The four best teams in Europe are already defined; it only remains to be seen who will become the champions of the continent.
Real Madrid, we know, is a classic in these instances and knows how to play them well, since they are the kings of Europe.
Liverpool arrived with very good rhythm and with the possibility of finishing the season with 4 titles, something never done before.
Manchester City have that task pending, to win the European trophy in order to consolidate the dominance they have shown in England, and so that Pep can finally meet again with the Champions League.
Villarreal arrives as the dark horse. They have everything to win and nothing to lose, the most dangerous team of all.
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Prediction is tricky, but you can make a real analysis of the teams fighting for European glory. They all have something different, which is why these clashes are something special.
Four totally opposing teams that offer very brave and eye-catching football.
Villarreal
As mentioned, the dark horse of the competition and perhaps “the weakest”. But no one should be complacent; they sent out the Teutonic giants Bayern Munich against all odds.
Unai Emery knows how to play these competitions and in the knockout phase, the coach is a master.
His victories in the Europa League are proof of that.
On the pitch there may not be big names, but there is a spectacular team. In La Liga they no longer have any hope and are in seventh place. At the moment they are out of European places and their only chance of qualifying for next year’s Champions League is by winning it.
Their current form in La Liga is no indicator of what they can do in Europe. England’s Nottingham Forest were champions in the 79-80 season and were fifth in the English League and Liverpool were also fifth when they achieved the miracle of Istanbul in the 2004-05 season.
The Yellow Submarine is hungry to make history and are a very uncomfortable opponent. With a well-balanced squad and a very capable coach, the Spaniards are ready to make an impact on the continent.
Liverpool
The team led by Jürgen Klopp is in a spectacular moment, on track to sign the best season ever for an English team in history.
They only have one trophy so far, but they are aiming for a quadruple and the Champions League is perhaps the most important one.
The trident of Salah, Mane, and Luis Diaz is working to perfection. Thiago Alcantara is also a driving force in midfield, and Virgil Van Dijk and Allison Becker are a defensive wall.
It’s hard to see them going on a bad run and losing everything, but it can happen, and that’s what makes football beautiful; it’s unpredictable.
A defeat in any of the tournaments they play can trigger a reaction where they enter a negative inertia and say goodbye to everything. The mental aspect can play against the Reds.
Real Madrid
The kings of Europe know how to suffer and have shown it in recent games, they play with their hearts on their sleeve. But that is not necessarily a good thing.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team depends a lot on what Benzema can come up with or what Modric can create. PSG had them on the ropes and Chelsea spared them, Sevilla in La Liga couldn’t kill them off, but the team frankly doesn’t play like Liverpool or Manchester City do.
They appeal to their mystique and their history; they win with the crest in their hands, and in the Champions League, that is very important. Real Madrid is the king for a reason and should never be underestimated. To do so would be to practically lose against the Merengues.
If you give Real Madrid a chance, they will get up, no matter how bad they are. Football-wise, there are opponents with more arguments than Los Blancos. But on the pitch, those arguments are of little use.
Manchester City
Pep’s side are perhaps the team under the most pressure. The reason? The millionaire investment they have made to win this trophy, they came close last time, but Chelsea told them no.
Pep is considered by many to be the best coach in history, but the stain of not being able to win the European Cup away from Barcelona means he has a lot of critics.
The Cityzens have a powerful squad on all fronts, have won their games with authority and are leading the Premier, and are relying on themselves to be English champions.
But all this is not enough because the desire of the team’s owners is the Champions League. There is a lot of pressure to win it. I’m sure they would give up the Premier League for continental glory.
Guardiola is running out of excuses, it’s time to win it or the pressure will increase to even greater levels.
Predictions
Regardless of the outcome of the first leg. In the Champions League, anything can happen in the second leg.
But if logic prevails, we will have a British final. Manchester City vs Liverpool in Paris.
The two best teams in the world today.
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