Denzy: Injuries truly are the worst

Denzy (again): Atletico have gotten the easiest draw by far, for which I am very thankful!

MisterLister: Each of the first three ties have the potential to be Champions League classics!

Justice: Everyone ruled them out against Real Madrid in 2012, who is to say they won't shock Los Blancos yet again?

mo_123: It's a huge ask, but maybe, just maybe he can pull it off!

pompeyblue: We really do miss Lewandowski, though. Immobile and Aubameyang have hardly been poor, but Lewandowski leads the Bundesliga in goals and is in the top four for assists, showing his amazing ability

April is the penultimate month of the season, the month where contenders get left behind by champions and where heroes can rise from even the most unlikely sources. April is crunch time; cup semifinals, UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, and key matches against title rivals are all included in this final month before all the decisive matches in May...let's see how things went.

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BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2-0 SCHALKE 04 (BUNDESLIGA)
Benedikt Howedes (OG), Kevin Grosskreutz

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KOLN 1-2 BORUSSIA DORTMUND (DFB-POKAL QTR FINAL)
Ciro Immobile, Kevin Volland

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REAL MADRID 3-0 BORUSSIA DORTMUND (UCL QTR FINAL LEG 1)
None

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HOFFENHEIM 2-3 BORUSSIA DORTMUND (BUNDESLIGA)
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marco Reus (pen), Milos Jojic

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BORUSSIA DORTMUND 3-1 AET (3-4) REAL MADRID (UCL QTR FINAL LEG 2)
Karim Bellarabi, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marco Reus

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BORUSSIA DORTMUND 4-0 BORUSSIA MOENCHENGLADBACH (BUNDESLIGA)
Shinji Kagawa, Kevin Volland (x2), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

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BORUSSIA DORTMUND 3-0 BAYERN MUNICH (BUNDESLIGA)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Ciro Immobile

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Brian Laudrup's Borussia Dortmund had an April of superlative ups and heart-rending downs. Two local rivalries, two clashes with La Decima holders Real Madrid, and a DFB-Pokal tie with arch-nemesis Bayern Munich summed up what was nothing short of a truly unbelievable month for der BVB and their devoted fans.

Things started to perfection with a 2-0 win over Schalke 04 in the Revierderby. An own goal from Benedikt Howedes and a real poacher's effort from versatility-man Kevin Grosskreutz sealed a memorable win to kick off the month for the German giants. They proceeded to knock Koln out of the cup in their next match before their first massive fixture.

Real Madrid was always going to be tough at the Santiago Bernabeu, but the 3-0 hiding that Los Blancos dished out was demoralizing in every sense of the word. The dynamic due of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale tore apart Dortmund on the counter attack, so even as Borussi won the majority of possession, they never stood a fighting chance.

A spirit-boosting win over Hoffenheim seemed to buoy the Dortmund camp a little bit before their second clash with Los Galacticos, but as the midweek clash loomed at Signal Iduna Park, things weren't looking optimistic. Three first half goals from Karim Bellarabi, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and MArco Reus, however, paved the way for an unprecedented comeback as der BVB played their opponents off the park.

A second half red card to Sokratis Papastathopoulos changed the game, however. Laudrup's men were forced to retreat into their own half and defend for their lives, and they managed to send the game into extra time. A first period Gareth Bale wonder strike sealed the win for the Spanish superstars, and Dortmund were out despite their heroic attempt.

Two rivalries loomed to end the month. The Borussen Derby against Borussia Moenchengladbach was by far the simpler one, as a brace from youngster Kevin Volland helped Dortmund ease to a comfortable, rallying 4-0 win over their enemies. The biggest match came three days later, however, at the Westfalenstadion against Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal semifinals.

0-0-3 so far this season against Guardiola, Laudrup's men had it all to prove in this cup tie, and they did nothing short of astound their fans en route to an incredible win for the ages. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored early while Mkhitaryan and Immobile scored late on the break as the home side dominated die Bayern's usually astute side, giving the month a wonderful end and setting Dortmund up to play Gladbach again in the DFB-Pokal final next month.

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CORDOBA 1-5 ATLETICO MADRID (LA LIGA)
Lukas Podolski, Saul, Angel Correa, Mattia Destro (x2)

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ATLETICO MADRID 6-0 REAL SOCIEDAD (LA LIGA)
Mattia Destro, Arda Turan (pen), Carlos Martinez (OG), Alessio Cerci (x3)

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MALAGA 1-3 ATLETICO MADRID (LA LIGA)
Mario Mandzukic, Gabi, Arda Turan

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OLYMPIAKOS 2-7 ATLETICO MADRID (UCL QTR FINAL LEG 1)
Mario Mandzukic (x2), Alessio Cerci (x2), Koke (x2), Arda Turan

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DEPORTIVO 1-2 ATLETICO MADRID (LA LIGA)
Mario Mandzukic, Raul Garcia

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ATLETICO MADRID 2-1 (9-3) OLYMPIAKOS (UCL QTR FINAL LEG 2)
Antoine Griezmann, Mario Mandzukic

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ATLETICO MADRID 4-1 ELCHE (LA LIGA)
Mario Mandzukic (x2), Alessio Cerci, Angel Correa

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VILLAREAL 2-4 ATLETICO MADRID (LA LIGA)
Saul, Angel Correa, Alessio Cerci, Guilherme Siqueira (pen)

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It was an unearthly long April for Atletico Madrid as the capital city side fought through no less than eight fixtures. Even more impressively, however, Atletico managed to win all eight fixtures, scoring 33 goals. Seven of those goals came from Alessio Cerci, while Mario Mandzukic pitched in seven of his own as the two led their side to a high-scoring month.

The start to the month was nothing short of incredible. Eleven goals scored and just one conceded in two demolition jobs over Cordoba and Real Sociedad gave Los Colchoneros a lot of confidence going into the rest of the month. Two goals in stoppage time sealed a 3-1 win over Malaga in the next game before the team flew out to Greece for their Champions League fixture.

Olympiakos are known as a notoriously difficult team to beat at home. Micheal Laudrup's men didn't seem to get the memo, however, and were up 4-0 inside the first 25 minutes, silencing the home fans. The assault continued all game long, and the final score was 7-2, almost certainly ensuring the Spanish side's progress into the semifinals.

A 2-1 scoreline in the home leg, in which Laudrup chose to play some younger players and squad players after their thrashing of Olympiakos in the first leg, sealed the way to the semifinals for the second straight year. If the draw pans out the right way, we could see a rematch of last year's final between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, who are joined by Chelsea and Liverpool in the final four.

The month finished with another two big wins as Atletico scored four goals in each match, downing Elche and Villareal, despite strong protests from the latter's Luciano Vietto, who scored twice. All the signs now point to May, to see if Atletico can defend their La Liga title and perhaps finally claim the UEFA Champions League after last season's disappointments.

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Nice update, Shame on the Real Madrid game, A. Madrid going strong! Mandzukic killing it!

STAHP WINNING MICHAEL

So close and so unlucky in CL but both Laudrup brothers going strong in the league. the gap from Bayern to Dortmund is big but from Dortmund to 3rd is massive

109 goals for Atletico.So many

Denzy: It was a tough way to go out. Atletico are unstoppable, though! Our attack is absolutely immense

Feliks: Never

AaronHJFT96: But it's not quite *Laudrup

mo_123: I don't think I'll be able to catch Bayern, but we proved we can keep up with them and even beat them, so I am optimistic for next year. And yes, Atletico's offense is the greatest

Well, it is because you are Laudrup silly...

AaronHJFT96: I'm Laudrups* actually

Following a dramatic set of quarterfinal ties, the UEFA Champions League semifinal draw is upon us, and just four teams are left. Only three cities continue to compete; London, Liverpool, and Madrid. Only two nations still have representatives; England and Spain. Only one stadium is left in the reckoning; the Olympiastadion, where the champions of Europe will be crowned.

Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Liverpool are the four teams left. All four are excellent attacking outfits led by astute, charismatic tacticians. Each semifinal tie will be a single-nationality affair, with Liverpool and Chelsea squaring off in one of the most heated derbies in England while Real Madrid and Atletico start up their hated rivalry once more, a two-legged rematch of last season's Champions League final.

Most of the limelight is focused on the Derby Madrileno. The two sides are 2-0-2 so far this season, having split the Supercopa de Espana games and the La Liga fixtures. Every time so far, the home side has won, but Real Madrid has consistently won via bigger margins, perhaps shifting this tie in his favor.

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Diego Godin and his back line will have an impossible job of containing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo if Atletico are to have any chance of making the final yet again.

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There is vengeance on the mind for Los Colchoneros, however. A 4-1 loss in the Champions League is still fresh in the mind from last season, and they know that knocking out their 'La Decima' holding rivals would be a fantastic achievement. Both teams have their stars, as well; Antoine Griezmann and Koke will be key for Michael Laudrup's men, but with the duo of Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo dressed in white, Los Blancos are always the favorites.

Chelsea and Liverpool also have a great rivalry. Intensified over the last few years, in part due to contentious transfers (Glen Johnson, Fernando Torres, and Raul Meireles come to mind), as well as the antics of Jose Mourinho and Brendan Rodgers, the two-legged tie will be one to watch for all football fans.

Liverpool have done the domestic double over Chelsea so far this year. A 2-1 win at Anfield was followed by an absolutely shocking 4-1 thrashing of the Blues at Stamford Bridge, where a brace from both Mario Balotelli and Daniel Sturridge sent Mourinho's men spinning. The odds, thus, seem in Liverpool's favor. That duo has combined for 49 goals this season, but with Diego Costa on the other end for Chelsea, goals aren't a problem for either side.

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Liverpool's Raheem Sterling and Chelsea's Eden Hazard are two of the best wingers in English football and will relish the chance to prove their dominance on Europe's greatest stage.

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To add to this, Chelsea have been in awful form since March. The title contenders, or so people thought at the beginning of the season, have won a mere four games of their last thirteen. They've not won any of their last five games, and they've lost their last two in a row. Liverpool, on the other hand, have lost just one of their last eighteen games and have won their last six games in a row.

The two-legged ties will take place in the upcoming weeks in May. All four teams will have aspirations of reaching the final and winning the whole competition. However, only two teams will make that final, and only one will be crowned Champion of Europe.

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A tough draw but you've gotta beat the best to be the best!

Liverpool vs Atletico final, you heard it here first

Justice: That's exactly what we plan to do! I remain confident that we can make the finals and this time win the damn thing

Feliks: That seems the most likely case, in my opinion. Both Liverpool and ourselves have been brilliant this season, I honestly think we can win it!

It is my painful duty to announce I'll be going on vacation, starting tomorrow. I am traveling to Bangladesh to visit family for two weeks, followed by a weeklong stay in Turkey. Obviously, during this time, I won't be playing any FM, nor will I be updating this story, nor will I be active just about ever. Worry not, Story of the Month is in the safe hands of her judges and will be led by Feliks this month. I hope you all will bump this story now and again, so I don't come back to find it on page four. Until early January, then, farewell, my good followers, and happy holidays!

Nooooooooo don't leave us Nala :((