Exactly
today in a month, on May 28, the Champions League final will be held at the Stade de France in Paris.
Four teams still dream of reaching the grand final, but chances are it will be an all-English final again.
Like a year ago and like three years ago.
The fact that the Premier League is the strongest league in the world, everyone knows that.
So it would come as no surprise to anyone if for the third time in the last four years the final will be a meeting of two Englishmen.
True, it is not yet closed.
And while Liverpool's place in the third final since 2018 is almost guaranteed, after the 0: 2 victory yesterday (Wednesday) over Villarreal, the story in the second semi-final is much more complicated.
Manchester City will arrive at the Bernabeu next Wednesday with a minimal advantage, of one goal.
And also with great fear, that the many misses in the first game will still cost her dearly.
Yes, Real's history is more glorious than that of Manchester City.
Yes, Real came out of the grave both against PSG and against Chelsea, won and moved on.
And yes, the Bernabeu has this mystique, which occasionally works magic.
Modric and de Bruyne.
We have already had our first crazy encounter, one equally difficult one is expected at the Bernabeu, Photo: AFP
And yet, City are a quality team from Real Madrid.
She defeated her on a previous visit to the Bernabeu, in February 2020. A draw will be enough for her to qualify for the final, and due to the repeal of the Foreign Exchange Act, even a loss by one goal by 90 minutes will still keep her alive.
Real of course could record another historic "remontade", but Manchester City are the favorites to arrive in Paris in a month.
In
April 2002, more than 20 years ago, Liverpool beat Bayer Leverkusen 0-1 in the Champions League quarter-finals.
A week later, in a rematch in Germany, Leverkusen won 2: 4 and qualified for the semi-finals.
And why did I remember those two games yesterday, after Liverpool's win over Villarreal?
Because then, 20 years ago, it was the last time the Mighty Reds were relegated from the Champions League - even though they won the first game.
The chances of this scenario repeating itself next Tuesday at La Ceramica Stadium in Villarreal are close to zero.
And not just because in all the next 13 times Liverpool have won the first game, they have also qualified for the next stage.
The story is the huge quality gaps between the two groups.
It ended 0: 2, but could easily have been 0: 4 as well.
The statistics, in this case, do not lie.
Liverpool recorded 19 attempts at the Valley, against only one attempt by Villarreal.
The fund balance was 2:10.
Liverpool held the ball 73 percent of the time.
Villarreal players surround Muhammad Salah.
Liverpool big on the Spaniards, Photo: AP
So true, in reciprocity Villarreal will attack.
She has no other choice.
And it is possible that excellent striker Gerard Moreno, who did not play yesterday due to injury, will return to the squad.
And yet, the quality gaps will not change much.
When the Spaniards send players forward to attack, it will be easier for Liverpool to get into situations - and score.
And no one forgets that Liverpool have won all five of their away games in Europe this season, scoring 15 goals and conceding just four.
Starting
today, the last month begins in the grueling season of Liverpool and Manchester City, each of which aims to win both the Premier League and the Champions League.
Liverpool can of course complete an unprecedented win in the "Quadrupol" - four titles in one season.
She has already won the League Cup, and in addition to the league and the Champions League, she will also play in the English Cup final, on 17 May against Chelsea.
This means that Liverpool are expecting a crazy marathon, of nine games in four weeks - and they are all finals, even if they are not defined as such.
Liverpool are one point behind Manchester City in the league table, and any loss of their points will probably give the title to Pep Guardiola and his players.
That's why every league game is a final.
Pep Guardiola.
City will have a "less busy" season ending than Liverpool, Photo: Reuters
Since City lost to Liverpool in the Cup semi-final, they expect one game less.
So the last two weeks of the season will be a little less stressful for her compared to Liverpool.
And who knows, maybe that's what will ultimately decide the entire season.
4.
Karim Benzema continues to be the favorite to win the Golden Ball.
His double against Manchester City, in his 600th game in a Real Madrid uniform, only strengthened his position.
This is a simply amazing season for the 34-year-old striker, who has scored 41 goals in 41 games.
Never in his previous 17 seasons has he even come close to those numbers.
In the last four Champions League games, all in the knockout stages, he has scored nine goals.
It is a given that is not of this world.
But what is no less amazing is the composure he discovered when he went to kick the penalty in the 82nd minute against City.
Just six days earlier Benzema had missed
twice (!)
From the penalty spot in the league game against Osasuna.
And yet, he did not hesitate to take the critical penalty, and kick a nonchalant pananka to the net.
And how did Benzema explain what he did?
"The goalkeepers are learning my penalties. They come ready. So I decided to do something different."
How simple, but how smart.
Karim Benzema.
Will his composure lift Real to the final ?, Photo: AFP
And let’s not forget, everything Benzema has done in the last month has happened without putting food in his mouth from morning to evening.
He is a devout Muslim, who fasts regularly during the month of Ramadan, which will come to an end on Sunday.
This coming Wednesday Benzema will face off against Manchester City Seven in terms of food - but hungry as always to score more and more goals.
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