Following the dramatic conclusion to the UEFA Champions League semifinal between Inter Milan and Barcelona, which saw Inter secure their place in the final with a thrilling 7-6 aggregate victory, attention now shifts to the other highly anticipated tie. Today, Paris Saint-Germain hosts Arsenal in the second leg, with both teams vying for the remaining spot in the prestigious final.
Inter Prevail in Epic 13-Goal Semifinal
Over two legs and 210 minutes of captivating football, Inter Milan booked their place in this month`s Champions League final by defeating Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate. This tie will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most spectacular semifinals in the tournament`s history.
mirroring the first leg in Barcelona, Inter quickly established a two-goal advantage in the second leg in Milan. Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in the 21st minute, followed by Hakan Calhanoglou`s penalty before halftime. Barcelona fought back bravely, leveling the score by the hour mark through Eric Gracia and Dani Olmo, setting up a tense final period. Raphinha`s goal in the 87th minute put Barcelona within reach of their first Champions League final in a decade. However, Inter`s Francesco Acerbi scored a crucial equalizer with just 90 seconds left in regular time, sending the match into extra time. Davide Frattesi then netted the decisive goal in the 99th minute, securing the 4-3 victory on the night and the aggregate win for Inter.
Under the guidance of Simone Inzaghi, Inter have now reached their second Champions League final in three years, getting closer to their first European title since their treble-winning season in 2009-10. This achievement is particularly significant considering the team`s position when Inzaghi took charge in 2021. Having just reached the Champions League knockout stages after an 11-year absence, Inzaghi elevated the team, leading them to two finals and a Serie A title. His side is known for prioritizing defense but also possesses clinical finishing, as demonstrated against Barcelona`s often vulnerable backline this season. Key players like Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram were crucial goalscorers, while Denzel Dumfries contributed five goal involvements across both legs, and goalkeeper Yann Sommer made an impressive 14 saves.
Despite some inconsistencies throughout the season, the semifinal tie showcased Inter`s potential to go all the way. Inzaghi has assembled a talented squad peaking at the right time, although there is a sense that this current iteration of the team might undergo significant changes soon.
`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.`
PSG and Arsenal Compete for Final Spot
With Inter already through, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal face off today in the second leg of their semifinal in Paris to determine who will join them in the final. PSG holds a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first leg in London, suggesting another closely contested match is anticipated.
PSG coach Luis Enrique confirmed that Ousmane Dembele, scorer of the only goal in the first leg, is available for the second leg after concerns about a muscle injury. Dembele`s participation is a boost for PSG as they aim for their first Champions League final appearance in five years. His current form is crucial to PSG`s tactics, contributing to their reputation as one of Europe`s toughest teams to beat under Enrique`s guidance.
Enrique acknowledged that despite his side`s strong performances, this is just the beginning of his project to evolve the team beyond relying solely on individual stars. He stressed the importance of adhering to their tactical approach to overcome Arsenal`s challenge in Paris.
`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.`
For Arsenal, the second leg presents a significant test. Despite being defensively solid, they trail in the tie partly due to being caught by PSG`s press early in the first leg, conceding in the fourth minute. However, their main issue was arguably their inability to score. The Gunners created chances but lacked clinical finishing, highlighting the absence of a prolific out-and-out goalscorer.
Nevertheless, Arsenal possesses players capable of finding the net. Bukayo Saka (11 goals) and Leandro Trossard (10 goals) this season could be key figures in Paris. The pressure is on Arsenal`s offense to deliver, while simultaneously withstanding PSG`s effective pressing game, which has been difficult for opponents to counter since the French side found their rhythm in the winter.
Dominic Ashworth