On Tuesday evening, Real Madrid crossed to the semi-finals, after a marathon match with Chelsea, in which they lost 2-3, but qualified thanks to their 3-1 victory in the first leg.
On the other hand, Villarreal, the Spanish son of the small city, shocked the German football giant, Bayern Munich, and knocked him out of the tournament, after a 1-1 draw in Munich, and was victorious 1-0 in the first leg.
Reds’ fears
Liverpool enters, on Wednesday evening, all optimism to reach the semi-finals, after two seasons absence, and Benfica’s crossing at Anfield.
Liverpool had won 3-1 in the first leg, which means that they have a relatively “easy” task in the second leg, but concern increased after watching the “shock” of Villarreal.
Villarreal shocked the football world and took out Bayern Munich, and gave Liverpool a dose of realism, which might push him to beware of Benfica, and not to be lenient, to avoid another “shock” on Wednesday evening.
The Portuguese Benfica is one of the very organized teams, and he performed well and took out Barcelona in the group stage, before Ajax Amsterdam got out in the round of 16.
Benfica will seek to score an early goal, to start defending, and to play on the counters, to snatch a second goal equal to the meeting and push it into overtime.
Simeone’s skirmishes
On the other hand, Manchester City faces a more difficult challenge, against the “stubborn” Atletico Madrid, in Madrid.
City won 1-0 in the first leg, and had difficulty penetrating Atletico Madrid’s defense.
Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola, described Atletico’s defensive plan as prehistoric, and that it was a 5-5-0 method.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone criticized the statements, on Tuesday evening, and stressed that he had not, in his entire career, underestimated the coach of an opponent team.
Simeone said: “In my career I have never hated a colleague of mine. I always put myself in his shoes. Even if I have negative feelings, I do not share them with journalists. Respect is always a must.”
Simeone and Guardiola’s statements may ignite a strong confrontation, and the Atletico Manchester City fans may meet with great hostility on Wednesday night.
