Repeat of last season’s semi-final and the teams’ routes to the last four suggest Europe’s other big teams need to catch up
I was looking forward to Bayern Munich against Manchester City. In April, when the best meet, you expect exciting matches. But I was disappointed. City managed the 3-0 advantage from the first leg. Bayern were not able to challenge their opponents.
Now I’m looking forward to Real Madrid against City. It’s the semi-final from last year, and back then it was the highlight of the season, with a narrow winner at the last. Again, it’s the two strongest clubs in the Champions League, which says a lot about Europe’s football. The English and Spanish leagues are not producing a second top team at the moment, the Bundesliga none at all. PSG promise but do not deliver. Italy is on the up, and Inter and Milan have taken advantage of the draw. But Real against City is the real final.
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