This week in the Champions League will determine the final four teams for the 2024-25 season. The semifinals are scheduled for April 29-30 and May 6-7, culminating in the highly anticipated final on May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Barcelona and PSG are in a favorable position to reach the semifinals, whereas Real Madrid faces a significant challenge to overcome a 3-0 deficit against Arsenal at their home ground. Bayern Munich, despite dealing with injuries under coach Vincent Kompany, must respond after their 2-1 defeat to Inter in Munich. Davide Frattesi`s late goal has given Inter a strong opportunity to return to the top four, following their close 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the 2023 Istanbul final.
The second leg matches of the Champions League quarterfinals are set for Tuesday and Wednesday. FC Barcelona will travel to Borussia Dortmund after a dominant 4-0 victory in the first leg, and Aston Villa will host PSG following a 3-1 loss at Parc des Princes on Tuesday. Inter will welcome Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid will play against Arsenal at the Santiago Bernabeu in the week`s second fixtures.
The winner of the FC Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund quarterfinal will face either Inter or Bayern Munich in the semifinals. The victor of the Arsenal vs. Real Madrid tie will compete against the winner of the PSG vs. Aston Villa matchup. Let`s analyze each game to preview what we can expect:
FC Barcelona in a Comfortable Position
FC Barcelona is in a much more advantageous situation compared to Real Madrid. Hansi Flick`s team secured a convincing 4-0 win in the first leg in Barcelona last Wednesday, placing them firmly on the path to the semifinals. They are likely to face either Inter or Bayern Munich in the next round. The Blaugrana will visit Dortmund, a familiar ground for Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, who played there from 2010 to 2014 before his controversial transfer to Bayern Munich in 2014. If expectations are met, Barcelona is poised to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2019, when they were defeated by Liverpool after a historic comeback.
PSG Close to Semifinals
Following a solid 3-1 victory at Parc des Princes last week, PSG is well-placed to potentially face either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals. Reaching this stage would mark their second consecutive semifinal appearance after an unexpected loss to Borussia Dortmund in the previous tournament edition. Luis Enrique`s team, having already secured the 2024-25 Ligue 1 title, is now heavily focused on winning the Champions League for the first time. This achievement would be a significant milestone in the career of the Spanish manager, who joined the club in the summer of 2023 with the primary goal of achieving European success.
Can Real Madrid Stage Another Comeback?
The most anticipated match of the week is likely the one in Madrid, where Real Madrid will host Arsenal at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. This follows a 3-0 defeat to Mikel Arteta`s Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in London last week. Carlo Ancelotti`s team has a history of remarkable comebacks in this competition, particularly in the 2021-22 season when they orchestrated three consecutive comebacks against PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City, before winning the final against Liverpool in Paris. However, this time it is a greater challenge as Arsenal demonstrated their strength and quality in the first leg. Madrid also faces injury-related absences. Despite the odds, Real Madrid players and fans maintain belief in a comeback, drawing on the memorable Bernabeu turnarounds of recent years.
Will Inter Eliminate Bayern?
Inter will host Bayern Munich at San Siro in what is expected to be the most tightly contested quarterfinal tie, after Inter`s 2-1 victory in Munich last week. A win for the Italian side would be a significant setback for Bayern Munich and a major statement for Inter, especially after their narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the 2023 final. Simone Inzaghi`s team is considered one of the most experienced in Europe, and winning the Champions League would be a monumental achievement for a club that has won it only three times in its history. Their last Champions League title was in the 2009-10 season under Jose Mourinho, when Inter defeated FC Barcelona in the semifinals and then Bayern Munich 1-0 in the final in Madrid.
Benedict Kingsley