The Champions League semi-final matchups are set. Arsenal will play against Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona will meet Inter Milan. The first legs are scheduled for April 29 and 30, and the return legs will take place on May 6 and 7. Four of Europe’s top clubs will battle for a spot in the final in Munich.
WHAT HAPPENED?
After an exciting quarter-final round, the semi-final matches are now fixed. Arsenal easily defeated Real Madrid, winning 5-1 on aggregate. This highlighted their strong performance in Europe this season, with a 3-0 victory at home and a 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabéu. Paris Saint-Germain narrowly won against Aston Villa, advancing with a 5-4 aggregate score, thanks to a strong home performance.
Barcelona defeated Borussia Dortmund 5-3, while Inter Milan held Bayern Munich at bay with a 4-3 aggregate score after a tense 2-2 draw in Milan. The semi-finals will start with Arsenal visiting PSG at Parc des Princes and Barcelona hosting Inter at Montjuïc. The decisive matches will take place a week later in London and Milan, respectively.
ROAD TO THE SEMI-FINALS: SEASON OVERVIEW
This marks Arsenal’s best Champions League run since 2009. Their campaign has been driven by a strong defense and standout performances from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka. PSG, who last reached the final in 2020, have shown determination in this challenging knockout phase, with key contributions from Gianluigi Donnarumma and Vitinha.
Barcelona have rediscovered their European form after several disappointing years, boasting the tournament’s most potent attack with 37 goals in 12 games. Inter Milan, the leaders of Serie A, have impressed with their defensive organization, conceding just five goals in the Champions League this season. Each club has reached this stage after a tough domestic and European schedule, and all see these matches as a rare chance to achieve continental glory.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The semi-final first legs are scheduled for April 29 and 30. PSG will host Arsenal in Paris, while Barcelona will face Inter in Spain. The return legs on May 6 and 7 will see the matches move to London and Milan. The winners will advance to the Champions League final at Munich’s Allianz Arena on May 31.
In their domestic leagues, Arsenal is locked in a tight Premier League title race, PSG is leading Ligue 1, Barcelona is chasing the top spot in La Liga, and Inter is the runaway leader in Serie A. Each team’s next league match will be critical for their title races. However, all attention will be focused on these significant European nights, with a place in club football’s biggest game at stake.
