- Real Madrid beat Atletico in city derby to reach semi-finals
- Juventus saw off Monaco to reach last four of the Champions League
- Duo join Bayern Munich and Barcelona who advanced on Tuesday
- European Cup veterans now prepare for Friday's semi-final draw
There was a stark contrast in the Champions League quarter-final ties with the likes of Barcelona cruising through, while Real Madrid left it late to book their progression.
But with four teams left challenging for Europe's top club prize, it looks tighter than ever to predict an overall winner with traditional European heavyweights filling the semi-final spaces.
Juventus and Bayern Munich make up the fantastic four and with this bunch having more semi-final appearances than any other sides (Real 31, Bayern 30, Barca 25, Juve 22) this is what it's all about.
Here, Sportsmail looks at the final four left in the hat ahead of the semi-final draw on Friday.
BARCELONA
The run to the semi-finals
Just when it looked like Barcelona were becoming a fading force among the elite, they bite back and look almost better than ever. Barca have played 10 games in the Champions League this year - winning nine of them.
That one defeat was against Paris Saint-Germain in the group stage and they soon sent the French champions packing in the quarter-finals with ease, along with Premier League champions Manchester City in the previous round. The lesson here is write them off at your peril.
Manager - Luis Enrique
After a rather sticky start to life in the Barcelona hot seat, Enrique has grown into the role. Only as recent as January there were reports of a fall-out between the ex-Barca star and Lionel Messi.
But since then he looks to have solved the puzzle in how to get the best of the Argentine, Neymar and Luis Suarez in a devastating front three. On course to win the treble in his first season at the club.
Key player - Lionel Messi
Make no mistake, Messi is still the general but he has just as deadly deputies in Neymar and Suarez.
Stop one of the trio and the other two will run riot. It's a front three that is giving every opposition manager nightmares and is helping spark a resurgence in Messi as he returns to top form.
Ten-year record in the Champions League:
2013-14: Quarter-finals vs Atletico Madrid
2012-13: Semi-finals vs Bayern Munich
2011-12: Semi-finals vs Chelsea
2010-11: Winners
2009-10: Semi-finals vs Inter Milan
2008-09: Winners
2007-08: Semi-finals vs Manchester United
2006-07: Last 16 vs Liverpool
2005-06: Winners
2004-05: Last 16 vs Chelsea
Top scorer: Lionel Messi (8)
Odds to win Champions League: 15/8
REAL MADRID
The run to the semi-finals
After breezing through their group without so much as a test from any of their opponents on the way to a 100 per cent record - Real Madrid have been given a wake-up call in the knockout stages.
The Champions League holders squeezed past Schalke on aggregate before they left it until two minutes from time in the second leg to see off city rivals Atletico in the quarter-finals.
It's not always been pretty, but Carlo Ancelotti's team are proving as entertaining as ever.
Group stage results:
Basle (h) won 5-1
Ludogorets (a) won 2-1
Liverpool (a) won 3-0
Liverpool (h) won 1-0
Basle (a) won 1-0
Ludogorets (h) won 4-0
Last 16 vs Schalke (won 5-4 on aggregate)
First leg: Won 2-0 (Veltins-Arena)
Second leg: Lost 3-4 (Bernabeu)
Quarter-finals vs Atletico Madrid
First leg: Drew 0-0 (Vicente Calderon)
Second leg: Won 1-0 (Bernabeu)
Manager - Carlo Ancelotti
Ancelotti has won the Champions League three times as a manager, including last season when he guided Madrid to 'La Decima.'
Considering the former Chelsea manager's record in the competition, it would perhaps be fitting if he could become the first manager in the Champions League era to defend the trophy.
Key player - Cristiano Ronaldo
Real may have a front three in Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale to rival Barcelona, but there is no mistake that the Portugal forward is pulling the strings at the Bernabeu.
However, he has not been at his finest in Europe this term, with Atletico Madrid effective in stifling the forward service for much of their quarter-final. Against more attack-minded teams, he is more likely to show his best in a counter-attacking system.
Ten-year record in the Champions League:
2013-14: Winners
2012-13: Semi-finals vs Borussia Dortmund
2011-12: Semi-finals vs Bayern Munich
2010-11: Semi-finals vs Barcelona
2009-10: Last 16 vs Lyon
2008-09: Last 16 vs Liverpool
2007-08: Last 16 vs Roma
2006-07: Last 16 vs Bayern Munich
2005-06: Last 16 vs Arsenal
2004-05: Last 16 vs Juventus
Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (8)
Odds to win Champions League: 10/3
BAYERN MUNICH
The run to the semi-finals
Looking at Bayern Munich's Champions League record this season makes worrying reading for any defence heading into the semi-finals - they just cannot stop scoring.
They have already netted 14 times in the knockout phase of the competition - and they smashed seven past Roma in the group stages. Scoring isn't a problem for Pep Guardiola's side.
But defending is, or more specifically defending on the road. Manchester City and Porto have punished the German champions this term and as devastating as they are at the Allianz Arena, rivals will have a chance to punish a Bayern team on their travels.
Group stage results
Manchester City (h) won 1-0
CSKA Moscow (a) won 1-0
Roma (a) won 7-1
Roma (h) won 2-0
Manchester City (a) lost 2-3
CSKA Moscow (h) won 3-0
Last 16 vs Shakhtar Donetsk (won 7-0 on aggregate)
First leg: Drew 0-0 (Lviv Arena)
Second leg: Won 7-0 (Allianz Arena)
Quarter-finals vs Porto (won 7-4 on aggregate)
First leg: Lost 1-3 (Estadio do Dragao)
Second leg: Won 6-1 (Allianz Arena)
Manager - Pep Guardiola
Rated one of the world's best managers after guiding Barcelona to success domestically and globally having played swashbuckling football in the process.
Now at Bayern, Guardiola is already ruling Germany with an iron fist but his ultimate aim is to secure a sixth Champions League title for the club, which will only keep Europe's elite courting his services. Manchester City are already sold on his managerial ability.
Key player - Manuel Neuer
The brilliance of Bayern is that should one component of their attack falter, the chances are another segment of it will effortlessly pick up the pieces.
That's not really the case in defence which is why Manuel Neuer's form is crucial in the latter stages of the competition. Whether it be playing as a sweeper keeper to bail out his back four or having to show off his supreme shot-stopping ability, his role will be crucial to Bayern.
Ten-year record in the Champions League:
2013-14: Semi-finals vs Real Madrid
2012-13: Winners
2011-12: Final vs Chelsea
2010-11: Last 16 vs Inter Milan
2009-10: Final vs Inter Milan
2008-09: Quarter-finals vs Barcelona
2007-08: Failed to qualify
2006-07: Quarter-finals vs AC Milan
2005-06: Last 16 vs AC Milan
2004-05: Quarter-finals vs Chelsea
Top scorer: Thomas Muller (6)
Odds to win the Champions League: 15/8
JUVENTUS
The run to the semi-finals
Unlike the other teams in the last four, Juventus had to scrape through the group stages having had Olympiacos breathing down their necks for the runners-up spot behind Atletico.
Performances have improved since though for the Italian champions, having impressively dumped out Borussia Dortmund with ease while stubbornly seeing off Monaco. Juve have conceded just one goal in their last six European games, next up though is one of the big guns...
Group stage results:
Malmo (h) won 2-0 Atletico Madrid (a) lost 0-1
Olympiacos (a) lost 0-1 Olympiacos (h) won 3-2
Malmo (a) won 2-0 Atletico Madrid (h) drew 0-0
Last 16 vs Borussia Dortmund (won 5-0 on aggregate)
First leg: Won 2-1 (Juventus Stadium) Second leg: Won 3-0 (Signal Iduna Park)
Quarter-finals vs Monaco
First leg: Won 1-0 (Juventus Stadium) Second leg: Drew 0-0 (Stade Louis II)
Manager - Massimiliano Allegri
Allegri took the Juventus job off the back of a rollercoaster spell at AC Milan that saw him leave the Italian giants when they were well off the pace in Serie A - casting doubts over his managerial abilities.
Given that the Rossoneri are still struggling in mid-table, and Allegri is now in a Champions League semi-final, the 47-year-old has gained a feather in his cap with the Old Lady in the last four for the first time since 2003.
Key player - Carlos Tevez
Juventus's top scorer in Europe this season, Tevez is going to be needed now more than ever with the Italian side not expected to see much of the ball whoever they draw in the semi-finals.
The Bianconeri may be restricted to very few chances so they will be looking to the former Manchester United and City striker to convert the ones they could have.
Ten year record in the Champions League:
2013-14: Group Stage 2012-13: Quarter-finals vs Bayern Munich
2011-12: Failed to qualify 2010-11: Failed to qualify
2009-10: Group stage 2008-09: Last 16 vs Chelsea
2007-08: Failed to qualify 2006-07: Failed to qualify
2005-06: Quarter-finals vs Arsenal 2004-05: Quarter-finals vs Liverpool
Top scorer: Carlos Tevez (6)
Odds to win Champions League: 8/1
