The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League is down to its final four, with Arsenal facing Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona clashing with Inter Milan in the semi-finals.
This follows a dramatic quarter-final round that saw defending champions Real Madrid eliminated and left only two former winners, Barcelona and Inter, in contention for the title.
Arsenal pulled off the standout result of the quarter-finals, knocking out 15-time champions Real Madrid with a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Despite missing a natural striker and suffering a major defensive blow with Gabriel’s injury, the Gunners stunned Madrid 3-0 in the first leg through Declan Rice’s double from set-pieces and a Mikel Merino strike.
A 2-1 win at the Bernabeu, capped by a stoppage-time goal from Martinelli, sealed their place in the last four.
Barcelona, Europe’s top scorers this season, cruised past Borussia Dortmund with a 4-0 win in the first leg. The Germans mounted a spirited response in the return leg with a Serhou Guirassy hat-trick, but a Ramy Bensebaini own goal ended their comeback hopes as the Catalans progressed 5-3 on aggregate.
PSG continued their dominant form against English clubs, eliminating Aston Villa after previously defeating Liverpool.
A 3-1 win in Paris set the tone, and although Villa fought back to lead at home with goals from Tielemans, McGinn, and Konsa, the Parisians held on to win the tie 5-4 on aggregate.
Inter’s semi-final spot came after overcoming Bayern Munich in a thrilling tie. A 2-1 away win gave them the advantage, and despite a chaotic 2-2 draw in the second leg, featuring goals from Kane, Dier, Lautaro, and Pavard, the Italians progressed 4-3 on aggregate.
They now aim for a fourth Champions League title, having last lifted the trophy in 2010.
In the semis, Arsenal and PSG meet again after the Gunners defeated them 2-0 in the league phase. Barcelona and Inter reignite a rivalry that saw the Italians edge the Spanish giants 3-2 in the 2009-10 semi-finals en route to winning the title.
This clash pits Barca’s high-octane attack against Inter’s rock-solid defense.
Arsenal enter the semis full of belief, having ended Madrid’s reign with defensive resilience and attacking flair.
With Saliba and Kiwior anchoring the back line and Saka back from injury, Arteta’s men are well-balanced. Opta’s supercomputer even tips them as favourites to win the final in Munich.
Barcelona, unbeaten in 24 matches, are chasing a treble and feature a lethal front three of Lewandowski, Yamal, and Raphinha. Their direct play and ability to transition quickly make them dangerous, with eight counter-attacking goals so far, more than any other side in the competition.
Meanwhile, PSG and Inter bring tactical contrasts. PSG’s fluid attack under Luis Enrique has clicked, with Dembele emerging as a key finisher. Inter, in contrast, rely on their structured 3-5-2 shape, slow build-up play, and defensive discipline. Their deep setup and transitional solidity could pose problems for Barcelona’s aggressive style.
The semi-final first legs are set for April 29 (Arsenal vs PSG) and April 30 (Barcelona vs Inter), with return legs on May 6 and 7 respectively. Each match kicks off at 8pm BST, with a spot in the final at stake for Europe’s elite.
