Champions League Semi-Final 4/23/2014 Part II

And I'm back! The match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich was a lopsided affair with an awkward conclusion. Prior to the play where Karim Benzema slotted home in the 19th minute, and in the subsequent game, Bayern were the team in ascent. They dominated possession - with 64% of the ball - and had almost double the number of chances as their Spanish counterparts. On the bright side for the Germans, they will be playing at home and should have an almost complete roster so long as goalkeeper Neuer is able to maintain his fitness levels. Alcantara and Shaqiri will likely remain out for the second leg, but Bayern definitely have the quality to drown Madrid in goals - so long as they can actually put a few in the back of the net! On the Madrid side, Alvaro Arbeloa will likely remain absent for the second leg. If Sami Khedira, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Gareth Bale can maintain their health, Madrid may actually look better than they did in their home fixture! As far as my predictions go, after the respective first legs, I still think that Atletico Madrid may have too much under the hood for Chelsea to handle. The English side will obviously have a boost being at home, but I could imagine things going south for the hosts if Atletico get the first goal. On the other hand, Real Madrid are sitting in a more comfortable position against Bayern Munich, there is no doubt about it. However, the Germans remain an incredibly talented side, and with 11 chances on target in Madrid, I would expect them to make at least one at home.