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The Champions League comes back and with only four teams to play, the path of glory is wide open. Each of the remaining teams has a chance but also question marks around their challenge. Can Liverpool convince Lionel Messi & Co. to deny their thrust of Treble? And which of the "outsiders" will win in the other semifinal?
Here's all you need to know, superheroes and henchmen who can decide on links to the keys to victory.
Go to: Tottenham-Ajax | Liverpool-Barcelona
Tottenham against Ajax
WHEN: Tuesday, April 30 at 15:00 ET / 19:00 BST
Backstory: Ajax is proud of its glorious past after knocking out Serie A champions Juventus and Real Madrid to qualify for the semi-finals. The quality, freshness and intrepidity demonstrated in these matches have made them the favorites of neutrals. They are tied at the top of the Dutch league and in the final of the Netherlands Cup. So they also have aspirations for Treble.
Tottenham have lost more than half of their matches since Valentine's Day, but he still retains third place in the Premier League and has eliminated the mighty Manchester City to go that far. The fact that they are in the last four is remarkable, given the range of injuries they have suffered – especially for Captain Harry Kane, who has lost both legs – and their limited resources. Limited compared to most, but not Ajax: in any other season, the Spurs would be Cinderella's team at this stage.
How they agree: Tottenham may be more pragmatic at times, but there is much in common between the gameplay of these two teams and the Spurs trio of Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen, who have spent nearly three decades together Ajax, young and old. there will be few surprises.
Given the absence of Kane and the fact that Ajax's approach changes little at home (regardless of the pedigree of the opposition), you can imagine that the Spurs are exploiting the counterattack, especially with Lucas Moura.
TOTTENHAM'S STAR TO WATCH: Eriksen. He is at a crossroads in many ways. He has not yet extended his contract, which expires in June 2020, suggesting that he is open for a summer move. A turning point in the semifinals of the Champions League would not it be the ultimate showcase? He is confronted – literally – with his past, but he is also the man who can create from scratch for Tottenham and who may have to wear them, as he has done so often before.
AJAX'S STAR TO WATCH: Frenkie De Jong He embodies the modern bi-directional midfielder, with the extra ride that he carries with a charisma and personality well beyond his years. It makes the leap to Barcelona in the summer, but very few 21-year-olds seemed as ready for this kind of qualitative leap.
X-FACTOR, AJAX: David Neres. At 22, he is still very raw, but his ability to dribble and unpredictability make it a real handle. As part of a philosophy that carefully balances the team against the individual, he can sometimes rely on it (which may explain why he had a bumpy start to the campaign), but that does not make it not less valuable in 180 minutes.
TOTTENHAM NEEDS … Find a combination of midfield that lets them through (difficult, given the likely absences of Moussa Sissoko and Harry Winks) without leaving the initiative to Ajax, while placing Eriksen in positions where he can create.
AJAX NEED … do not let the intensity and fearlessness drop simply because the pedigree of Tottenham is not equal to that of his previous opponents of the Champions League (Juventus, Real Madrid and Bayern), while guaranteeing that the duo back-centers composed of Daley Blind and Matthijs De Ligt free-field defense against Lucas Moura as much as possible.
PREDICTION: Tottenham 2-1 Ajax. Tottenham is not on the pace and the midfield is a mystery, but they are not very similar against Ajax.
Liverpool vs Barcelona
1:27
Former Liverpool defenseman Steve Nicol explains how the Reds should tackle defender Barcelona defender Lionel Messi in the Champions League semi-finals.
WHEN: Wednesday 5/1, 3 pm ET / 7 pm BST
Backstory: Barcelona won the Liga on Saturday and will face Valencia in the Cup final of Spain later this month, which means they're still on track for the Treble. It would be their third since 2008, which is an achievement if we consider that it has been done only three times in the first 40 years of European football.
Liverpool reached the final of the Champions League last year, of course, but unlike what was happening then, when they quarreled early in the game, they are neck and neck with Manchester City for the Premier League title. They have won 10 straight games in all competitions and look stronger and more complete than last year.
How they agree: Previously, it was rare for a team to score 100 goals in all competitions, but Liverpool topped that mark on Saturday and Barcelona made it in February. However, even though both can score points (and do), they also have a more defensive defensive dimension. Jurgen Klopp is just pulling out his "heavy metal" press intermittently and compared to previous incarnations, this side of the Barca is more focused on safety in the middle of the park. The fact that the two goalies are exceptional in Marc-André ter Stegen and Allisson adds another layer of solidity.
BARCELONA'S STAR TO WATCH: Lionel Messi. He scores (still) more than one goal per game, while playing an even bigger role than before in terms of depth and opportunity for others. You can find your own superlatives here.
THE STAR OF LIVERPOOL TO WATCH: Virgil van Dijk. Few recruits have been as transformative in recent years as the arrival of the Dutchman at Anfield in January 2018. A colossus in the air, his work in playing the match and in the preparation of a four-fold record in which both back often attack at the same none.
FACTOR X, BARCELONA: Jordi Alba. He has 16 badists in all competitions this year since the left-back and an almost supernatural deal with Lionel Messi who often cuts to the opposite side. He will face Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah, which means that Liverpool will have to use a midfielder during his progression. Except that they can not overtake him, because Messi is on the opposite side …
BARCELONA NEEDS … Dictate the game in the middle of the field and pin Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, the Liverpool side, while denying service to Salah and Sadio Mane, especially in transition.
LIVERPOOL NEEDS … Be aware of Messi at all times, but especially when he comes back to create. Make sure the first three are not isolated while keeping their shape.
PREDICTION: Liverpool 1-2 Barcelona. Two teams equal, but one with Messi, the other not.
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