2014-08-23 14:27#191524 squirmy420 : Told you Neal didn't need luck...

Well the name Neal derives from the Gaelic word of "champion"

fzemdegs: I'm ecstatic, I didn't think we could pull it off but we played brilliantly and thoroughly deserve to make the semifinals!

Griffo: Thanks bud, I'm very pleased with the lads

squirmy420: In fact, the luck favored Real Madrid, what with Dodo's shot hitting the post, and yet even with that we triumphed

Justice: Wait, seriously?! That's awesome!! (And explains a lot )

Great result against Madrid! Nicely done

After a grueling series of quarterfinal clashes between some of the greatest clubs in Europe, four teams have advanced to the semifinal stage of the UEFA Champions League. Four clubs are now just one match away from a shot at lifting the most prestigious, coveted trophy in European club football, and we'll be here to cover it all. In this article, we'll give you a quick preview of both ties to help you prepare for the upcoming excitement.


Mats Hummels has been a rock at the back for Borussia Dortmund this season, putting in 10 Man of the Match performances for his hometown club and making many key tackles.

---

The two teams in the first semifinal have both shocked fans and pundits alike in reaching this stage. Four years ago, Borussia Dortmund boasted one of the finest teams in the world, losing in the 2013 Champions League final to archrivals FC Bayern Munich. Jurgen Klopp's men, led by free-scoring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and superstar Marco Reus, will favor themselves to once again reach the final this year.

They will face stiff competition in the form of North London side Tottenham, however. Jorge Jesus's Spurs play a very attractive brand of attacking football. Roberto Soldado has finally found form under the Portuguese boss, having scored 22 goals this season, and has been been brilliantly aided by Argentinian starlet Erik Lamela from the right flank. Spurs have never made it this far in the competition and will hope to make the final for the first time ever.


Alvaro Negredo has led Manchester City in scoring this season, scoring 19 goals in all competitions. Goals have come from many players this year, but so far Negredo leads.

---

Manchester City is the undoubted favorite to go on and win the trophy this season. Though the other three teams certainly are world-class, the Citizens boast the likes of David Silva and Aaron Ramsey in a star studded midfield. Along with them, ex-Roma midfielder Alessandro Florenzi will get a chance to play against his old club, hoping that he can prove his move was the right one and make the Champions League final for the first time in City's history.

Francesco Totti will hope to continue his Roma side's amazing surge onto the stage of world football with a win in this aggregate tie to lead the Giallorossi to the final. Clement Grenier and Miralem Pjanic have been two of the best attacking midfielders in the world this season but know that nothing less than inch-perfect performances will beat the likes of Vincent Kompany at the back. Though their chances may not be huge, having beaten Real Madrid in the last round, anything is possible for AS Roma.

---

So, you tell us...who do you think will make the UEFA Champions League final? The semifinals are only a few weeks away, and, to the joy of football fans everywhere, the chance to take home Europe's most coveted prize is rapidly approaching.

Quick Links
Last Update
Next Update

Good luck against City.

Roma to beat City, you heard it here first!

COME ON CITEH!

Tottenham... right. Good luck vs City.

Good luck against City!

(I have bequeathed my 700th reply on your marvelous story )

Roma to win!! Although it will be tight

Justice: Thanks Niko, we might just need it!

AaronHJFT96: We'll see if your prediction comes true

Griffo:

LFC: Not quite sure how they got this far, to be honest. They've played good football, though, lots of goals scored, and Erik Lamela has been in great form. Thanks

fzemdegs: I am honored to receive such a milestone forum post from you

k1rups: It's always tight

Consecutive wins over title contenders AC Milan and Juventus, Francesco Totti's AS Roma have mathematically clinched their third straight Scudetto trophy in just the middle of April.

---

ROMA 4-2 AC MILAN (SERIE A)
Domenico Berardi, Alvaro Morata, Clement Grenier, Sebastien Corchia
Sebastien Corchia

JUVENTUS 0-2 ROMA (SERIE A)
Alessio Romagnoli, Matteo Darmian
Matteo Darmian

ROMA 5-3 FIORENTINA (SERIE A)
Domenico Berardi (x3), Alessio Romagnoli, Alvaro Morata
Domenico Berardi

ATALANTA 0-2 ROMA (SERIE A)
Sebastien Corchia, Alvaro Morata
Sebastien Corchia

---

It's been a long season for AS Roma, filled with trials and tribulations, but with a full six games to spare, the Giallorossi clinched their third straight Scudetto victory, charging their way to the top of Italy's Serie A yet again. Led by the goalscoring antics of Clement Grenier and Miralem Pjanic, the Romans are undoubtedly the best team in the country.

Fresh off of their aggregate victory over Spanish giants Real Madrid in penalties in the Champions League, Francesco Totti's men had to take on last year's Coppa Italia winners AC Milan. The Rossoneri had thrashed Roma 3-1 in their first meeting this season, but this time, the capital city side was ready. Three goals in the first thirty minutes lead the way as the Giallorossi tossed aside Milan, now one win away from the title.

Perhaps surprisingly, considering the weight of the fixture, Totti put out a rather second string side against the Old Lady. Matteo Darmian, Alessio Romagnoli, and Mehdi Benatia all came into the back line while Andrea Bertolacci and Sebastian Giovinco also got starts. It was the new defenders, however, that made the difference, as Matteo Darmian's first ever league goal for Roma, augmented by Romagnoli's late header, led Roma to a 2-0 win and the Scudetto.

The last two years, Roma took until the last few matches to win the trophy, but now they've done it over a month in advance. After that historic victory, Totti began to play some rotation players in the final six matches of the season to ensure his superstars were fresh and fit for the upcoming UEFA Champions League semifinal and Coppa Italia final.

The next match was perhaps one of the most entertaining games of the season against AFC Fiorentina. A blistering first half performance had left Roma 3-0 up at halftime, but a spirited fight back in the second period brought the Viola back to 3-3, silencing the Stadio Olimpico faithful. However, two goals in the last five minutes from Domenico Berardi both completed the youngster's hattrick and sealed an incredible 5-3 victory.

The month finished with a distinctly average 2-0 victory on the road against Atalanta, where Dutch backup goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet, who signed last summer from PSV, was forced into making two brilliant saves to preserve his side's win late in the match and endear himself a bit to the manager for potential starts in the future.

The league table now is as follows, and no matter what Roma does for these final four games, the Scudetto is yet again theirs to treasure.


Quick Links
Last Update
Next Update

Another good month and a fairly easy title! Looking forward to seeing you continue to progress and dominate italy.

another one?!? Do we have another Bergomi on our hands?

Dominant!