Decisive Matches Await
This week in the Champions League will determine the four semifinalists for the 2024-25 season. The semifinals are scheduled for April 29-20 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 to advance, while Real Madrid faces a challenge after a 3-0 first-leg loss to Arsenal. Bayern Munich, despite injuries, needs a comeback after losing 2-1 to Inter in the first leg.
The second leg quarterfinals will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday. Barcelona will play against Borussia Dortmund after winning the first leg 4-0, and Aston Villa will face PSG after losing 3-1. Inter will host Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid will play against Arsenal at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The winner of the Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund match will play against either Inter or Bayern Munich. The winner of the Arsenal vs. Real Madrid game will face the winner of the PSG vs. Aston Villa tie. Let`s analyze each game to understand what to expect:
Barcelona`s Comfortable Lead
Barcelona has a significant advantage compared to Real Madrid. After their 4-0 victory in the first leg, they are close to reaching the semifinals, where they could face either Inter or Bayern Munich. Barcelona will travel to Dortmund, where their striker Robert Lewandowski played from 2010 to 2014. If things go as expected, Barcelona will reach the semifinals for the first time since 2019.
PSG Nearing Semifinals
Following a solid 3-1 victory against Aston Villa, PSG is in a good position to reach the Champions League semifinals, potentially facing either Arsenal or Real Madrid. Reaching this stage would mark their second consecutive semifinal appearance. After securing the Ligue 1 title, PSG is now focused on winning the Champions League for the first time, a major goal for manager Luis Enrique who joined the club in 2023 to achieve European success.
Real Madrid`s Comeback Challenge
The most anticipated game of the 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 against PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City. However, this time it`s more challenging as Arsenal showed their strength in the first leg, and Madrid has injuries to contend with. Despite the odds, Real Madrid players and fans believe a comeback is possible at the Bernabeu.
Inter Aims to Upset Bayern
Inter will host Bayern Munich at San Siro in the most uncertain quarterfinal tie, after winning 2-1 in Munich. A victory for Inter would be a significant setback for Bayern Munich and a major achievement for Inter, who last reached the final in 2023. Inter, led by Simone Inzaghi, is an experienced team, and winning the Champions League would be a remarkable feat for the club, which has won it three times in history. Their last Champions League title was in 2009-10 under Jose Mourinho.
