Blues lack a striker as prolific as rivals

Champions League semi-finals have been decided by phantom goals, crazed officials, injuries, moments of brilliance and even by one team being better than the other.

This season they could well turn on the performance of three record-breaking strikers, but there are also possible suspensions hanging over key players that could seriously affect the balance of the ties.

The strikers are of course the Terrors of La Liga, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, plus Mario Gomez of Bayern Munich, who has been having a similar impact on German defences. Between them, they’ve plundered 155 goals this season.