The long anticipated Champions League Final Four of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, three titans and the noveau riche, was thwarted by the inspired performances by Atlético Madrid and Chelsea in the quarterfinals. Atleti and Chelsea, clubs advancing on the strength of their defense, represent the hipster choice and the old-noveau riche in the opposite semifinal as Bayern and Real.

Bayern vs. Real

Bayern and Real claim the world’s four best wingers in Cristiano Ronaldo, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribéry and Gareth Bale, with most of their best scoring opportunities being created by their individual pace and brilliance.

Ronaldo has been the best individual player in the Champions League, scoring 14 goals with three assists in eight appearances in the final stages, while Robben ranks third in WhoScored’s player rating with four goals and four assists.

Pep Guardiola has the most well-rounded side in the world, playing possession soccer while also containing enough strength and athleticism to match up physically against anyone.

Real has great skill in the midfield in Ángel Di María, Luka Modric and Xabi Alonso, but the lack of defense in the middle third has contributed to concede 13 shots on goal per game, significantly more than any of the other three remaining clubs. By contract, Bayern gives up just 8.1 per game.

But that is part of Carlo Ancelotti’s counterattacking strategy, which allows Ronaldo and Bale to go to work in space. This could be a particularly effective part of Real’s game against Bayern, as Guardiola brings so many of his players forward.

Bayern has been to the final in three of the past four seasons and some of that fatigue, along with looking ahead to the World Cup and a Bundesliga that has been effective wrapped up for months works against them.

If Real is cohesive in the backline and limiting the runs of Robben and Ribéry, while putting out a reasonably healthy Ronaldo, they will have the narrow edge to finally advance after reaching the semifinals in each of the past three seasons.

Prediction: Real over Bayern

Atleti vs. Chelsea

While they appear similar on surface levels as the best defensive teams in Spain and England with counterattacking soccer, Atleti and Chelsea have had vastly different seasons and consistency levels.

Chelsea has had difficulties scoring against clubs that sit back and don’t allow them to counterattack, while Atleti has a brilliant back-four and one of the best young goalkeepers in the world in Thibaut Courtois. Atleti plays at an exhausting level of energy for opponents to keep up with, as Diego Godín, João Miranda, Juanfran and Filipe giving up just five goals in 10 Champions League matches. 

When Diego Costa has been on the pitch, Atleti has been as good as any club in the world throughout both the UCL and La Liga, but Diego Simeone has elicited winning performances from his side even without him.

Atleti is the more talented club, particularly with Chelsea having striker issues, Eden Hazard injury issues and without Nemanja Matić  (cup tied), but there is always the Steve Jobs' reality distortion field that Mourinho has used brilliantly in his every stop. Chelsea is capable of coming from behind 3-1 on aggregate against PSG while also losing to Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Sunderland in three of their last six Premier League matches.

Prediction Atleti over Chelsea

An all-Madrid final down the Iberian Peninsula in Lisbon.