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Bundesliga 8, Spanish League 1. The Champions league semifinals changed from being a story about Messi and Ronaldo meeting in the final to one about which league is better. After Barcelona was dismantled 4-0 against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, few expected a similar result from Real Madrid in their match against Borussia Dortmund. However the result was worse. Dortmund has yet to lose a match in the Champions league, but the team has not been its dominant self of late. In fact, the team barely made it past Malaga in the quarterfinals. Throw in the X-factor of knowing the Mario Goetze was leaving the squad and Madrid should have capitalized in that game. In fact, 45 minutes in, it looked like the Spaniards had. However, Borussia responded with a dominant second half in which the Spanish side looked lost for answers.
The Bayern Munich made history in the semi-final game against Barcelona by shutting them out 4 to 0.
When the Champions league quarterfinals were announced, the entire world went abuzz over a matchup between red-hot Bayern Munich and Juventus. Imagine the attention that will be placed on Tuesday afternoon's battle between that same Munich side and an equally potent Barcelona side. Not to mention the fact that superstar Lionel Messi will start for Los Cules in the semifinals battle.
Tuesday will feature a heavy-weight tilt between Bayern Munich and Barcelona in the semifinals of the Champions league 2013. Both teams are major favorites for the trophy and the matchup has created a great deal of anticipation.
Neymar's transfer to Barcelona seems imminent. Over the last few weeks, more and more legends, coaches, and players have been claiming that the 21-year old phenom would be headed to the Camp Nou to play alongside Lionel Messi. Brazilian legend Ronaldo is not making any such claims. In fact, he is acting as if it were already a done deal.
Lionel Messi's injury highlighted a 2-2 draw between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions league quarterfinals. Will his return highlight the second meeting?
Many have noted that Barcelona has not been in its top form over the last month. The team suffered two straight defeats to rival Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey and Spanish league and even lost a big game against Milan in the first leg of the Champions league round of 16. Most felt that the team has started to stale and its playing style was losing its effectiveness. Most attributed this disintegration to the absence of Coach Tito Vilanova.
Real Madrid defeated Barcelona for the second straight game this week and is prepared for a vital tilt with Manchester United on Tuesday.
Barcelona's loss to Real Madrid on Tuesday has gotten great deal of critics talking about whether the team may be in need of a makeover. Barcelona has now lost twice in three games (including a 2-0 defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League) and it seems that the impending bout with Real Madrid on Saturday is an essential test for the team.
Barcelona faces a major test on Tuesday when it takes on Real Madrid for the first time this week.
Jose Mourinho has always been known for his strange choices and controversial decision. One would think that the coach would want to boast to the press about eliminating Barcelona in the second leg of the Copa del Rey Semifinal, but the coach decided to send his injured captain Iker Casillas to the press conference.
The first of two Clasicos this week will take place this afternoon at the Camp Nou in the second leg of the 2013 Champions League Round of 16.
Real Madrid's season could be defined by next Wednesday as the team's fate in the Champions League and Copa del Rey will be decided.
Who is better, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? The two greatest living soccer players not only compete in the same league but for rival squads. This week they will face off two times; let us take a look and see how the two superstars performed in the week leading up to their dynamic tilt.
The second Clasico of 2013 is upon us in just days when Barcelona and Real Madrid will face off in the second leg of the 2013 Copa Del Rey. In the first match, the two sides battled to a startling 1-1 draw that saw the rise of Madrid defender Rafael Varane. The 19-year old provided the team with peerless defending and tied the game at one to earn Madrid one goal in the bout. Since that game, both teams have played four matches sin the Spanish and Champions league. Let us look at how they have fared.
