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| Image Courtesy of supersport.com |
Bayern and Madrid both reached the last four in 2012/13 while Chelsea
were last involved
the previous campaign. In contrast, Atlético have
never played in the Uefa Champions League semifinals and last got to the
European Cup's last four in 1973/74, when they ousted Celtic and went
on to lose the only final replay in the competition's history -- against
Bayern.
Atlético are making their fourth European Cup semifinal appearance
overall, whereas neighbours Madrid are in their record 25th and have
advanced to this stage for the fourth year running. However, they have
not featured in the final since lifting their ninth European Cup in
2002, going out to Barcelona (2011), Bayern (2012) and Borussia Dortmund
(2013).
There were contrasting evenings for Madrid and Chelsea on Tuesday; the
Blues retrieved a two-goal first-leg deficit against Paris Saint-Germain
to oust the French champions on away goals, yet Madrid had to survive a
stern examination in Dortmund. Leading 3-0 from the game in Spain,
Carlo Ancelotti's team trailed 2-0 by the 37th minute in Germany, only
to regroup and edge through.
While Chelsea are in the last four for the seventh time in 11 seasons,
Bayern -- bidding to become the first side to retain the trophy in the
Uefa Champions League era -- are semifinalists for the fourth time in
five years having disposed of Manchester United on Wednesday.
The open draw -- meaning no seeding or country protection -- throws up
the intriguing possibility of an all-Madrid semifinal. The clubs have
met in only one European tie, back in 1958/59 when Madrid won 2-1 at
home in their semifinal first leg, lost 1-0 away and finally emerged
triumphant in the replay, 2-1.
The other teams have plenty of history between them. Chelsea beat Bayern
on penalties in Munich to win the 2012 Uefa Champions League final, but
lost to them by the same method in the Uefa Super Cup at the start of
this term. Bayern overcame Atlético in that 1974 final and have faced
Madrid in no fewer than five European Cup semis, winning four, including
the most recent, on penalties in 2011/12.
Should Madrid and Atlético be kept apart in the draw, there may be a
final between two sides from the same country -- which would be the
fifth in Uefa Champions League history and second in succession after
Bayern's Wembley defeat of Dortmund last May. Madrid were victorious in
the first of those, seeing off Valencia CF in the 2000 showpiece in
Paris.
A final triumph for Madrid or Atlético would also strengthen Spain's
position as the European Cup's most successful nation; the Liga has 13
victories, one more than Italy and England. Should Bayern prevail again,
it would be Germany's eighth win, two more than the Netherlands.
The draw will begin at 12.00 CAT (GMT +2) at Uefa headquarters in Nyon,
Switzerland, with Luís Figo assisting Uefa General Secretary Gianni
Infantino in conducting it.
The semifinals will be played on 22/23 April and 29/30 April. For
administrative purposes, the last step of the draw will define whether
the winner of semifinal 1 or the winner of semifinal 2 will be the
designated home team for the final. The 2013/14 Uefa Champions League
final will be held at Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Lisbon, on
Saturday 24 May, kicking off at 20.45 CET (19.45 local time).
Courtesy of supersport.com.