With Manchester United's destruction of Barcelona complete, the remaining Champions League quarterfinals determined who would join them in the final four.
...
Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid.
The LED boards showed fifty-six minutes played.
Atlético Madrid 1–2 Juventus.
The visitors had taken control of the tie.
"Paul Pogba's arrival has solved one of Juventus's greatest weaknesses," the commentator said. "They now possess a midfielder capable of carrying the ball through pressure, organizing attacks, and creating chances from deep."
"Combine that with Cristiano Ronaldo's ruthless finishing, and Juventus have to be considered serious contenders for the trophy."
Pogba had scored with a long-range strike earlier in the match.
Then he took control of midfield again, gliding away from two Atlético players before releasing Rabiot into space on the left.
The cross that followed was not remarkable.
Cristiano made it remarkable.
He rose between the center-backs and seemed to remain suspended in the air for an impossible length of time before powering his header into the net.
Juventus's second goal left Atlético requiring three in the closing minutes to survive.
Their opponent in the semifinal was already known.
Manchester United.
The tie carried no shortage of history.
Pogba had left United for Juventus.
Alex Sandro had travelled in the opposite direction.
Cristiano had become a global superstar at Old Trafford before later joining Real Madrid, where Ling and United had denied him a historic third consecutive Champions League crown in Kyiv.
Now the former and current owners of Manchester United's number 7 shirt were on course to meet.
On the touchline, Maurizio Sarri resisted the urge to reach for a cigarette.
His eyes never left the pitch.
He had personal reasons to welcome the matchup.
His time at Chelsea had ended under a cloud after a season filled with tension and several humiliating defeats.
Returning to Serie A and taking charge of a stronger squad had offered him the chance to restore his reputation.
Eliminating Mourinho and Manchester United would make that restoration considerably sweeter.
Across from him, Diego Simeone looked physically ill.
Atlético's Champions League history had become a collection of spectacular disappointments.
Ramos had rescued Real Madrid against them in stoppage time.
Ling had demolished them in another European campaign.
Now Cristiano was doing it again.
Simeone was beginning to wonder whether Manchester United's number 7 shirt represented some personal curse.
Cristiano had tormented Atlético for years and Ling had continued the tradition.
Simeone had tried everything during this tie.
His original plan had limited Cristiano's touches, but Juventus possessed too many alternative threats.
Dybala found space.
Pogba dominated midfield.
Cuadrado attacked the flanks.
Whenever Atlético managed to advance, Bonucci and De Ligt denied them a clear route toward goal.
Simeone paced along the touchline, desperately hoping his players might summon three goals in the final five minutes.
They could not find one.
The referee eventually brought the match to an end.
Juventus were through.
Cristiano carefully adjusted his hair before appearing for the post-match interview.
"This is why Juventus brought me here," he said. "The club wants to win the Champions League, and I came to help make that possible."
"Manchester United are an excellent team with outstanding players."
"So are we."
"My teammates and I believe we can reach the final."
A reporter asked whether the coming semifinal might represent one of his final realistic opportunities to lift the trophy again.
Cristiano remained silent for a moment.
"I don't enjoy admitting it, but I am no longer at the physical peak of my career."
"This may be my best remaining opportunity to win another Champions League."
His expression hardened.
"I will do everything possible to take it."
Cristiano turned and walked toward the tunnel, leaving behind the image of a man fully aware that time was beginning to chase him.
...
Red Bull Arena, Leipzig.
The scoreline was brutal.
RB Leipzig 0–5 Bayern Munich.
Lewandowski had scored a hat-trick, but even that performance could not carry him beyond Ling in the race for the Champions League Golden Boot.
Ling's six goals against Barcelona had opened an enormous gap.
Lewandowski could only keep scoring and hope Juventus eliminated United in the semifinal.
If Ling's European campaign ended early, the Polish striker might still have enough matches to catch him.
On Bayern's touchline, Hansi Flick remained composed.
His team possessed remarkable balance.
Lewandowski led an elite attack.
The midfield combined technique, intelligence, and physical strength.
The defense remained experienced and secure.
Behind them stood Manuel Neuer.
Bayern appeared to have no obvious weakness.
Flick genuinely believed they could win the Champions League.
He simply preferred not to face Manchester United.
Ling's individual ability represented the kind of threat Bayern's defenders least wanted to encounter.
Boateng and Alaba were experienced at the highest level, but neither could be trusted to contain him alone.
Very few defenders could.
United's 9–1 aggregate demolition of Barcelona had made the danger impossible to dismiss.
Their entire attacking system revolved around Ling's movement, strength, and extraordinary finishing efficiency.
Flick watched Lewandowski complete another attacking run.
"I hope Juventus eliminate them," he muttered.
...
Parc des Princes, Paris.
"Neymar escapes Otamendi!"
The Brazilian shifted the ball between his feet, drew Kyle Walker toward him, and slipped a pass into the open channel.
Mbappé accelerated beyond Laporte.
One touch set the ball.
The next sent it across goal and into the far corner.
2–1 on the night.
3–2 on aggregate.
The Parc des Princes erupted.
"MBAPPÉ STRIKES!"
"Paris Saint-Germain are moving toward the Champions League semifinal!"
On the touchline, Guardiola gestured frantically.
He appeared ready to enter the pitch and position every Manchester City player himself.
Unfortunately, managers could only deliver instructions. They could not execute them.
City possessed one of the strongest squads in Europe, but PSG's attack was terrifying.
Neymar.
Mbappé.
Di María.
Two of the world's most valuable forwards supported by an experienced creator who had already won the Champions League.
PSG's midfield and defense were less convincing, but the threat of their front three prevented City from committing fully to the attack.
Every additional player Guardiola sent forward created more space for Neymar and Mbappé to exploit.
Tuchel stepped toward the edge of his technical area.
"Kylian! Move wider and support the ball!"
Mbappé followed the instruction and received near the touchline.
Kyle Walker remained with him.
The Frenchman accelerated once.
Then again.
Walker matched him and forced him toward the outside before winning possession.
Mbappé shook his head.
When he watched Ling face City, Walker often looked helpless. United's number 7 seemed capable of beating him whenever he pleased.
Doing it himself was considerably more difficult.
Manchester City continued searching for an equalizer, but fear of PSG's counterattack prevented them from committing enough players forward.
Their pressure remained incomplete.
The final whistle arrived before they found another clear chance.
Paris Saint-Germain advanced 3–2 on aggregate.
Guardiola stood motionless on the touchline.
His thoughts drifted toward his son-in-law.
Sometimes timing mattered as much as talent.
Guardiola's first season at City had focused on rebuilding. The second had been about refining the squad.
Just as he felt ready to construct a lasting dynasty, Ling had erupted into English football and dragged Manchester United to the Premier League and Champions League.
The following season, United had won seven trophies.
Had Ling belonged to Manchester City instead, Guardiola believed they could have achieved even more.
That thought offered no comfort now.
City were out while United remained.
...
Late that night, the Champions League semifinal lineup was confirmed.
Manchester United would face Juventus.
Paris Saint-Germain would meet Bayern Munich.
Four clubs.
Four countries.
The Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1, and Bundesliga would each have one representative.
Spain had none.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid had all been eliminated.
The reaction online was immediate.
📱 @ChampionsLeague ✔
Semifinals confirmed:
Manchester United vs Juventus
Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich
📱 @LegacyFootball
Ling against Cristiano Ronaldo. Pogba against Manchester United. Alex Sandro against Juventus. This tie contains enough history for an entire season!
📱 @UnitedStand ✔
Real Madrid. Barcelona. Now Juventus. If United retain the trophy through this route, it may be the most hard-earned Champions League title ever.
📱 @JuveWorld ✔
Do not celebrate yet. Barcelona were a tactical disaster. Juventus are far more organized and possess the defensive structure to trouble Ling.
| ↳ 📱 @StretfordEndTom
| Reply: Real Madrid were organized too. How did that work out?
📱 @TacticalTimes
Juventus's greatest improvement is Pogba. Their midfield can now progress the ball without depending entirely on Dybala dropping deep.
📱 @RedDevilBeijing
United's midfield may not be glamorous, but Kanté, Matić, Herrera, and McTominay have dismantled almost everyone this season.
📱 @BayernCentral
Bayern and Manchester United are still the most likely finalists.
| ↳ 📱 @PSGWorld
| Reply: Neymar, Mbappé, and Di María just eliminated Manchester City. Keep ignoring us.
📱 @NeutralUCLWatch
Two weeks until Ling faces Cristiano. Football knows exactly what it's doing!
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