After all the drama and late, late heartbreak, we have our Champions League semifinalists, our last 4 teams battling for 2 spots in the Final at London's fine, fine Wembley Stadium.
And it's very much Germany v Spain at this point of the competition with both country's best clubs fighting for a spot in the Final - Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, and Real Madrid and Barcelona.
So which side is in the best form, the favourites for the title? Here are my thoughts
Bayern Munich - if league form and recent results are anything to go by, then Bayern Munich right now are the favourites for the Champions League. The German champions - the fastest ever to be crowned Bundesliga meisters in fact - dismantled Italian champions and giants, Juventus with relative ease and with the league in the bag, should now be able to fully concentrate on winning Europe's top title for the first time since 2001. It is scary to think what Pep Guardiola could do with what is already a very good Bayern side coached by the effervescent Jupp Heyneckes. But for now, Bayern's aim must now be to overcome the choker tag that has stuck since they lost the Final last year at home to Chelsea on penalties.
Real Madrid - it hasn't been the best season for the side for the capital - they stuttered through La Liga at first but after a convincing defeat of Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, appear to have found their form at the right end of the season - even despite appearing to throw away their quarterfinal tie against Galatasaray at one stage. With the league title effectively out of their reach, Real Madrid must now win the Champions League to redeem their season and the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, and Sergio Ramos are definitely good enough and in the right form to take them there.
Borussia Dortmund - on paper, Dortmund have a young, attractive side worthy of being kings of Europe - and now it appears that they have the grit to get to that rightful throne as Malaga would testify. Dortmund have shown potential this season to beat the very best but at the business end of the season, they must now step up and match their more experienced rivals if they are to win their second Champions League title. Chances need to be put away by the likes of Mario Goetze, Robert Lewandowski and Marco Reus. Their first win in 1997 was a bit of a surprise - and a win in the Final at Wembley will probably considered similarly.
Barcelona - What to make of Barca. Even when they're not at their best, they still get the result that matters to get to their goal, whether it is stretching their lead at the top of La Liga or progressing to the next round of the Champions League. However, there must be questions asked at the manner they overcame Paris St Germain including whether Barcelona have become too dependent on Lionel Messi? Barca were awful before the Argentine maestro came on, vulnerable to the counter-attack - something that was exploited earlier in the season by Real Madrid and could be exploited well if they draw Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund. Nevertheless, they remain the side to beat at this stage of the competition and still one of the favourites for a third title in 5 seasons.
POSTSCRIPT -
The UEFA Champions League semifinal draw is currently live in Nyon in Switzerland. We already have the Europa League semifinal draw as follows -
Fenerbahce v Benfica
Basel v Chelsea
After all the friendly banter between the aforementioned club's officials including some question about UEFA bias for Swiss side, Basel, now onto the real stuff..
Bayern Munich v Barcelona
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
So we are odds on for derbies for the Final.. Dortmund will need to repeat their form in the group stages against Real Madrid if they want to make the Final but Bayern Munich face their toughest hurdle in their race to be European champions - the tie of the round in most people's eyes, against the most talented club side in the world at the moment (Barcelona).
So stay tuned on April 23/24 and April 30/May 1..
My tip? Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
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