Champions League Semifinal Showdowns: PSG vs Arsenal & Barcelona vs Inter Preview

Tuesday’s second legs of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League semifinals promise high drama as Paris Saint-Germain defend a slender 1-0 lead over Arsenal at the Parc des Princes and Barcelona host Inter Milan at the Camp Nou after their epic 3-3 draw in Catalonia.

PSG will be without injured key men but can rely on Ousmane Dembélé’s near-certain return to enhance their fluid front three, while Arsenal must overturn the deficit by exploiting the wide spaces left by PSG’s attacking full-backs.

In Barcelona, neither side holds an advantage on aggregate, setting up a tactical chess match between Flick’s possession-driven Blaugrana and Simone Inzaghi’s resilient Inter, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and dynamic wing-back Denzel Dumfries poised to shape the tie’s outcome.

PSG vs Arsenal Preview

Arsenal travel to Paris trailing by a solitary goal from Dembélé’s early strike at the Emirates, knowing that a clean sheet and any scoring draw will send them through on away goals.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men are expected to revert to a 4-3-3 that prioritises high pressing in midfield, aiming to disrupt Arsenal’s build-up - especially targeting Declan Rice, who ran PSG’s midfield ragged in the first leg.

PSG’s medical update suggests Dembélé will be fit to start after a minor knock, offering pace and flair alongside Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola.

Arsenal, meanwhile, may deploy a back four with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães to counter PSG’s rotations, yet they must guard against overloads down the flanks where Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi excel.

Tactical Battle

PSG’s pressing has limited opponents to just 0.8 expected goals per game in Europe this season, reflecting a collective discipline under Luis Enrique.

Arsenal’s key tactical tweak in the first leg - shifting to a hybrid 4-4-2 in attack - challenged PSG’s three-man midfield and could be deployed again to force turnovers in dangerous areas.

The battle in central midfield will hinge on whether Arsenal can replicate their 1.63 xG from the first match, exploiting PSG’s occasional defensive lapses when their full-backs bomb forward.

Players to Watch

Ousmane Dembélé (PSG): If his medical update holds, Dembélé’s direct runs and finishing will be pivotal in breaking the deadlock.

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal): His nine goals and six assists in this season’s Champions League highlight Arsenal’s creative outlet; Saka’s dribbling could unlock PSG’s deep-lying defenders.

Fabián Ruiz (PSG): Often overshadowed, Ruiz’s 87% long-pass accuracy provides the control PSG need to negate Arsenal’s press.

Declan Rice (Arsenal): His ability to recycle possession and cover ground will determine if Arsenal can match PSG’s intensity for the full 90 minutes.

Barcelona vs Inter Preview

At the Camp Nou, Barcelona and Inter resume their 3-3 stalemate from the first leg, setting up an open contest where both sides must balance attack and caution.

Flick is expected to field a 4-3-3 with Pedri orchestrating transitions from deep, while Robert Lewandowski returns to lead the line and target Inter’s makeshift back three.

Simone Inzaghi will counter with his favoured 3-5-2, using Dumfries on the right to stretch Barcelona’s left flank and Thuram’s early-season heroics to unsettle the Catalan defence.

Tactical Contest

Barcelona’s ability to control possession—averaging over 65% in this season’s knockout rounds will be tested by Inter’s structured low block and swift vertical transitions.

The Blaugrana must exploit spaces in midfield created when Inter push wing-backs high, but risk exposure to counter-attacks, as evidenced by their 3-3 concession in the first leg.

Inzaghi’s men, conversely, will look to capitalize on set-piece routines and aerial duels, with their 1.8 xG in the opening match underscoring their clinical edge.

Players to Watch

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona): His vision and ball progressions unlocked Inter’s defence first time; expect him to orchestrate attacks down the right.

Denzel Dumfries (Inter): Direct running and late box-arrival define his game; Dumfries was involved in all three goals in leg one.

Pedri (Barcelona): His 89% passing accuracy in tight spaces will be crucial in unlocking Inter’s mid-block.

·Marcus Thuram (Inter): The fastest scorer in semifinal history at 30 seconds, Thuram’s movement could again disrupt Barcelona’s centre-backs.