Following the thrilling 4-3 victory of Inter over Barcelona on Tuesday, the UEFA Champions League semifinal action continues today. Paris Saint-Germain is set to host Arsenal, with both teams vying for the remaining spot in the final. This report covers the latest developments as the final contender is decided.
Inter Triumphs in High-Scoring Semifinal Thriller Against Barcelona
After two legs, totalling 210 minutes of play and featuring 13 goals, Inter secured their place in this month`s Champions League final. They defeated Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate in what is being hailed as one of the most memorable semifinal ties in the tournament`s history.
The pattern of the first leg in Barcelona was strikingly repeated in Tuesday`s second leg in Milan. Inter initially took a 2-0 lead, mirroring their start in the first encounter. Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in the 21st minute, followed by Hakan Calhanoglou`s penalty, giving Inter a two-goal cushion by halftime. Barcelona fought back to level the score by the hour mark through Eric Gracia and Dani Olmo, setting up a dramatic final period. Raphinha`s 87th-minute goal put Barcelona ahead for the first time in the entire tie, bringing them close to their first Champions League final in a decade. However, Inter`s Francesco Acerbi scored in the dying seconds of regular time to force extra time. Davide Frattesi then netted the decisive final goal of the game in the 99th minute.
Simone Inzaghi`s side will now compete in their second Champions League final in three years, aiming for their first European title since their treble-winning season in 2009-10. This is a significant achievement considering Inter`s position when Inzaghi took over in 2021. Building on the team`s first Champions League knockout game in 11 years, the Italian manager has elevated their performance, leading them to two finals and a Serie A title. Inzaghi`s strategy emphasizes defense, but as shown against Barcelona, the team is clinical in seizing scoring opportunities. They became the first team to effectively exploit Barcelona`s defensive vulnerabilities this season.
Key players in the tie highlighted Inter`s diverse strengths. While Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram scored crucial goals, Denzel Dumfries was arguably the standout performer with five goal contributions across both legs, and goalkeeper Yann Sommer made 14 saves over the two matches.
According to Francesco Porzio, despite the season`s ups and downs, the semifinals demonstrated Inter`s potential to go all the way. He notes that Inzaghi and his team have assembled top talents peaking at the right time, suggesting this might be the last opportunity for some players together.
“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 squad will likely see significant changes by the summer of 2025. This transition is anticipated, as confirmed by club president Giuseppe Marotta, particularly because Inter`s new American owners, Oaktree, aim to build a younger yet competitive team for the future. While some players are expected to depart this summer regardless of the final result on May 31st, others will remain to ensure continuity and build towards the team`s future, likely integrated with younger talent.”
PSG and Arsenal Vie for Final Spot After Inter`s Qualification
With Inter`s place in Munich secured, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal will battle it out today in the second leg of their semifinal in the French capital for the remaining spot. PSG hold a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first leg played in London last week. However, the tight aggregate score suggests another highly competitive match is on the horizon.
Luis Enrique confirmed on Tuesday that Ousmane Dembele, who scored the tie`s only goal so far and appeared to pick up a muscle injury last week, will be available for Wednesday`s second leg. Enrique stated that Dembele had trained with the squad for two days, providing a significant boost for PSG as they target their first Champions League final in five years. Dembele is expected to be crucial to PSG`s strategy today, having found some of the best form of his career within Enrique`s tactical system, which has made PSG arguably the most challenging team to overcome in Europe.
Enrique admitted that despite his side`s strong performance, this phase represents only the beginning of his plan to evolve the team, making it less reliant on individual star power. He believes that sticking to the tactical approach that brought them this far is the only way to withstand Arsenal`s anticipated efforts to overturn the deficit 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, this second leg presents something of an existential challenge. Although they are known for having one of Europe`s top defenses, their one-goal deficit isn`t primarily due to a poor defensive performance in the first leg. They were initially caught off guard by PSG`s press, conceding in the fourth minute, but their inability to score was perhaps the more significant issue. The Gunners had opportunities to equalize but were sometimes wasteful, highlighting a perceived lack of a consistent, clinical goalscorer.
This doesn`t mean Arsenal are incapable of scoring today. Players like Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, with 11 and 10 goals respectively this season, could be key figures in Paris. However, the onus is on Arsenal`s attack to deliver, while also needing to withstand PSG`s effective pressing game – a challenge few teams have overcome since PSG hit their stride in the winter.
