Following thrilling first-leg encounters, the UEFA Champions League semifinals conclude this week, with all four remaining teams vying for a place in the final on May 31.
The week`s matches begin Tuesday in Milan, where Inter hosts Barcelona following their exciting 3-3 draw in the first leg. Simone Inzaghi`s team ended a three-game losing and goalless streak by scoring multiple times in Barcelona, including two goals from Denzel Dumfries via set pieces. Their performance was notable given Hansi Flick`s attacking strategy, highlighted by another outstanding display from 17-year-old Lamine Yamal in his 100th club appearance.
On Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain will be at home in the French capital holding a 1-0 lead over Arsenal. Luis Enrique`s squad capitalized on Arsenal`s weak start in London, scoring the only goal just four minutes into the game through Ousmane Dembele. The match demonstrated tactical flexibility from both teams, particularly from PSG, who effectively absorbed Arsenal`s pressure in the final 20 minutes, also benefiting from the Gunners` missed chances.
Key Storylines for the Semifinals
1. Can Inter Secure Qualification?
Although Inter approached the first leg on a poor run of form, they delivered an impressive performance in Barcelona and might feel optimistic heading into the home leg. The main uncertainty for the inconsistent Inter side is whether they can replicate their scoring output from the first leg with a place in the Champions League final at stake. Inter could try to capitalize on a defensively uncertain Barcelona, whose main strategy involves overpowering opponents offensively. Inter demonstrated their quality last week, boosted by Marcus Thuram`s return (scoring just 30 seconds in after missing three games) and exhibiting clinical efficiency on set pieces, a tactic they might use again.
Despite recent wins and a finely balanced tie, Inter might still not be considered favorites. Barcelona`s attacking style is spearheaded by the emerging talent Yamal, while Inter might be missing their top scorer, Lautaro Martinez, who was injured in the first leg. Although the aggregate score is level, Inter potentially faces a challenging path to reach the final.
2. Can Arsenal Achieve a Turnaround?
Arsenal remain competitive in their Champions League semifinal against PSG, but their vulnerability in the initial 20 minutes of the first leg suggests they could fall prey to the French champions` strong press. The challenge for manager Mikel Arteta is to find a way to counteract this. Insights might be drawn from the latter part of the first leg, where Arsenal had momentum but regretted several missed opportunities that could have leveled the tie. While poor finishing is conceptually rectifiable, the match highlighted Arsenal`s season-long deficiency: the lack of a prolific striker.
In a tie where they desperately need at least one goal, finding a solution for scoring is crucial, especially against a PSG side that also aims to score. This tie remains finely balanced, but the pressure is squarely on Arsenal to deliver.
