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FC Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid

These two European juggernauts clash in the semifinals for the first time since 2018, when the Spanish side claimed a 4-3 victory over aggregate and went on to win a record 13th Champions League title. At the time, it was their third title in a row and their fourth in five seasons.

Madrid had to survive penalties against Manchester City to advance to the semifinals after a 4-4 draw over two legs.

The key to watch for Madrid will be who gets the start in goal. Andriy Lunin, 25, was spectacular in goal during the second leg, allowing one goal despite 11 shots on goal. He also made crucial penalty saves against Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic, staying put in the middle for the first and diving to his right for the second save.

Lunin figures to remain in goal for the opening leg, but Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Thursday that injured goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could return from injury as soon as the final week of April.

“He’s well, I think he will be available to travel with us next week (to Munich) and he can play against Cadiz," Ancelotti told reporters during a news conference Thursday.

Courtois has missed the entire season while recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee he suffered last August and a torn meniscus in his right knee that he suffered while training in March.

Although Lunin appears likely to remain in goal, Madrid will certainly have a new right back during the first fixture as Daniel Carvajal picked up a yellow card in the previous match against Manchester City and is suspended for the first leg.

English international Jude Bellingham missed Friday’s match with a stomach problem, but should be fully healthy for Tuesday’s matchup.

Bayern bested Arsenal 1-0 in the second leg (3-2 on aggregate) to reach its first semifinals since the German club won the tournament in 2020.

Right back Joshua Kimmich provided the winning goal in the 63rd minute with a running header from close range to beat Spanish goalkeeper David Raya.

With Bayer 04 Leverkusen securely in the lead atop the Bundesliga and Bayern falling to Saarbrücken in the second round of the DFB-Pokal, the Champions league represents the only chance for the German club to capture a 2023/24 trophy.

The first leg will occur Tuesday at Allianz Arena in Munich, with the second set for May 8 at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.

Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint Germain

These two teams met twice during the group stage of the 2022-23 Champions League, with Paris Saint Germain winning the first tie 2-0 and the two sides drawing 1-1 in Germany.

In this year’s quarterfinals, both teams turned first leg losses into dominant second leg victories to claim the win on aggregate.

PSG scored four goals in the second leg against Barcelona to cruise to a 6-4 victory on aggregate, while Borussia Dortmund beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 in the second leg to advance by a 5-4 margin.

In what is likely his last Champions League campaign with PSG, Kylian Mbappe netted two goals in the second leg against Barcelona to send them crashing out of the tournament.

Mbappe, whose contract with the French club is up after this season, has been heavily linked to Real Madrid in transfer rumors. The 25-year-old has played in one previous Champions League final, falling 1-0 to Bayern Munich in 2020 on a headed-goal from Kingsley Coman.

Mbappe is the current leader for goals in this Champions League season with 8 goals in 10 games. Harry Kane of Bayern Munich is just behind him with 7 in 10 matches.

PSG has never won the European Cup or Champions League.

Dortmund won the Champions League in 1997 and last reached the semifinals in 1998.

Four players are tied for the club lead in goals during this Champions League campaign with two: Niclas Fullkrug, Marco Reus, Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi.

Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer leads the competition in assists with five in 10 matches.

The first leg will take place Wednesday at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, with the second set to happen May 7 at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

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