Following an extraordinary 13-goal UEFA Champions League semifinal between Inter Milan and Barcelona, attention now shifts to the second leg clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, who vie for the remaining spot in the final.
Inter Milan Survive Thrilling Semifinal Against Barcelona
Inter Milan secured their place in the Champions League final after a remarkable 7-6 aggregate victory over Barcelona in a tie that will be remembered as one of the competition`s most thrilling semifinals. Mirroring the first leg, Inter established a 2-0 lead in the return match in Milan through Lautaro Martinez and a Hakan Calhanoglou penalty. Barcelona fought back, leveling the score in the second half via Eric Gracia and Dani Olmo, and even briefly took a late 3-2 lead in the match (making the aggregate 6-5) thanks to Raphinha. However, dramatic goals from Francesco Acerbi in stoppage time and Davide Frattesi in extra time sealed a 4-3 win on the night and the overall 7-6 triumph for Inter.
This sends Simone Inzaghi`s side to their second Champions League final in three years, a testament to his impact since taking charge in 2021. Despite a defense-first approach, Inter showed clinical finishing against Barcelona`s vulnerable backline. Key performers included goalscorers Martinez and Marcus Thuram, but also Denzel Dumfries with five goal contributions and goalkeeper Yann Sommer with 14 saves across both legs.
While this season had inconsistencies, their semifinal performance showcased their potential. However, questions linger about the team`s future, as writer Francesco Porzio suggests this deep run might be the “last dance” for some players due to planned roster changes aimed at youth and competitiveness by the club`s new owners.
`There is a feeling, unlike both [Paris Saint-Germain] and Arsenal, that this might be the last dance for some parts of the Inter roster, as their current roster will be drastically changed in the summer of 2025. It will happen, as club president Giuseppe Marotta already said before the Barcelona semifinal first leg, especially because Inter`s new American owners, Oaktree, want to make the roster younger and still competitive in the near future. Some players will likely leave the team in the summer, regardless what happens in the final on May 31, but others will stay to make sure there is a future for this team, even if it will be probably added with some younger players.`
— Francesco Porzio
Paris Saint-Germain Face Arsenal for Final Spot
Paris Saint-Germain hosts Arsenal today, seeking to join Inter in the final, holding a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg in London. This tight margin promises another intense encounter in the French capital.
PSG received a boost with confirmation that Ousmane Dembele, the scorer of the tie`s only goal so far, is fit despite an injury scare last week. Coach Luis Enrique confirmed Dembele trained fully, highlighting his importance to PSG`s pursuit of their first final appearance in five years. Enrique believes his tactical system, which has made PSG incredibly hard to beat, is still evolving. He stressed the importance of sticking to their strategy against a motivated Arsenal side.
`It`s normal in a construction process that in the first year there are still things to analyse, the second year is a year of clearer growth and confidence in our resources. Next year we will continue to excel on the biggest stages. … We`re bound to suffer because our opponents don`t have a favourable result. We need to match our performance as closely as possible in the first leg to win the return leg and stay true to our ideas.`
— Luis Enrique
As for Arsenal, the second leg presents a significant offensive challenge. Despite being defensively sound, they trail due to conceding early in the first leg and, more crucially, their failure to score. The Gunners had chances but lacked clinical finishing, exposing a need for a consistent goalscorer. While players like Bukayo Saka (11 goals) and Leandro Trossard (10 goals) are potential threats, Arsenal`s attack must deliver in Paris. They also face the difficult task of breaking down PSG`s formidable pressing game, which has proven highly effective recently.
Benedict Kingsley