Champions League semifinal draw: Real Madrid to face Bayern Munich

The Champions League semifinal draw has paired Real Madrid with Bayern Munich, and Liverpool with Roma. What can we expect from these titanic ties?

The draw for the semifinal of the 2017-18 Champions League took place on Friday, and firstly paired Bayern Munich and Real Madrid together. They will play for the 25th and 26th time, extending their record for the most common fixture in Europe.

The sides met in the quarterfinals last season, with Real prevailing in extra time after both sides had won 2-1 away from home. They have also met in the semifinals twice this decade, with each side going through once.

The other tie will see Liverpool take on Roma, with the first leg at Anfield. They have only faced up five times in Europe down the years, most recently in 2002. Liverpool famously won their fourth European Cup by defeating Roma on penalties at their own ground in 1984. What should we expect when the semifinals begin in less than two weeks time?

Real vs. Bayern is a heavyweight clash

Real Madrid are looking to secure a ‘three-peat’ having won the trophy in the last two seasons. They have also reached this stage for the eighth year in a row. After an impressive 3-0 first leg win in Turin, they then stumbled through in the last round thanks to a last minute penalty. With no hope of winning La Liga, they can focus all of their energies on their tie with Bayern.

Although Zinedine Zidane has used a 4-4-2 at times, he will probably employ a form of 4-3-3 in the semifinal. It’s often a 1-2 up top, with Isco linking the midfield and the front duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and A.N. Other.

The Portuguese legend is the Champions League top scorer this season, and with 15 goals already he is just two shy of the personal best he set for the competition in 2013/14. He also scored five of Real’s six goals when they knocked Bayern out last season.

Bayern Munich have already wrapped up the Bundesliga title, though in their world that’s hardly much of an achievement. They usually reach this stage of the Champions League too, having done so in six of the last eight seasons. They only beat Sevilla 2-1 in the quarterfinal, though they were playing in second gear in the second leg, and would surely have stepped it up if they’d had too.

Jupp Heynckes deployed a 4-1-4-1 in that match, as Bayern had a lead to protect. However, they also usually rely on a 4-3-3, with some combination of Coman, Muller, Ribery and Robben flanking Robert Lewandowski. Bayern haven’t been scoring heavily in the Champions League this season, but the Pole is their top scorer with five.

The remarkable thing here is that the teams have an identical record against each other. Both sides have recorded nine wins, one draw and two defeats in their home legs. However, with Real having won three of the four matches in the last four years, and by an aggregate score of 11-3, they will be favorites to reach the final.

The outsiders clash in the other semifinal

Liverpool have reached this stage for the first time since 2008. The Reds were the most impressive side in the quarterfinals, as the only team to win by more than one goal overall. Whatever happens from here, it’s already Liverpool’s top scoring European campaign ever, and their goal threat will be key to reaching the final.

Liverpool employ a 4-3-3 formation, with an emphasis on winning the ball and swiftly getting it to their fearsome forwards. Mohamed Salah is Jurgen Klopp’s key man, and will surely have broken the 40 goal barrier when they face Roma.

At the back, Virgil van Dijk will have to prove his worth when faced with Edin Dzeko, but all the focus will be on Salah, as he faces up against his former club.

Roma are the undoubted outsiders, but they deserve respect. They topped a group containing Atletico Madrid and Chelsea, they knocked Barcelona out in the last round, and have yet to concede a goal on home turf.

They haven’t reached this stage since 1983-84, so they have no recent pedigree at this level. Roma are also currently embroiled in a battle to qualify for this competition next season, so can’t focus entirely on Liverpool just yet.

Eusebio Di Francesco sprung a surprise against Barcelona, by playing three at the back for the first time this season. However, much like every other side in the last four, Roma go with a 4-3-3 formation more often than not. Dzeko is the focal point of their attack, and their only player with more than two goals in the competition this season.

Next: Barcelona failure shouldn't overshadow Roma

As Liverpool have scored over twice as many goals as Roma, they will be favorites to progress. The Reds rarely do things the easy way though, and shouldn’t take anything for granted.

The semifinals take place across the last week of April and the first week of May. Every team has their strengths but it will be a surprise if the final is not Real Madrid vs. Liverpool in Kiev on May 26.

That would be a repeat of the final from 1981, which was the last season that the semifinalists came from England, Germany, Italy and Spain. How do you like that omen, Liverpool fans?