Champions League Preview: Which Madrid laugh last?

No matter what will happen in the upcoming 2016-17 UEFA Champions League semis, one team from Madrid will compete for the title in Cardiff Millennium Stadium.

After defeating Bayern Munich 6-3 on aggregate, Real Madrid reached its seventh successive semi-final in the League. Now the team is looking forward to beating its old rival Atletico Madrid again in derby clash, just like what it had done in the latest three seasons.

Compared with disappointing Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo is in a better state. The 32-year-old Portuguese who had scored 100 times in his Champions League career and snatched 18 goals in Madrid derby clashes, may help Real knock Atletico out of the League.

Diego Simeone's team had almost grabbed the cup twice in 2014 and 2016, but the two finals turned out to be Real's coronations. Although Atletico saw the champion of 2015-16 Premier League off in the quarter-final round, it is still one of the most underachieving teams in the last four.

What's more, the runner-up last season hadn't won over Real in their two meetings of the La Liga season. Compared with the last three seasons, the club with Chinese investment performed poorer in the present standings of La Liga.

But few things are impossible in themselves. Simeone may let his key players have a good rest before the eighth Madrid derby in Champions League, while his opponent had to compete with Barcelona for the Spanish league title.

Juventus produced an exceptional defensive performance to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League after stopping Barcelona from scoring at the Nou Camp. The Italian champion's solid defense impressed football fans, especially supporters of the dark horse Monaco.

In history, Juventus defeated Monaco 6-4 in 1997-98 season's Champion League, and in the season 2014-15, Juventus edged the French team 1-0 in two legs of quarter-final round. The Italian Serie A's defending champion is more stable than Man. City and Borussia Dortmund. It may end the dark horse's amazing campaign in the semis.

Historic records show that the two clubs of Madrid got upper hands when they faced against Juventus. Atletico Madrid keeps unbeaten record towards Juventus, while Real Madrid had topped Europe nine times more than Juvnetus, although the Italian side defeated Cristiano's team two years ago.

Madrid fans probably celebrate the glory moment of their city in June, and wait and see whether Gareth Bale would grab the trophy on his home soil or not. Endit