This week will determine the four semifinalists of the Champions League 2024-25 season. The semifinals are scheduled for April 29-30 and May 6-7, leading up to the final on May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Barcelona and PSG are in a strong position after their first-leg victories, while Real Madrid faces a tough challenge to overcome a 3-0 deficit against Arsenal at home. Bayern Munich, despite injuries, needs to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Inter in the first leg.
The second legs of the quarterfinals will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday. Barcelona travels to Dortmund following a 4-0 win, and Aston Villa hosts PSG after a 3-1 defeat in Paris on Tuesday. Inter will play Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid will host Arsenal in Madrid.
The winner of the Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund quarterfinal will play against either Inter or Bayern Munich. The winner of the Arsenal vs. Real Madrid tie will face the winner of the PSG vs. Aston Villa matchup. Let`s analyze each game to understand what to anticipate.
Barcelona`s Comfortable Lead
Barcelona has a significant advantage compared to Real Madrid. After a dominant 4-0 victory in the first leg against Borussia Dortmund, they are almost নিশ্চিতly in the semifinals. They are set to face the winner of the Inter vs. Bayern Munich quarterfinal. Barcelona will visit Dortmund, a familiar ground for striker Robert Lewandowski, who played there from 2010 to 2014 before joining Bayern Munich. If they progress, it will be Barcelona`s first semifinal appearance since 2019.
PSG Close to Semifinals
PSG is in a favorable position to reach the Champions League semifinals after a solid 3-1 victory against Aston Villa. This could be their second consecutive semifinal appearance. After securing the Ligue 1 title, PSG`s main focus is now on winning the Champions League for the first time. This would be a major achievement for manager Luis Enrique, who joined the club in 2023 with the ambition of achieving European success.
Real Madrid`s Mountain to Climb
The most anticipated game this week is in Madrid, where Real Madrid will host Arsenal after a 3-0 defeat in London. Real Madrid is known for historic comebacks, especially in the 2021-22 season when they overturned deficits against PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City on their way to winning the final against Liverpool. However, this time it is more challenging as Arsenal displayed their strength in the first leg, and Real Madrid has injury concerns. Despite the odds, Real Madrid players and fans believe a comeback is still possible at the Bernabeu.
Inter Aiming to Upset Bayern
Inter will host Bayern Munich at San Siro in what is expected to be a tight quarterfinal tie. Inter won the first leg 2-1 in Munich. A victory for Inter would be a significant setback for Bayern Munich and a major statement for Inter, who reached the final in 2023. Simone Inzaghi`s Inter is an experienced team, and winning the Champions League would be a remarkable achievement for a club that has won it three times in its history. Their last Champions League title was in 2010 under Jose Mourinho, when they defeated Barcelona in the semifinals and Bayern Munich in the final.
