celta Vigo (Europa League Semifinalist), and Los Vikingos has been unbeatable at home this season. Thus expect a spirited and clinical performance from Cristiano and company as they capitalize on the couple chances that come their way in front of goal, but it’ll be Antoine Griezmann’s away strike that could prove the difference in the tie after leg two. 2-1 Real Madrid C.F.
AS Monaco FC vs Juventus FC
Stade Louis II, Fontanelle, Monaco
Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017 2:45PM EST FS1
Perhaps the most intriguing matchup of the four to be previewed is Monaco vs Juventus. It’ll be a clash between the young blind-eyed boys of Monaco and the seasoned wherewithal men from Torino. Le Zebre are captained by 39 year old goalkeeper Gigi Buffon. He’s a footballer that’s accomplished virtually everything he could for club and country, including countless Italian league, cup, and super cup titles to go along with his World Cup winner’s medal. But one thing that the Italian captain is void of wining is a Champions League Final. Time is fleeting for him as he’s set to retire after the World Cup next season, just as it is for the likes of 30 plus year old vice captains Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli. It appears the time is now for Juve to finally hoist the famed bunny eared trophy. Still, the fresh legged, pace-filled, young guns from Monaco might have something to say. Whether, it’s 18 year old Kylian Mbappe, 21 year old Thomas Lemar, or 22 year olds Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko, and Benjamin Mendy, there’s speed, skill, and sense of invincibility all over the park. A triple threat could take the old organized men by surprise and prove deadly come game’s end.
LSB Prediction: The match being at the Stade Louis II bodes well for Les Rouges et Blancs because of the backing of the home crowd. Monaco has played loose and unerring all campaign long, but going up against Juve will be the club’s toughest test yet. Le Zebre held Barcelona scoreless over two legs in the quarterfinals and have allowed just a single goal in the entirety of the Champions League this season. I expect Monaco’s talented youth to get taught a less or two as Juve stifle wonder-kid Mbappe and the boys. 2-0 Juventus FC
UEFA Europa League
AFC Ajax vs Olympique Lyonnais
Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017 12:45PM EST ESPN3
This matchup features one of Europe’s most storied clubs in Ajax Amsterdam. Domestic league and cup title record holders Ajax have won the European Championship (Champions League) four times including back-to-back-to-back titles in the early 1970’s. In addition, in their illustrious history, they have won one UEFA Cup (Europa League). This go round, Ajax features some tremendous up and coming talent in the likes of 19 year old Kasper Dolberg, 20 year old Jairo Riedewald, and 24 year old captain Davy Klaassen to name a few. Meanwhile Lyon will feature one of the Netherlands golden jewels in former Eredivisie Player of the Year, Memphis Depay. The 22 year old claimed the honor at age 20 while leading one of Ajax’s rival clubs PSV Eindhoven to the domestic title. Depay has pace, skill, power, and a wicked curling shot and cross. He is definitely a player to watch out for, especially since he’ll be having a homecoming of sorts. Depay will have support in teammate and striker Alexander Lacazette. Lacazette is a stone cold killer in front of goal as he’s netted 31 times in 40 appearances for Les Gones this campaign.
LSB Prediction: On paper Lyon has more quality and senior team experience than that of de Godenzonen, but this match will be played inside Johan Cruijff ArenA, featuring an extremely load and boisterous crowd. Therefore I’m going with de Joden to pull out a close win as Dolberg finds the back of the net late on. 2-1 AFC Ajax
Real Club Celta de Vigo vs Manchester United FC
Estadio Municipal de Balaidos, Vigo, Galacia, Spain
Thursday, May 4th, 2017 2:45PM EST FS1
The slate of semifinal matches culminate with a tussle between Spain and England. Many pundits and supports alike still seem to stake the claim that the Premier League is the top domestic league in Europe despite the fact that Spain has won a European Double of sorts in each of the past three seasons. Real Madrid and Barcelona combined to win the three Champions League titles, with Sevilla wining the past three Europa Leagues. In addition, two of the past three Champions League Finals have been Madrid Derbies, meaning that it was an all Spanish final. Seems to me that Spain has a firm grip on Europe, but for those Premier League proponents, this matchup can be seen on the surface as an example of the depth of squads that England possess and Spain supposedly does not. Now, as we dig deeper, we see that the Red Devils are sitting fifth in the Premier League table, whereas Celta Vigo sits eleventh in LaLiga. Thus Man United is in a must win situation. United is the better side on paper and in it’s respective league, but Celta sitting mid-table could just in fact prove that there is indeed depth to Spain’s top flight and silence the critics once and for all.
LSB Prediction: Manchester United are the heavy favorites to not only win the first leg and the tie, but the Europa League as whole. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic out for the remainder of the season, the front line has been led by the talented teenager in Marcus Rashford. Rashford's pace has proved problematic at times for opponents, Premier League leading Chelsea included. However, he and the rest of the Man U squad will get a rude awaking at the Balaidos. Celta will play aggressive, physical football and disrupt Rashford, Pogba, and Martial’s flow. Ultimately, they will counter on a couple of occasions with Iago Aspas claiming the winner. 2-0 Real Club Celta de Vigo