The Champions League semi-finals get underway this week, with Real Madrid visiting Manchester City, while Bayern Munich head to Atletico Madrid.
Diego Simeone’s side overcame the odds to send reigning European champions Barcelona crashing out in the last round, while Bayern faced plenty of trouble in overcoming Benfica.
However, both found a way to prevail and advance to the last four, as did City and Real who defeated Paris Saint-Germain and Wolfsburg respectively.
Both ties look intriguing on paper, and there is of course various possibilities for the final with a potential Madrid derby in a repeat of the 2014 final as well as Pep Guardiola taking on his future employers.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Bayern Munich
Simeone’s men will have to produce yet another collective solid defensive display to deal with Bayern’s possession-based game which will likely see the Germans dominate the ball for large periods.
However, as they showed against Barca, Atleti are more than capable of doing so and will be a threat on the counter attack at a raucous Calderon with an in-form Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann leading their charge.
The Bundesliga champions have been far from convincing in the last two rounds against Juventus and Benfica respectively, and this is undoubtedly their toughest test yet. In what will be a hard-fought encounter, the Spaniards could find themselves with a slender lead heading into the return leg in Bavaria next week.
Manchester City 2-2 Real Madrid
The visitors are expected to be with their ‘BBC’ attacking trident, with Cristiano Ronaldo training with the squad on Sunday after an injury scare last week.
However, neither side are likely to pick up a clean sheet given their respective defensive deficiencies as well as the fact that Sergio Aguero will be at the other end ready to pounce on any mistakes from Pepe and Sergio Ramos.
This result will suit the Spanish giants with the away goals, but this should be a highly entertaining clash as they have been anything but convincing in the last two rounds with Roma and Wolfsburg missing huge opportunities to send them crashing out.
In contrast, City have made big strides in Europe this year compared to their failings in recent years and will be a real threat as they continue to mature into a side capable of winning this competition.