El Clasico shadow hovers over Wembley

With little to choose between the protagonists in either semifinal tie, it is left to Messi and Ronaldo to tip the scales yet again, and there is more than enough evidence to suggest that they need no invitation.

Madrid will no doubt use their directness, pace, power, and the most devastating counter-attack in Europe, but will want to get more help for Xabi Alonso and Samir Khedira in the middle especially in Germany, by perhaps sacrificing Angel Di Maria or a striker for Luka Modric.

While he might not dominate on the ball the Messi way, Ronaldo can decide games as brutally or arguably even more so. A booming, swerving freekick or a hang-time header from a set piece will do as was showcased at Bilbao last weekend, or opportunistic and clinical finishes in and around the goal-mouth that saw off Man United and Galatasary on the route to the semis.

Dortmund couldn’t stop those even when they were the better side in the group games, and while they too will occasionally find the net from a Scheiber today and a Blaszczykowski tomorrow, their real goal threat comes from the Lewandowski-Gotze-Reus axis which Kedhira, Alonso, Varane and Ramos can take care of.

It is the classic case of football ironies that while they are faced with the better opposition, Bayern have the better chance of stopping a Clasico final.

mmssali@yahoo.com