Real Madrid players jubilate after winning their quarter-final second leg tie against Manchester City. — AP
THE tantalising prospect of Kylian Mbappe squaring up to Real Madrid in the Champions League final looms large.
Mbappe becomes a free agent at the end of the season when Real are favourites to finally land the forward they have coveted for so long.
Before that there are trophies to be won, with none bigger in club football than the Champions League.
Real ave dominated the competition with 14 wins, while Paris St Germain and Mbappe are still waiting for their first.
Mbappe’s imminent departure has partly been attributed to PSG’s failure to transfer their domestic dominance to the continent.
How ironic then if the France forward triumphed in his final year at the club, especially against the team he looks likeliest to join.
Conversely, a record-extending 15th crown for Real at the expense of PSG would serve only to confirm to Mbappe that his ambitions are best served at the Bernabeu Stadium.
With PSG and Real kept apart in the draw, either narrative is in play, but the Champions League has a habit of getting in the way of such well-laid plans.
REVENGE MISSION
A repeat of the 2013 final anyone?
Bayern beat Dortmund the last time the final was staged at Wembley, which is the venue again this year.
How Dortmund – then coached by Juergen Klopp – would love to avenge that loss 11 years on.
Dortmund are the outsiders to win the trophy having unexpectedly advanced to the semi-finals in a season when they trail German champions Bayer Leverkusen by 23 points and may have to rely on a bonus fifth-place spot to qualify for next year’s Champions League.
Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring PSG’s third goal against Barcelona during the Champions League quarter-final second leg match. — AP
PERFECT SEND-OFF
Mbappe isn’t the only person targeting a fairy tale finale. Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel is stepping down at season’s end after the German giant’s 11-year Bundesliga title-winning streak was broken by Leverkusen.
In a summer when big jobs will be available at the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona, Tuchel could do with rebuilding his reputation by winning a second Champions League trophy, having previously lifted it with Chelsea in 2021.
Harry Kane is chasing his first major trophy with new club Bayern Munich. — AFP
KANE’S WAIT
Harry Kane was expected to finally end his wait to win major silverware when he joined Bayern from Tottenham last summer.
It hasn’t worked out that way so far.
Despite the England striker continuing his outstanding scoring form in Germany with 39 goals in all competitions, the Champions League is his last chance of a trophy in his first season at the club.
What better place to end that drought than at English football’s national stadium?
FALLEN CHAMPIONS
Manchester City’s hopes of starting a new period of European dominance were ended by the all-time king of Europe, Real.
Despite dominating the semi-finals second leg, Pep Guardiola’s team could not take advantage, drawing 1-1 through extra time and 4-4 on aggregate before losing in a penalty shootout 4-3.
A lack of cutting edge at the Etihad proved City’s undoing and continued a theme against elite teams this season.
City have not won in seven games against Real, Arsenal and Liverpool this term. Having lost key players such as Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez after last season’s treble of trophies, it was revealing the lack of game-changing players Guardiola could summon from the bench against Real.
With Erling Haaland failing to score in four games against Real, perhaps Guardiola will look for more firepower in the off-season.
BARCELONA UNCERTAINTY
Missing out on the semi-finals denied Barcelona some US$13.4mil (RM64mil) in prize money that would have helped their poor finances.
While Real are waiting to welcome Mbappe, Barcelona are expected to have to sell players after having already sold off club assets, including part of their future television revenues, in recent years.
The loss to PSG this week ended an unbeaten run of 13 games since coach Xavi Hernandez said in January he will step down after the season.
SEMI-FINALS SCHEDULE
Bayern will host Real and Dortmund are home against PSG in the first legs of the semi-finals.
Bayern-Real tie is on April 30, and Real will stage the return leg on May 8.
Dortmund-PSG is on May 1, and PSG have the second leg on May 7.
The final is at Wembley in London on June 1. — AP
