The Fantastic Four

Since the draw for the Champions League back in September, the four remaining teams have high hopes of winning the coveted trophy at Wembley next month. As always, the competition has produced some breathtaking moments of magic and great games along the way. Yet, where every team fails, another succeeds.

The Beautiful Game Weekly will now analyse the semi-finalists and give the opinion of their chance of winning the Champions League.

Manchester United

The last remaining English team in the competition having knocked out Premiership counterparts Chelsea in the quarter finals 3-1 on aggregate. The Premier League pacesetters have yet to lose a game in this year’s competition have picked up seven wins and three draws on their way to the semi-final. It is a well known fact that United haven't been in the best form this season but they have done what is asked of them when the opportunity presented itself.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men are still fighting on three fronts as they find themselves seven points clear of second placed Arsenal, albeit having played a game more, and have an FA Cup semi-final showdown with local rivals Manchester City, who go into the fixture without captain and former Red Devil Carlos Tevez. Expected to re-claim the title from third placed Chelsea and to overcome City on Saturday, a repeat of the 1999 treble is still on for United.

However, their chance of winning the trophy depends on who they face in the final. Coming close to becoming the first team to defend the Champions League since its 1992 inception, United fell at the final hurdle losing out to Barcelona 2-0 in Rome. There is a strong possibility to two could meet again next month and, if that is the case, I feel the Catalan giants would be too much for United.

Prediction - Losing finalists

FC Schalke 04

Considered the underdogs of the final four, I expected them to fail to overcome Inter Milan at the least eight stage. However, a 5-2 victory at the San Siro and a 2-1 at home last night saw them progress 7-3 on aggregate at the expense of the defending champions. With former Real Madrid hero Raul leading the line admirably, the German under performers won their group finishing ahead of Lyon winning four and losing only once to the French side.

Their run in the competition been a bright spark in a season that sees them dwindling in ninth after their second placed finish last season. Raul has proven the catalyst in their run in the competition and hit his record breaking 71st Champions League goal last night in the 2-1 win. The upturn in fortunes coincides with new coach Ralf Rangnick taking the reins for the second time in his managerial career following the sacking of Felix Magath. With an impressive cup run culminating in Berlin next month, the chance have a great opportunity to win some silverware, in what could be considered an unsuccessful season, in the form of the German Cup against second division side Duisburg.

Yet, their run in the Champions League is most likely going to end at Old Trafford. I hope to end up eating my own words as they have, thus far, managed to reach the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in the clubs illustrious history. For them to win the trophy would upset all the odds and hand the trophy to a team who, I believed, were going to fall at the last-sixteen stage. However, with Schalke coming up against a solid United side, the most likely scenario will see them suffer defeat in the final four.

Prediction - losing semi-finalists

Barcelona

To say the Champions of Spain are favourites would be a serious understatement. Sweeping Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk aside in the quarter-finals, the Catalan giants have set-up a mouth watering El Classico double-header with a total of four of the mouth watering fixtures in the next three weeks.

They have only lost once on their way to the final four, a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates at the last sixteen stage. After overcoming the North Londoners over the two legs, a majority are of the opinion that this Barcelona side is the best team in the history of club football. Their 5-0 hammering of Real Madrid earlier in the season confirmed their place as Spain's best and it is up to Pep Guardiola's side to re-affirm their position as Europe's finest. Currently eight points clear with seven games remaining and a Copa Del Rey final on the horizon, again against Real Madrid, they are in a similar position as United with a treble on the cards.

Lionel Messi added his 48th goal of the season against Shakhtar on Tuesday evening and he will be the man that everyone associated with Barcelona hopes will win them the Champions League. Some believe he is the greatest player in the world and he will play a major role if they are to win the trophy that they last won in 2009. Should key players return in time, including Eric Abidal and Carles Puyol, return in time for the second leg to be played at the Nou Camp, I can see them overcoming Madrid over the two legs and meeting Manchester United at Wembley next month.

Prediction - Winners

Real Madrid

It goes to show how much of a difference a manager can make to a team. In Jose Mourinho's first season in charge of Madrid, the club have navigated their way past the quarter-finals for the first time since they won the competition in 2002 while also breaking their win-less streak against Lyon in the process.

Having watched them first hand at White Hart Lane, Mourinho's Madrid are a class apart from the rest. The likes of Alonso, Ozil and Ronaldo starting with Kaka, Di Maria and Benzema having to settle for a place on the bench indicates the sheer strength in depth that Mourinho has at his disposal. Seemingly out of the hunt for the league title after a script ruining 1-0 defeat at home to Sporting Gijon, the Champions League has taken priority to the Madrid management team. The Special One is aiming to become the first manager in history to win the European Cup with three different teams.

One mighty problem stands in the Portuguese tactician’s way; Barcelona. Having been outplayed at the Nou Camp in the 5-0 defeat earlier in the season, Mourinho will be hoping to gain some revenge in the two legged Champions League affair. The Special one attempted to replicate Barca's tactics in the 5-0 humbling this season and will change his teams' style of play over the two legs. Yet, it may not be enough to keep top scorer Messi and co. quiet.

Prediction - Losing semi-finalists but only just

So, there are my predictions for the semi-finals. A repeat of the 2009 finals gives Ferguson the chances to extract revenge on the team that denied United the chance to become the first team to ever defend the trophy.

The first legs take place on the 26th and 27th of April with the returning games taking place on the 3rd and 4th of May.

Anyway, I have got to watch The Wire.

Laters,

Macca