Roma, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid will decide who will win Champions League title.
Roma last played in UCL finals in 1983/84 season against Liverpool, with the latest having their last title in 2005.
Real Madrid are current title holders, while Bayern Munich last won the trophy in 2013.
We tried to highlight 1 feature from each team that can help them win the title.
Real Madrid-the mentality of winners
No matter how bad Real Madrid plays the season in La Liga or Copa Del Rey. Champions League knock-out stage is the place where they feel like kings.
Even in the match against Juventus, where they had lost 3-goal-advantage, they showed a high level of psychology to beat their rivals. Last year Zinedine Zidane’s side managed to beat Bayern Munich in quarterfinals again due to their character. If we just look at numbers, only Juventus managed to beat Real Madrid in play-offs during last 4 seasons (2014/15). No other team were better than Los Blancos. And this is the main reason above tactics to make Spanish side favourites.
Bayern Munich-Jupp Heynckes and the treble squad
When Bayern Munich last won UCL title, Jupp Heynckes was the manager and Arjen Robben with Frank Ribery were the offensive players to make result.
Half of the squad changed, but it seems the team plays in 2013 style. Heynckes is the manager who won against Real Madrid in 2012, against Barcelona in 2013. He knows how to prepare his team for such crucial matches. The level of the team isn’t still shown yet, because Besiktas and Sevilla were not teams to worry German giants.
Liverpool-a hungry team with gegenpressing
“If I was asked to wish a thing, I would have chosen a revenge final against Heynckes”. Jurgen Klopp already played in the final with Borussia Dortmund, but lost to Bayern Munich. Then and now he has two teams that are hungry for trophies. Liverpool is a team of mood and if they catch it, their gegenpressing (counter-pressing) cannot be stopped. Manchester City and Pep Guardiola can prove these words. Salah is having fantastic season and with Firmino and Mane they will do everything to bring the title back to Merseyside.
Roma
Roma caught the wave after beating Barcelona. Eusebio Di Francesco created a midfield line with De Rossi, Nainggolan and Strottman to stop Messi and co.
Roma’s defensive and midfield zones are balanced enough to play counter-attacking style. And because of the fact that they are underdogs, they will use this style at least in away match against Liverpool, and then, in the possible final against Real Madrid/Bayern Munich.
Also Roma have classy wingers to attack from left and right sides and Edin Dzeko who can finish his only chance with a goal like he did in two matches against Barcelona and in the second leg against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Fans will be given 5 fantastic shows in the semifinals and in the final. There will be no surprise if Real Madrid or Bayern win the title, But Liverpool and Roma are also the ones who can prove they aren’t playing in these stages by accident.
Hrayr Ghahriyan
Freelance Journalist
