Champions League: 4 factors which will decide Real Madrid's fate in semifinal against Juventus

The first leg tie between Juventus and Real Madrid was an intriguing affair with the Old Lady coming out on top 2-1 and deservedly so. One of the key aspects to Juve’s victory was their relentless pressure on Madrid’s back four. Naturally this affected Madrid and the express vertical passing that they are renowned for. The front two for Juventus, Morata and Tevez hounded Madrid’s defenders incessantly thus closing down any channel to Real’s midfield. 

But things don’t look too bleak for Los Blancos. They did manage to secure a vital away goal courtesy Cristiano Ronaldo, which could prove instrumental at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

With the tie on a knife's edge, we look at key aspects that could decide the winner of Thursday’s tantalizing second leg between Europe’s two juggernauts. 

Using the wings effectively- This is one area where Los Merengues have a clear cut advantage over Juventus. Apart from Ronaldo’s goal, Madrid’s best chance of the game came from the wings- Isco whipped in a delightful ball into the Juventus box but James hit the crossbar from two yards out. Real coach, Ancelotti has got his team to move the ball faster laterally, which has resulted in the wingers and full backs getting more time on the ball. But this was not the case in the first leg. Isco, Kroos and James were harried of the ball which nullified any effect Madrid have on the wings. This was one of the primary reasons why Gareth Bale was invisible throughout the game. If Real manage to successfully move the ball with the fluid place they are known for, they could do some serious damage from the wings. Player alert- Karim Benzema is expected to start in the return leg after recovering from a knee injury. 

Juve’s brick wall defence- The Old Lady has one of the meanest defenses in Europe. In the Champions League, they have conceded just six goals in eleven games, keeping six clean sheets in the process. At home, Juventus are far more dynamic going forward. Away from home, playing in front of a hostile crowd, they will hardly see much of the ball. But when they do, they make use of it with military precision.  This will only mean, Madrid will find it that much harder to unlock their defense. If the result remains in Juve’s favor post half time, expect Madrid to pile on additional players in attack. This would be the perfect scenario for the black and white’s since we know how menacing Pirlo and co. are on the counter attack.  Player alert- Paul Pogba, who sat out for five weeks with a hamstring injury, will in all likelihood feature in the second leg. 

Isco and Pirlo- Two of Europe’s most exciting midfielders will dictate play and will be responsible for their team’s transition from defense to attack.  The man from Malaga, Isco, will provide some much needed dynamism and stability in Madrid’s midfield.  Having made twenty-two key passes (only Messi, Koke and Tevez have a better record in Europe) for his team, the twenty-three year old will be the lynchpin of Real’s attack.  In Pirlo, Juventus have a seasoned campaigner who plays the game at his own pace. Prior to the first leg, he told La Gazzetta dello Sport, “We play good football, without fear or awe. Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world, the most prestigious, but we have a 50 per cent chance of going through”.  The thirty-five year old still has his eagle eyes intact and if left free can cause serious damage with his vintage long balls. His ability to open up spaces for his team mates in the opposition half is second to none. 

Bench strength- This is one area where Madrid look flat footed.  Ancelotti’s substitutions in the first leg were questioned when he brought on Hernandez for Isco.  That move was a blunder since Isco time and again has been the catalyst in unlocking compact defenses. Although Chicharito’s recent performances have been good, apart from him no one from the Madrid bench has made any kind of constructive impact this season- especially in vital matches. Juventus on the other hand can bank on their dynamic substitutes to make a positive impact.  Coach Allegri has had the luxury of calling upon the likes of Llorente and Pereyra when he needed them to inject some much needed energy.  

Come this Wednesday, the most valuable club in the world- Real Madrid ($3.2 billion) will take on a team that last won Europe’s most coveted trophy nineteen years ago. The stakes have never been higher. The club that manages to recover swiftly from those inevitable periods of discomfit during the match will come out on top.