PSG vs Chelsea
Jose Mourinho vs Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The first ever game I've seen where the promotion is a clash between a manger and a player. Jose seems to be the master of mind games, writing his side's chances off in every competition thus far, his side's Premier League has taken a massive dent, so how will his side, apparently the 'clear outsiders' with Manchester United, cope against a PSG side being talked up as the 'dark-horses'. Chelsea have been quietly going about their business in the Champions League, not pushed as favourites but still with most of their side having won this competition two years ago and with a manager hungry to win it with the side he'd love to win it with the most. Jose has won it with Porto and Inter Milan before and has a brilliant record in the Champions League getting to the semi-finals at least in 7 of his 8 Champions League campaigns, this record will give his side the confidence that they could well re-create the run they had two years ago. Eden Hazard is the star of the side, heavily praised this season as it seems he's now showing the highly rated talent that's been said of him before. There back-line is a very reliable one with very few injuries and the connection has grown between them, especially in the partnership with Gary Cahill and John Terry. But, the pair haven't faced a player quite like Zlatan. A man who has hit new heights this season, and that's with his considerably high standards. Zlatan has never won the Champions League, shocking considering how many top sides he's been at, can this be his year? Despite Zlatan starring, PSG have a vast amount of quality through their team from Thiago Silva up to Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani.
This is a very tight tie to call, but I think Zlatan will be the difference maker. A 2-1 win for PSG in Paris and 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund
The runners-up last year seem to be a shadow of the side that beat Madrid 4-1 in this corresponding tie last season at the Signal Iduna Park. Injuries have reduced Dortmund to the bare bones this season and the side that famously dumped a Mourinho Madrid out last year are now missing many key men, including four goal hero and Munich bound Robert Lewandowski. Dortmund have had a very mixed campaign, scraping through their group after defeats at home to Arsenal and away to Napoli, however they still posses a dangerous counter-attacking flair and would dream of trying to muster the form they carried in this competition last season now. Real Madrid however, words cannot describe the sheer attacking prowess they posses and have shown in this competition. Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema scoring 88 goals between them this season, a statistic which would frighten any defence. Madrid have had a couple of blips domestically recently but in Europe have looked unstoppable, it'll be a tough ask to see Dortmund stop this attacking three from overpowering their back-line.
So, I can't see Dortmund stopping the Madrid armoury in this one. I'll go for a 3-0 Madrid home win and a 2-2 draw in Germany.
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