Tuesday 26 April
Manchester City vs Real Madrid (second leg: Wednesday 4 May)
Wednesday 27 April
Liverpool vs Villarreal (second leg: Tuesday 3 May)
All the matches kick off at 21:00 CAT (GMT +2) live on SuperSport, ALL THE INFORMATION for your region
What will happen?
Manchester City and Liverpool will look to take a significant step toward setting up a second successive all-English UEFA Champions League final as they kick off their semi-final ties at home to Spanish opponents Real Madrid and Villarreal respectively.
Man City out to seize control against Real Madrid
The last time these sides met, City inflicted a second successive early UEFA Champions League exit on their Spanish opponents, a 2-1 victory in Manchester in the 2019/20 round of 16 in August coming six months after a 2-1 win in the Madrid leg. Pep Guardiola was jubilant. "We knocked out Real Madrid and we know exactly what this team is able to do – three Champions Leagues in row," said the former Barcelona boss. "It will give us the awareness that: 'OK, we can do it.'"
City, of course, have not managed to "do it" yet, though they were finalists for the first time last season, losing out 1-0 to Chelsea. However, they are in ominous form; they eliminated obdurate Atlético in the semis and have not conceded in four knockout games this season.
Real Madrid have yet to win in three games at City (D2 L1) but this may be their moment, with Karim Benzema in exceptional form. He has hit seven goals in this season's knockouts and needs just one more to draw level with Robert Lewandowski's table-topping tally of 13 for the campaign.
Liverpool target end to Villarreal's glorious run
UEFA Europa League holders, Unai Emery's Villarreal are still on course to match the stunning achievement of José Mourinho's Porto, who won the UEFA Champions League in 2003/04, the season after winning the UEFA Cup.
Having eliminated Juventus in the round of 16 and (more surprising still) Bayern in the quarter-finals, the Yellow Submarine have matched their 2005/06 competition-best by reaching the last four, but their more experienced players will know from experience that Anfield is not an easy stadium to visit.
The Villarreal class of 2015/16 drew Liverpool in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals, and won the first leg of the tie 1-0 only to come unstuck in the return game, going down 3-0 to Jürgen Klopp's side, and the German will not be underestimating Emery's side. "It’s going to be really, really difficult against Villarreal," he said. "But it’s the semi-final of the Champions League – if it wasn't difficult there would be something wrong."
FOLLOW THE ACTION WITH SUPERSPORT AND DSTV
How to Watch
-
* Get DStv to watch all the action live.
TV guide
- for ALL THE INFORMATION for your region
SuperSport app
- log in, personalise, and receive exclusive video footage. CLICK HERE for the best mobile experience.