CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
KLOPP’S SIDE DEALT WITH BENFICA WITHOUT TOO MUCH TROUBLE’
ABOVE LEFT: Klopp celebrates with Salah after winning the Round of 16 in this year's Champions League ABOVE RIGHT: Liverpool are aiming to lift the Champions League for a seventh time BOTTOM LEFT: Pep Guardiola is hoping Manchester City can go one better than in 2021 BOTTOM RIGHT: Manchester City celebrates
It is to his credit that Emery doesn’t seem to be bitter about his treatment by the English media after an unsuccessful time in charge of Arsenal. He was only able to lead the Gunners to a Europa League final in his time in London, compared to the haul of trophies he brought in at Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain. Now he has masterminded Villarreal’s journey to the last four for the second time in the club’s history, 16 years on from the first. The Yellow Submarine only qualified for the Champions League by winning the Europa League last season but edged out Atalanta in the group stage before dispatching European giants Juventus and Bayern in successive knockout rounds. Liverpool and Klopp would do well not to underestimate Villarreal - and especially whatever Emery has up his sleeve in the semi-final. Even with Liverpool’s supposedly easier route to the final in Paris at the end of May, it is Manchester City who remain the favourites to win the Champions League this season. Although Real Madrid look like they will win their domestic league - and managed to
come back against both PSG and Chelsea to reach this stage - there is a feeling that Carlo Ancelotti’s side may have reached the end of the European road. Benzema’s goals can only do so much and Manchester City will surely not gift the French striker as many chances as he has been afforded in the two previous rounds. With both EPL clubs at home in the first leg of the semi-finals, it is tempting to predict that the ties may be all but over by the time everyone leaves for Spain the week after. That will definitely be the aim for both Manchester City and Liverpool, as they look to make it too difficult for Real Madrid and Villarreal. It isn’t too hard to believe that will happen either, with both the Etihad and Anfield being daunting stadiums to visit at this stage of the competition. Without the away goals rule to help them, Real Madrid and Villarreal might well look at those away legs as an opportunity to test their relative defensive strengths before counting on their own support at the Bernabéu and El Madrigal respectively to see them over the line and into the final. If anything, it might
2022
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LEADING SCORERS Robert Lewandowski
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
13 GOALS
KARIM BENZEMA
12 GOALS
SEBASTIEN HALLER
11 GOALS
MOHAMED SALAH
8 GOALS
CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU
7 GOALS
LEROY SANE
6 GOALS
KYLIAN MBAPPE
6 GOALS
ARNAUT DANJUMA
6 GOALS
RIYAD MAHREZ
6 GOALS
CRISTIANO RONALDO
6 GOALS
Sebastien Haller
22
SOCCER360 MAY • JUNE 2022
