News
JUE 23.04.2015
The other Spanish team still in the hunt for the UEFA Champions League title is Real Madrid. Just like FC Barcelona before them, los blancos are among the four remaining teams in Europe’s elite club competition, thanks to an unexpected hero who made the most of the chance that was given to him.
There has been a Spanish champion in two of the last four editions of the Champions League.
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández’s goal was enough for the reigning Champions League holders, who must now wait until Friday to find out who they will be up against in the semi-finals. Just as was the case last year, the tournament could once again have an all-Spanish showdown in the final should los azulgranas and los blancos avoid each other and make it through their next encounters.
A permanent fixture in the semi-finals since 2011…
Ever since the first year of José Mourinho’s rein, during the 2010/11 season, Real Madrid have been a constant presence at the semi-final stage of the Champions League. However, it was not until the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti to the Santiago Bernabéu dugout last season that the Chamartín outfit managed to lift the long-awaited 'Décima'.
Madrid have reached five semi-finals in a row since the 2010/11 season, an achievement which, when put alongside Barcelona’s feat of reaching eight in the last ten years, proves La Liga’s dominance on the European stage. Half of the last twenty semi-finalists have been Liga BBVA sides (Real Madrid, Barcelona as well as the recent appearances of Atlético de Madrid).
Real Madrid could have a repeat of the 2010/11 semi-finals against Barcelona or be pitted against Bayern once again, their opponents during the 2011/12 and the 2013/14 seasons.
The defending Champions League holders have exited the competition in three of their last four semi-final ties. And, by pure chance, they have met two of this year’s competition’s three remaining teams in recent times. They took on Barcelona in the penultimate round of the 2010/11 season and then went out against FC Bayern München on penalties during the 2011/12 edition. However, did Real Madrid manage to overcome the Germans in last year’s semi-final clash.
The Mexican star takes centre stage
Chicharito also managed to invoke memories of some of the greatest nights of football in the Real Madrid cathedral, when fellow countryman Hugo Sánchez was in his pomp during the 1990s. The last time the Real Madrid number 14 scored in the Champions League was in 2012, when he was still playing for Manchester United FC. That goal came at the expense of Sporting Clube de Braga during the 2012/13 season.
Second time to reach a fifth successive semi-final
The Mexican’s goal will also live long in the memory as it means Real Madrid are through to a fifth consecutive semi-final for the second time in the club’s history. The first time this was accomplished by los blancos was when they won their first five European Cups (between 1955 and 1960). Additionally, Chicharito’s late winner also means Real Madrid could still become the first team in history to successfully defend the title since the European Cup was replaced by the UEFA Champions League.
© LALIGA - 2015