Champions League Semi-Finals Preview: Arsenal, PSG, Barcelona, and Inter Prepare for Showdowns
The European football season has reached the Champions League semi-finals — and it all begins today. Only Arsenal, PSG, Barcelona, and Inter remain. What kind of matches can we expect, and who will take center stage? The Sportsa’‘ team takes a closer look.
Arsenal vs PSG
PSG has significantly improved since their last clash with Arsenal in the group stage
Officially, PSG comes into this match with just one win in their last four: a 2–3 loss to Aston Villa in the Champions League quarter-final second leg (which was still enough to advance), a 2–1 win over Le Havre, a 1–1 draw with Nantes, and a 1–3 loss to Nice. That defeat to Nice in Ligue 1’s 31st round was PSG’s first domestic loss of the season, shattering their dream of an unbeaten run. Still, the result is misleading — PSG created many chances, and Marcin Bułka recorded 12 saves. Only Alisson has put in a better performance against PSG this season.
PSG may have slowed slightly after an exceptional run of form, but this sample is too small for firm conclusions. The first leg against Arsenal will reveal whether this is a true dip or a calculated pause before a final push.
In 2025, PSG has firmly established itself as a candidate for the world’s best team. Ousmane Dembélé has blossomed into a roaming false nine. On the flanks, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué, and Bradley Barcola are pushing each other to higher levels — and only two can start. The midfield is rock-solid thanks to the consistency of Vitinha and João Neves and the incisiveness of Fabián Ruiz. Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes form one of the most powerful fullback duos, though Mendes often tucks inside as a third centre-back (and still manages to score). Willian Pacho is a defensive wall — even more reliable than veteran Marquinhos. Gianluigi Donnarumma, too, has found form precisely in the UCL knockout rounds.
Luis Enrique emphasizes ball control and total positional interchange. Dembélé drifts wide or deep, the wingers rotate, Ruiz pops up in central attacking zones, Mendes alternates between centre-back, winger, and half-space runner, and Vitinha and Neves are omnipresent. Without the ball, PSG’s most notable quality is their elite counter-pressing — fueled by compact positioning and intense collective movement.
This team is not without flaws, and the second leg against Villa exposed some concerns.
First, PSG’s youth-driven squad lacks experience. Many players are gifted but untested at this level. That’s partly why they nearly squandered a 5–1 advantage across two legs against Villa.
Second, opponents can overload PSG’s central spine, creating 4-v-3 scenarios in midfield.
Third, Vitinha, while excellent, isn’t a natural holding midfielder. In positional defence, he lacks destructive power and positional discipline. He often drifts wide, leaving gaps in front of the centre-backs.
PSG’s most important player is Dembélé. Recall the earlier group-stage match against Arsenal (0–2) when Luis Enrique benched him for disciplinary reasons. PSG struggled to build from the back and lost their counter-attacking edge. While that PSG side was weaker than today’s version, Dembélé’s influence remains crucial. Still, Enrique has done a lot to prove that PSG is no longer built around just one star.
Arsenal is all in for the Champions League — but Arteta faces a new puzzle
Arsenal is laser-focused on the Champions League. This weekend, they mathematically dropped out of the Premier League title race. Their last match was against Crystal Palace on Wednesday — meaning they had a full week to prepare for PSG.
There are two layers of intrigue. First: how to approach a team like PSG, who — in terms of the possession-dominance both Enrique and Arteta value — appear more mature. Arsenal will need to adapt more than their opponents.
Second: how to do it with mounting injuries and absences. The lack of strikers has become a theme, though Arteta has hinted that Kai Havertz may return ahead of schedule. The new issue lies in holding midfield. Thomas Partey is suspended, and Jorginho is injured. Likely, Declan Rice will need to drop deeper, which in turn pushes Mikel Merino into Rice’s usual spot — returning us to the striker dilemma.
How to solve all this without losing the balance found against Madrid is anyone’s guess.
Arsenal’s key player: Bukayo Saka. He’ll likely face the world’s top fullback in one-on-one defending — Nuno Mendes. If Mendes shuts down Saka like he did Salah against Liverpool, Arsenal will be in serious trouble.
Also, Saka and Rice are Arsenal’s best set-piece takers — a crucial factor against PSG, as set-pieces are Enrique’s main vulnerability.
Barcelona vs Inter
Barcelona has no weak spots
Just weeks ago, this tie looked like a test of Barcelona’s endurance. Under Hansi Flick, the team was pressing hard, managing a brutal schedule, and dealing with many injuries. Physical burnout seemed inevitable. But those fears now appear exaggerated. Barcelona is certainly tired — but still performing at an elite level.
Barça is balanced: an adventurous but effective defence and by far the world’s best attack. They’re not only stronger than their rivals, but better than their early-season selves. Rayo Vallecano manager Iñigo Pérez recently said that Barcelona now has “no weaknesses” — and it’s hard to disagree.
One key factor is mentality. Flick has instilled a winning mindset. The team doesn’t quit — even when out of rhythm or out of gas. Earlier versions of Barça might’ve let games slip. Now they fight back: think Celta, Real Madrid. This is a youthful, stubborn, relentless side.
A likely match scenario: Barça dominates possession and tempo, Inter looks to contain and counter. Earlier this season, Barcelona struggled with such opponents — especially with poor finishing. But now they seem more comfortable in those dynamics. Flick continues to refine the details.
Pedri is the heart of it all. He might be the best player in the world right now. His main skill is tempo control — via passing or movement across flanks, midfield, or deep-lying areas. He doesn’t just create moments, he helps teammates find the right ones. His genius is simple: he senses the correct choice, then has the technique to make it happen. No one influences a team more.
Another question: is Raphinha experiencing a slump? The Brazilian has been a mainstay all season, even in big games. But in April, he’s been less sharp — making poor decisions and squandering chances, which is uncharacteristic. Off the ball, though, he remains vital, helping cover for the absent Alejandro Balde. Still, for someone tipped for the Ballon d’Or, form matters.
Inter’s nightmare week and issues with pace
Inter has lost three consecutive matches — eliminated from the Cup and losing their Serie A advantage — all within a disastrous week. The losses varied. Against Bologna, they conceded late by leaving a winger unmarked. In the derby, they couldn’t find space against a zonal defence. Against Roma, they conceded due to an individual mistake.
Still, some patterns have emerged:
- Around the 60th minute, they run out of gas. Simone Inzaghi can’t get his team back into physical shape.
- They lose opponents in the “half-spaces” — the gap between centre-back and wide centre-back, especially when the latter steps up.
- They’re struggling with tempo — slow ball movement and early fatigue.
Normally, pressing Inter man-to-man is suicidal. But now it’s working — as Bologna showed. Flick is one of the few managers who presses as aggressively as Italiano, pushing his line high and flooding danger zones. Inter may not be in shape to punish such boldness as usual. This tactical duel — Inzaghi vs Flick’s pressure — will be an epic, not a poem. A story of resistance.
Individual intrigue is harder to pin down — Inter’s strength is their cohesion. But three players will have outsized roles:
1. Alessandro Bastoni — perhaps the only centre-back as creative as Riccardo Calafiori in the opponent’s half. But in the semi-final, he must prove himself in his own. He’s the first line of defence against Lamine Yamal.
Bastoni’s attacking flair has overshadowed his defensive reputation. Recently, he snapped in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport: “I can defend! I watch many foreign matches and see so-called ‘monsters’ make more mistakes in marking than I do. That label made sense two or three years ago when I had flaws, but I’ve worked on them. Today it doesn’t apply.” Time to find out.
2. Nicolò Barella — one of the few midfielders who can rival Pedri’s current level.
3. Lautaro Martínez — among the world’s best at playing with his back to goal, vital against man-marking systems. With Inter exhausted, he becomes even more crucial.
Published by Patrick Jane
29.04.2025