Champions League: The best is yet to come!

1.The first leg of the semi-final at Anfield between Liverpool and AS Roma saw Klopp's team deliver a superb performance. Witnessing the home side dominate the Italian visitors for over 80 minutes, many quickly assumed Salah and his teammates had secured the ticket to the next round, even though AS Roma still had 10 minutes left at Anfield and over 90 minutes at their Olimpico stadium next week (May 3rd).

However, goals from Dzeko (81st minute) and Perotti (85th minute), along with a series of relentless attacks from AS Roma in the final 10 minutes, still hold significant value for the rematch between the two teams. If Liverpool doesn't improve their defensive capabilities, and if the attack of coach Di Francesco's team maintains the sharpness and high fighting spirit shown in the final minutes at Anfield and the 90 minutes of the second leg of the quarter-final against Barcelona, ​​they could very well reach the final (May 27th).

The lesson from Barcelona is still fresh in our minds. Klopp's team cannot afford to underestimate their opponents. Remember, a 5-2 scoreline (Liverpool – AS Roma) is always easier to overcome than a 4-1 scoreline (Barcelona – AS Roma). And in every respect, Liverpool cannot compare to Messi and his teammates. Yet, the Olimpico team still managed an incredible comeback. Therefore, the hope of knocking Liverpool out of the semi-finals is not yet completely extinguished for AS Roma.

Perotti's successful penalty kick gives AS Roma a better chance in the second leg. (Image: Internet)

Coach Di Francesco declared: “Roma will be completely different in the second leg. If you lose from the start, you will lose the final match. We reached the semi-finals because we fought and won against other talented teams. We said before that we still had a chance. Now, we will say the same thing.”

2.Similarly, the Real Madrid – Bayern Munich match is a prime example. Winning 2-1 at the Allianz Arena, Zidane's team has virtually secured their place in the final match of the season. If Real Madrid draw or lose by a minimal margin (0-1) in the return leg, Ronaldo and his teammates can simply sit back and wait for Liverpool or AS Roma to be their next opponent.

In football, surprises always exist. Moreover, Real Madrid winning the first leg doesn't guarantee them a 100% chance of reaching the final against AS Roma or Liverpool. Coach Zidane and the Madridistas surely haven't forgotten the second leg of the quarter-final against Bayern Munich last season. Los Blancos also beat the Bavarians 2-1 in the first leg, but then lost by the same scoreline at the Bernabeu in regular time.

This is the situation where referee Viktor Kassai showed Arturo Vidal a red card last season. (Image: Internet)

That result forced Real Madrid and Bayern Munich into 30 minutes of extra time, and the home team defeated the visitors 4-2. Ultimately, Ronaldo and his teammates eliminated the Bavarians with a total score of 6-3. Notably, Los Blancos benefited greatly from referee Viktor Kassai's decisions. Three of Real Madrid's four goals were scored from offside positions, and midfielder Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich) was unfairly sent off.

Certainly, Bayern Munich and their fans still haven't gotten over the defeat from over a year ago. In the recent semi-final (April 25th) at the Allianz Arena, Jupp Heynckes's team played better, creating numerous chances against Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas. This gave Bayern Munich reason to believe in their ability to stage a comeback against the Royal team.

Let's wait and see if AS Roma and Bayern Munich can pull off a miracle.