Why they can win it
If they can turn that tie against Paris around, against all the odds, and then survive such an onslaught from holders Chelsea, nothing is beyond them. Karim Benzema is in the form of his life and with Vinicíus Júnior providing scintillating support, as well as the venerable Toni Kroos and Luka Modric pulling the strings, who would dare rule out the 13-time winners doing what they do best?
Record v semifinal opponents Man. City: P6 W2 D2 L2 F7 A7
Uefa ranking: 5
European Cup best: winners (1955/56, 1956/57, 1957/58, 1958/59, 1959/60, 1965/66, 1997/98, 1999/2000, 2001/02, 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18)
Last season: semifinals (L 1-3 agg v Chelsea)
Last semifinal: 2020/21 (L 1-3 agg v Chelsea)
This season
Record: W7 D0 L3 F22 A9
Top scorer: Karim Benzema (12)
Quarterfinals: 5-4 agg v Chelsea
Round of 16: 3-2 agg v Paris
Group D: winners
Campaign so far
How is it possible to lose at home to Sheriff, and then reach the last four with a gargantuan performance against Paris followed by an epic tie against Chelsea? The route map helps explain. Madrid won nothing last season and, by their own admission, are desperate for trophies at home and in Europe this time round. The 5-0 away victory over Shakhtar reset Madrid's GPS in the group stage. Defeat in Paris then did the same – leading to a different high-pressing approach which reaped further reward at Stamford Bridge.
How they play
Working within a 4-3-3 template, Madrid have a strong spine starting with Thibaut Courtois and running through centre-back Éder Militão to the experienced midfield trio of Casemiro, Modric and Kroos with all that technical quality, vision and experience. And then you get to the in-form Benzema up front – a master of the arts of centre-forward play. They also have the energy of increasingly influential younger players like Vinícius Júnior and Federico Valverde – as well as that intangible knowhow that gets them out of the tightest of spots.
Key player: Karim Benzema
Many people wondered where Real Madrid's goals would come from when Cristiano Ronaldo left in 2018, but the France forward has more than stepped up to the plate to become the club's talisman. He scored Madrid's 1 000th European Cup goal against Shakhtar earlier this campaign then turned around their last-16 tie with Paris with a second-half hat-trick before striking the decisive blow in extra time against the Blues to make it four goals in the tie.
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
The manager who steered Madrid to 'La Décima' in 2014 returned last summer for a second stint in charge. He is one of just three coaches to have won the European Cup/Champions League on three occasions.
Did you know?
Madrid are in the European Cup semifinals for the 31st time, 11 more than any other club. They have won four of their last six ties at this stage.
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