Madrid are the real deal

May 2023

Determined to secure the Champions League title for a sixth time since 2014, the record books suggest that Real Madrid must be fancied to march over Manchester City on their way to the final, but they are far from a banker bet as City’s Erling Haaland keeps breaking goal scoring records.

By Mark Gleeson

Last seasons’ Champions League finalists Manchester City and Real Madrid go head-to-head tonight in the first leg of the semi-finals of the same competition, while the Milan derby tomorrow and the second leg next week between Internazionale Milano (Inter) and AC Milan will decide the other finalist.

Both Man City and Real Madrid are chasing a treble this season. Madrid won the Copa del Rey on Saturday thanks to two goals by Rodrygo, while Man City are now in the lead in the Premier League and have a FA Cup final date with neighbours Manchester United.

When it comes to Real Madrid in the Champions League, the stats speak for themselves. This is Los Blancos’ tenth semi-final appearance in the last 12 seasons, and they are eyeing a sixth title since 2014.

But Man City have force of nature in Erling Haaland, who scored twice over the two quarter-final legs against Bayern to take his tally in the Champions League to 12 for the season.

The Milan derby returns to centre stage of European football for what promises to be a fiery semi-final. Between them, the two Milanese sides have been crowned European champions 10 times and this season turned back the clock to the days when Italian soccer was seen as the world’s best.

It has been a while since the giants from Milan have enjoyed those lofty heights.

Both clubs, however, seem to have come through a decade-long slump, sharing between them the last two Scudettos. Last season, Milan dethroned Inter in a tight title race although in this campaign both are way behind Napoli, who clinched the Serie A crown last Thursday.

Inter have had the better of the three derbies played so far this season, losing a 2-3 thriller in September but hammering Milan 3-0 in January’s Super Cup in Saudi Arabia and then beating them 1-0 in the league the following month.

While Milan’s defence of their title this season has been a huge disappointment, Simone Inzaghi’s side have shown time and again that they can turn it on in the pressure matches.

Tomorrow also sees Premier Soccer League strugglers Marumo Gallants continue their form-defying run in the African Confederation Cup, where they have reached the semi-final. They have a first leg tie away at Young Africans of Tanzania and given how they have dealt with more fancied teams in getting this far in the competition, they must fancy their chances against the east Africans.

At the weekend, Mamelodi Sundowns will continue their bid to reach a third Champions League final, following a runner-up berth in 2001 and winning in 2016.

But they must get past holders Wydad Casablanca, who are an old nemesis and have had the better of their frequent clashes over the last six editions of the continent’s premier club competition.