The 2016-17 UEFA Champions League resumes this week with the second legs of the semifinals.
Sportsnet’s soccer panel of broadcasters, writers and pundits offer their picks and predictions below…
ATLETICO MADRID vs. REAL MADRID
James Sharman, Sportsnet.ca: It is easy to write off a footballer as he enters his 30s, and even easier to when he nears his mid-30s – unless, of course, the footballer is Cristiano Ronaldo. CR7 scored his second straight Champions League hat trick in the first leg against Atletico, and now has eight goals in his last three European Cup matches, all this while he eases into a relatively new centre forward position.
To suggest my preview of the second leg is too slanted towards Ronaldo is a fair criticism, but with Real 3-0 up against a wonderful Atletico team that is not known for blowing away teams, the tie is all but done.
Real have scored in 60 straight matches, so in fact Atletico will likely need to score at least five to advance, and even at the formidable Calderon, this is unlikely. Over the weekend Real smashed Tony Adams’ (I know, weird) Granada 4-0, with Zinedine Zidane traipsing out his B-team, being forced to use such average talents as James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morta in the win. Many believe Real is currently the best team in the world, and with this kind of depth it is difficult to argue.
Prediction: A 1-1 draw.
ATLETICO MADRID vs. REAL MADRID
John Molinaro, Sportsnet.ca: “On Wednesday we have a very difficult game. For some it is impossible, but not for us,” Atletico manager Diego Simeone said ahead of Wednesday’s return match. You have to like the Argentine’s confidence, but will all due respect to Simeone, I just can’t see Atletico overturning a three-goal deficit – even at the Vicente Calderon.
To have a chance of advancing to the final in Cardiff, Atletico would not only have to score at least three goals – something it’s only done once this Champions League campaign – but it’d also likely have to keep Real from scoring. Considering the rich vein of form that Cristiano Ronaldo is in these days, a clean sheet by Atletico seems very unlikely.
Real manager Zinedine Zidane made nine lineup changes to his side that thrashed Granda on the weekend, giving the day off to a number of key starters, Ronaldo foremost among them. The Portuguese star and his fellow starters are well rested, and you have to think they’d love nothing more to hand Atletico a loss in their final European game at the Calderon before moving to their new Wanda Metropolitano stadium next season.
Prediction: Real Madrid wins 1-0.
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JUVENTUS vs. AS MONACO
Dan Riccio, Sportsnet 590 The FAN: Juventus is set to conquer Serie A for a sixth consecutive season, but the club made taking a run at the Champions League their top priority last off-season. You don’t spend the big money they did on Gonzalo Higuain simply to win domestic titles – you do it to take home European honours.
Taking a 2-0 advantage back to Turin on Tuesday should make this tie a formality, and see the Bianconeri into the final. Juventus are undefeated in 22 straight matches at home in European competitions, and they are undefeated in 18 consecutive home matches in league play. Literally, they have been unbeatable at the Juventus Stadium this campaign. Monaco has been impressive in their run to the final four, but only a miracle will see them to advance here.
Prediction: Juventus wins 2-0.
JUVENTUS vs. AS MONACO
Peter Galindo, Sportsnet.ca: Juventus has essentially clinched its spot in the final after winning the first leg 2-0 in the principality. Monaco will surely attempt to bombard Juve’s penalty area in Turin, but that will be easier said than done.
The Bianconeri also led 2-0 after the first leg of their round of 16 tie against Porto. They returned home and earned a 1-0 win. The Italian champions have nine clean sheets in 11 Champions League matches this season, and won’t have a lot of incentive to attack. But Juve will likely aim to score early in order to kill off any chance of a Monaco comeback.
Kylian Mbappe, Radamel Falcao and Monaco’s attack had a few quality chances in the first half of the opening leg, but sloppy finishing and Gianluigi Buffon heroics thwarted the hosts’ opportunities. Given that Juve’s defence is as secure as Fort Knox, not to mention its blistering counter-attacks, Massimiliano Allegri’s side should earn a narrow win.
Prediction: Juventus wins 1-0.
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