The UEFA Champions League semifinals have kicked off with an exciting start, highlighted by Paris Saint-Germain`s victory over Arsenal. Fans are now eagerly anticipating more drama as Barcelona prepares to host Inter Milan on Wednesday.
Champions League Semifinal Recaps and Previews
Paris Saint-Germain Secures Advantage Against Arsenal
In the first leg of their Champions League semifinal, Paris Saint-Germain emerged victorious against Arsenal, leaving North London with a 1-0 lead thanks to Ousmane Dembele`s goal in the fourth minute.
Luis Enrique`s team displayed their characteristic intense pressing in the early stages, combined with moments of individual brilliance from players like Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who provided the assist for the only goal. Arsenal gradually found their rhythm as the first half progressed and exerted significant pressure in the final 20 minutes. However, PSG successfully absorbed the pressure and held onto their lead.
The tie remains open for Arsenal, who had their opportunities and performed reasonably well against a dynamic PSG side. Despite this, it was evident that Arsenal were the second-best team on the day, and their early errors proved costly, as noted by James Benge:
- “For a quarter of the first half of this tie, one of the most powerful out-of-possession sides in the Champions League lost the run of itself. There’s a reason why Arsenal talk about the [Jurien] Timber penitentiary. When their right back has locked in this season, no one is escaping. The best left-wingers in Europe would have more success busting themselves out of Alcatraz. Maybe Khvicha Kvartskhelia is just better than all of them. It wouldn`t be much of a reach to claim as much. In those opening exchanges, there was no stopping the magnificent Georgian. Timber couldn`t cuff him before he poked the ball back to Ousmane Dembele for the opener.”
Tuesday`s match offered insights into both teams. PSG demonstrated a more defensive approach towards the end, a tactic not typically associated with their Champions League campaign. This sets the stage for a fascinating second leg in Paris, where both teams must prove their quality to reach the final.
Barcelona Faces Inter Milan Amidst Contrasting Fortunes
This week`s Champions League action concludes in Barcelona, where Hansi Flick`s side will meet Inter in a clash featuring two teams in vastly different states.
Just a week prior, both teams still harbored hopes of a treble. While Barcelona`s treble ambition remains alive following their Copa del Rey victory on Saturday, Inter`s hopes have diminished. A winless streak of four games has seen them eliminated from the Coppa Italia and fall to second place in the Serie A title race. This contrast in form arguably makes Barcelona the clear favorites.
The La Liga leaders will be without the injured Robert Lewandowski for Wednesday`s match. However, their Copa del Rey triumph showed they can still find the back of the net even without the Polish striker. The 17-year-old Lamine Yamal is expected to be a key focus for Barcelona, making him Francesco Porzio`s pick for man of the match:
- “The Spanish winger has been phenomenal this season, including in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid on Saturday, where FC Barcelona’s 3-2 win awarded the team coached by Hansi Flick their second trophy of the season against Real Madrid. Inter are also suffering, and both Federico Dimarco and Alessandro Bastoni will have the most difficult task to contain the talent of Yamal on the left wing.”
Player availability is also crucial for Inter, who might see the return of Marcus Thuram. Thuram, their second-highest goalscorer with 17 goals across all competitions, missed the last three games due to an adductor issue. His potential return would be a significant boost for Simone Inzaghi`s team, who failed to score during his absence. They will need to capitalize on any vulnerabilities shown by Barcelona`s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to have a chance against their high-scoring opponents.
Other Football News
- Arsenal-PSG rewind: Recapping player ratings for PSG`s win, highlighting Gianluigi Donnarumma`s performance, Thierry Henry`s thoughts on Arsenal`s mistakes, and Luis Enrique`s cautious approach for the second leg.
- Ancelotti, Brazil end talks: Reports indicate Brazil has ended negotiations with Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti for their national team job.
- Stars fire Donaldson: The NWSL`s Chicago Stars have dismissed coach Lorne Donaldson with the team currently in last place after six matches. Assistant coach Masaki Hemmi will take over as interim.
- NWSL power rankings: Reviewing the latest NWSL power rankings, noting strong weekends for Orlando Pride and San Diego Wave, while Washington Spirit dropped.
- Juan Pablo Angel talks River Plate: Juan Pablo Angel discussed River Plate`s prospects at the Club World Cup and highlighted the potential of 17-year-old rising star Franco Mastantuono.
Betting Analysis
- UEFA Europa League: champion – THE PICK: Tottenham Hotspur to win the Europa League (+160) – Despite an inconsistent season, Tottenham Hotspur has a realistic opportunity to secure a valuable trophy. They remain favorites for the competition, likely aided by a favorable draw against Bodo/Glimt, who face multiple suspensions and injuries. Ange Postecoglou`s side possesses the quality to go all the way, especially with key center backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven back fit. While the final is distant, their chances against teams on the other side of the bracket look promising, considering Athletic Club`s position relative to La Liga`s top teams and Spurs` previous successes against Manchester United this season.
CBS Sports Golazo Network Highlights
- Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m.): The network`s morning show covering highlights, interviews, and major soccer stories. Available as a podcast.
- Attacking Third (Tuesday, Thursday): A live studio show covering women`s soccer, including the NWSL, USWNT, and European leagues. Streams live on YouTube.
- Call it What You Want (Monday and Thursday): A weekly podcast and live stream discussing the USMNT and the state of soccer in the United States.
- Scoreline (Daily): A show providing updates on global football news and results, match highlights, and top goals, airing seven days a week.
- How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 channel dedicated to global soccer coverage. Stream for free on the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV, and Paramount+.
