Following the dramatic 7-6 aggregate victory for Inter Milan against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, attention now shifts to the second tie. On Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain will host Arsenal with the final coveted spot in the tournament`s final match at stake.
Inter Milan Reaches Champions League Final Following Epic Semi-Final Against Barcelona
Inter Milan secured their place in this month`s Champions League final after an unforgettable 7-6 aggregate victory over Barcelona in one of the most memorable semi-final ties in the tournament`s history. The second leg in Milan mirrored the first, with Inter establishing an early two-goal lead once more. Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in the 21st minute, followed by Hakan Calhanoglu`s penalty, giving them a halftime advantage. Barcelona responded after the hour mark, with Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo bringing the score level and setting up a tense conclusion. Raphinha then gave Barcelona the lead for the first time in the entire series in the 87th minute, putting them within touching distance of their first Champions League final in a decade. However, Inter`s Francesco Acerbi scored with just 90 seconds remaining in regulation time, forcing the match into extra time, where Davide Frattesi scored the deciding goal in the 99th minute.
Simone Inzaghi`s side will now contest their second Champions League final in three years, aiming to win their first European title since their treble-winning campaign in 2009-10. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given Inter`s position when Inzaghi took over in 2021. He has significantly elevated their performance, guiding them to two finals and securing a Serie A title. Inzaghi`s tactical approach emphasizes defense, yet as the tie against Barcelona demonstrated, they are also clinical in front of goal. They were the first team this season to truly exploit Barcelona`s defensive vulnerabilities, despite their well-documented issues at the back. The standout players in the tie highlighted Inter`s versatility – while Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram scored crucial goals, Denzel Dumfries was exceptional with five goal contributions over both legs, and goalkeeper Yann Sommer made an impressive 14 saves.
Although this season has seen its share of fluctuations, the semi-finals showcased why Inter has the potential to go all the way. Inzaghi and his squad of top talents appear to be peaking at the right time. However, there`s a sense that this era might be nearing its end for some players, described as potentially “the last dance.” Significant changes to the squad are anticipated by the summer of 2025. This is driven by the club`s new American owners, Oaktree, who aim to build a younger, yet still competitive, roster for the future. Some players are expected to depart regardless of the final`s outcome, while others will remain to provide continuity alongside incoming younger talents.
Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal Battle for Remaining Final Berth
With Inter`s place in Munich secured, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal will vie for the other spot today in the second leg of their semi-final held in the French capital. PSG holds a slim 1-0 lead from their first-leg victory in London last week, indicating another closely contested match is on the horizon.
PSG coach Luis Enrique confirmed on Tuesday that Ousmane Dembele, the scorer of the only goal in the tie so far, will be available for the second leg after an apparent muscle injury scare in the first match. Enrique noted that Dembele had trained with the squad for two days, providing a significant boost for PSG as they aim for their first Champions League final in five years. Dembele is expected to be crucial to PSG`s plans, having found excellent form within Enrique`s tactical framework, which has arguably made his team one of the hardest to beat in Europe.
Enrique acknowledged that while his team has performed well, this is only the beginning of his plan to evolve the squad into one that relies less on sheer individual star power. He believes that sticking to the tactical strategy that led them this far is the only way to counter Arsenal`s anticipated efforts in Paris. He stated, “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 a significant challenge, prompting an examination of their attacking effectiveness. Despite being recognized as one of Europe`s strongest defensive sides, they trail by a goal not necessarily due to a poor defensive display in the first leg. They were initially disrupted by PSG`s press and conceded early, but their inability to score themselves was perhaps the primary concern after last week`s match. The Gunners created opportunities to equalize but were wasteful at times, serving as a stark reminder of their potential lack of a pure, prolific goalscorer.
However, this doesn`t mean Arsenal is incapable of scoring on Wednesday. Players like Bukayo Saka, with 11 goals this season, and Leandro Trossard, with 10, could be key contributors in Paris. The onus is on Arsenal`s offense to deliver, while simultaneously managing PSG`s effective pressing game – a challenge few teams have successfully overcome since PSG hit peak form during the winter.
