Real Madrid aren't present to spoil this season's Champions League party, with the holders and 15-time winners failing to reach the semi-finals of the latest iteration.
As a result, there's a sense of novelty surrounding this year's final four even if each of the remaining teams rank among the very best on the continent. Arsenal's matchup with Paris Saint-Germain means we're guaranteed a non-winner in the final next month, while Barcelona and Inter are each aiming to end briefer continental droughts.
These are a pair of blockbuster fixtures, and the first legs get underway this week. Here are Sports Illustrated'spredictions for the semifinal curtain raisers.
