Arsenal v PSG
Arsenal had a rest at the weekend. They will have been disappointed to watch Liverpool secure the Premier League title on Sunday, but that missed opportunity should focus minds on the Champions League, their only hope of silverware this season. They are unbeaten in their last 12 matches but have won only six times in that run, and have drawn their last two home games, against Brentford and Crystal Palace.
Mikel Arteta has a few selection concerns in the middle of the park. With Thomas Partey suspended and Jorginho injured, Mikel Merino may need to anchor the midfield. The Spain international missed the draw against Palace a week ago with a minor injury but, like Ben White, he has returned to training this week, which is a boost. Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Magalhães are still out, but Riccardo Calafiori is on track to make the squad for the first leg. Even so, Arteta will probably continue with Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back alongside a centre-back partnership of William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior.
Luis Enrique has the luxury of selecting from a full squad. The PSG manager named a strong team for the 3-1 loss to Nice on Friday – PSG’s first Ligue 1 defeat this season. Enrique must decide which of his attackers to drop, with Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola battling to join Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the frontline. Otherwise, the rest of the XI picks itself. His midfield trio of João Neves, Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz have been impressive this season and will look to dictate in the middle.
PSG have been sensational at times in this season’s Champions League – and they are on a great run against English teams, having knocked out Liverpool and Aston Villa in previous rounds. But they are also inconsistent; PSG have lost more games in the competition (five) than the other four semi-finalists combined (four). One of those defeats came at the Emirates in October, when the teams met in the league phase. Arsenal won comfortably, Havertz and Bukayo Saka scoring in a 2-0 victory. PSG have improved in the knockout rounds but that win in October, and their imperious performances against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, may give Arsenal the psychological edge. Prediction: Arsenal to progress
Barcelona v Inter
Barcelona beat Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey final on Saturday to secure the first trophy of what they hope will be a treble. It was a dramatic and exhausting match that went to extra time – there were even three red cards after the final whistle – so Barcelona will have to refocus quickly as they gear up to face a dogged Inter. Hansi Flick’s side have lost just one game in 2025, and now sit four points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga, so they have a great chance to write their names into the history books. A treble in his first campaign in Spain would be an astounding achievement for Flick.
The Germany international goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made the squad for the match against Real Madrid – the first time he has done so since September, having recovered from a knee injury earlier than expected – so is in contention to start. Even with Ter Stegen back in the squad, though, Wojciech Szczesny is likely to keep his place, having shone since coming out of retirement in October.
Marc Bernal, Marc Casado and Alejandro Balde are missing for Barcelona but the biggest blow is Robert Lewandowski’s injury. Ferran Torres will probably lead the charge, with Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Raphinha in support of the Spain international. Pedri and Frenkie de Jong both came off in Saturday’s cup final win over Real Madrid but they are expected to be available.
Simone Inzaghi takes his men to Barcelona on a poor run of form. Inter forfeited top spot in Serie A on Sunday as they fell to a 1-0 home defeat by Roma, a loss that extends their winless run to four, during which they also lost to Milan in the Coppa Italia to dash their own treble hopes. Their defeat by Claudio Ranieri’s side on Sunday also came at a cost; Benjamin Pavard came off in the first half with an ankle sprain, so Inzaghi must decide whether to start Yann Bisseck or Stefan de Vrij alongside Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni in his favoured three-man backline.
Marcus Thuram, though, is expected to recover for the match in Spain. The Frenchman hasn’t featured since the 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich earlier this month owing to a muscle complaint and, while he is unlikely to start, Inter will hope he is fit enough to make the squad. Mehdi Taremi may be given the nod ahead of Marko Arnautovic to partner captain Lautaro Martínez on the frontline.
Otherwise Inter have a fit squad. Federico Dimarco has been the Nerazzurri’s first-choice left wing-back in the league, while Carlos Augusto has been preferred in the Champions League, and the Brazilian is expected to start again. On the opposite flank, the fit-again Denzel Dumfries should reclaim his place to make his first start since the 2-0 win at Atalanta, having returned to action from the bench at the weekend. Prediction: Barcelona to progress
This is an article by WhoScored
Source: theguardian.com
