UEFA Champions League: Who will win the greatest European club competition?

The UEFA Champions League is down to the final four, but who will win the title and be crowned kings of Europe?

In the quarter-finals, Chelsea threatened to secure one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history, leading Real Madrid 3-0 in Spain. However, the Spanish giants managed to battle back with a Karim Benzema goal in extra-time seeing them progress 5-4 on aggregate.

It was similarly positive news for a Spanish club in Germany, with Villarreal drawing 1-1 with Bayern Munich, meaning they were able to secure a stunning 2-1 aggregate win over the German side.

There was a brilliant festival of goals at Anfield as Liverpool drew 3-3 with Benfica to progress 6-4 on aggregate to another European semi-final.

In Spain, Manchester City drew 0-0 with Atletico Madrid in a bad-tempered affair as they put their defensive steel on full show. Despite some disgraceful behaviour from the Atletico players across the game as they seemed more concerned with forcing the game to boil over than play football in the latter stages, City were able to secure their place in the semi-finals to play Real Madrid.

Now, with only four teams left in the competition, the question is who will be the side that lifts the trophy?

Real Madrid

The most decorated side in the history of European football, Real Madrid will feel that they are in the right sort of form to secure their 14^th major trophy in Europe. A stunning loss to Chelsea in the last round saw them progress despite defeat, with a 3-2 defeat not as damaging as it would seem.

Indeed, progressing to the next round was all that mattered in their clash, and Madrid showed exceptional character as they were completely outplayed by the Blues in the first-half. However, they clung in there and were rewarded as Rodrygo and Benzema helped to see the Spanish side through 5-4 on aggregate.

With Benzema in supreme form and the glut of attacking riches they have at their disposal, Real look well placed to secure the trophy. However, with some very talented attacking sides likely to block their path, Madrid have to find a way to ensure they do not leak goals, with their 3-2 loss to Chelsea uncharacteristic for the side. Indeed, if it was not for the sublime hat-trick that Benzema scored in the first leg, Real could be looking in from the outside following their loss to Chelsea.

Villarreal

If anybody claims that any of the other three are dark horses in the competition over Villarreal, then they are wrong. The Spanish side are the ultimate European underdog, and they relish this tag.

A stunning 4-1 aggregate win over Juventus was capped off by a 3-0 thumping of the Italians in their own back yard. However, as impressive as that win over Juventus was, their win over two legs against Bayern was a simply unbelievable victory that shows they are not in the competition to make up the numbers.

While the Spanish side pushed their luck in the game, their exceptional ability to make the most of their chances, with one shot on target providing that vital goal, makes them incredibly dangerous prospects for whoever they play. While the sides around them would choose Villarreal as their opponents over the other two in a heartbeat, it is precisely this sort of thinking that has seen both Juventus and Bayern eliminated in Europe.

Liverpool

The Reds have been in stunning form this season and are the favourites with the Stake.com betting site to lift the trophy yet again. Jurgen Klopp’s men have been battling on a number of fronts and, after winning the league cup in England, are still on for the quadruple, with the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup within their reach.

A quarter-final victory over two legs against Benfica once again put their credentials on full display, and they will see a lot of backing in the betting considering most of their players have ‘been there, done that’.

This experience is invaluable when it comes to a competition like the Champions League, where a team that is playing the best football does not always win, instead, it is the side that can grind out results and just hang on in a game when things get tough that claim victory, with experience vital to this.

It was incredibly interesting to see Liverpool draw 3-3 with Benfica at Anfield as they were forced to go toe-to-toe with their opponents in a surprising match that saw the Portuguese side give a brilliant account of themselves. Despite this, the Reds are through to play Villarreal, and will fancy their chances of reaching the Champions League final this year.

Manchester City

Manchester City were able to see off Atletico Madrid over two legs as they took another big step closer to winning a maiden Champions League crown. The second-leg was a hot-tempered affair that saw Atletico end with 10 men, although they could have had even less on the pitch if some of their antics had been punished.

Despite this, City were able to progress due to a superb defensive display that showed they have the strength at the back to go with their fluent attacking play.

Pep Guardiola’s side are in terrific form and are currently playing some incredible football, with their style of aggressive pressing, intelligent ball management and incisive finishing seeing them dominate games from start to finish.

The form of Kevin De Bruyne in the City midfield is helping to drive the English side forward, with his ability to pick the most pinpoint pass, slam a thunderbolt into the top corner or drag his team through a game by the scruff of the neck has seen many question whether De Bruyne deserves the title of the greatest player of all time in the Premier League.

Of course, this is definitely up for debate, but the form of the Belgian star alongside the inexorable machine that he is the heartbeat of means that City will go into the semi-finals as the favourites, and rightly so.