Champions League 23/24 Semi-Final Predictions
The quarterfinals of this year’s Champions League really kicked the competition into life, with 33 goals spread across the four ties. There was endless drama in the ties that promised so much and definitely didn’t fail to deliver. Let’s hope the semi-finals can follow a similar pattern in providing all-action, top-quality matches.
So let’s head into the Champions League 23/24 Semi-Final Predictions:
Borussia Dortmund vs. PSG
A tie where both teams may not have envisaged getting this far in the competition but will identify this as a huge opportunity to get to the final of Europe’s elite competition. Dortmund came through against one of Europe’s most stubborn and hard-working teams in the quarterfinal, Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid and that will no doubt give them confidence ahead of their first European football semi-final since their run to the final in 2012/13.
Despite sitting in 5th place in Germany and being well off the pace of champions Bayer Leverkusen, their performances in Europe have been decent all season. Coming through on top of a very tough group including PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle United was a sign of their intentions going forward. They have already lost to PSG this season in Paris in gameweek 1 but a lot has changed in the seven months since then. With a young team sprinkled with the experience of the likes of Mats Hummels, Emre Can, and Marco Reus, they will see this as a big opportunity.
Runaway Ligue 1 leaders PSG come into this tie expecting to reach their second Champions League final in four years. Runners-up in 2020 to German side Bayern Munich, the French club have a point to prove and will have their sights set on making this years showpiece event. Progressing from a goal-fest with Barcelona in the quarterfinal will give them a big boost ahead of this tie and also knowing the 2nd leg will be in Paris is an added advantage.
As is so often when PSG take to the field, the form of star man Kylian Mbappe plays a big factor in the result, and this tie will be no different. Although in recent weeks, the form of Ousmane Dembele and Marco Asensio has slightly taken the burden off the Frenchman’s shoulders.
If containing Mbbape’s influence over the two legs, Dortmund have the attacking options in Karim Adeyimi, Julian Brandt, Jadon Sancho, and Niclas Füllkrug, among others, to cause the French Champions problems. But ultimately, PSG will have too much firepower and take their place in this year’s final.
- PSG to go through
Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid
Both teams will be full of confidence after defeating English opposition in the quarter-final. They met at this stage in 2018, where Madrid came out on top 4-3 over the two legs. Both squads have seen massive overhauls since then, with Joshua Kimmich the only survivor in the Munich squad and Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez remaining for Madrid.
Munich have had a terrible season domestically, surrendering their Bundesliga title for the first time in 11 years. Despite signing goal machine Harry Kane last summer, they were unable to keep pace with an unrelenting Bayer Leverkusen side under Xabi Alonso. That said, they showed signs over the course of their two-legged victory over Arsenal that they still have the quality to compete with the best in Europe. Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry, and Harry Kane can pose threats to any defence on their day. Although they will need to take advantage of playing the first leg at home and will need to take a lead to the Bernabeu for the second leg.
With six games to go, Madrid hold an 11-point lead at the top of La Liga following a last-gasp winner against bitter rivals Barcelona last weekend. It means they can afford to rest a couple of key players leading up to the two huge games against Munich. Both Vinicius Junior and summer signing Jude Bellingham have been in unstoppable form this season and their influence over the two legs can be a deciding factor in the tie. The centre-back pairing of Antonio Rudiger and Nacho Fernandez have been rock solid together and if they can manage to keep Harry Kane quiet, it will go a long way to reaching their second final in three years.
- Real Madrid to qualify
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