Champions League

The Champions League, Europe's premier club competition, is where legends are made. In September, we started with 36 teams, and now we are down to four. These European heavyweights are vying for a spot in the final in Munich. 

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Arsenal

Arsenal

The Gunners, managed by Mikel Arteta and spearheaded by starboy Bukayo Saka, are one of the more intriguing teams in Europe. In the Premier League, Arsenal is currently second, well behind league leaders Liverpool. Injuries and inconsistency have held Arsenal back from a proper title challenge in the Premier League, however, they have been very good in the Champions League. Coming third in the league phase, they had a favorable draw in the Round of 16 against PSV Eindhoven. Arsenal destroyed PSV 7-1 in the first leg and tied 2-2 in the second, winning 8-3 on aggregate. In the Quarter Finals, they faced their real test against reigning champions Real Madrid, the most successful team in the competition’s history, having won it 15 times previously. The stage was set for a great quarter-final. The first leg was in London. The game was tightly contested until the 58th minute when Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice scored one of the greatest free-kicks I have ever seen to make it 1-0, then they ran riot. Ten minutes later, lightning struck twice as Declan Rice scored an even better free kick to make it 2-0. Five minutes after that, Mikel Merino made it 3-0 to cap off one of the greatest European nights in Arsenal’s history. A week later, the second leg was in Madrid at the legendary Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Real Madrid did everything they could to make a great atmosphere, and star midfielder Jude Bellingham said they would come back. In the first half, Arsenal got a penalty which was saved by Thiabaut Courtois, and the Bernabeu was rocking. However, Real Madrid couldn't get anything going, and Bukayo Saka in the 65th minute made it 1-0 to Arsenal (4-0 aggregate). A minute later, Vinicius Jr. made 1-1 (4-1), and there was a glimmer of hope for Real Madrid. However, all hope was firmly squashed as in the 90th minute, Gabriel Martinelli made it 2-1 (5-1) and sent Arsenal to the Semis. 

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)

PSG had an awkward start to the season. However, once everything started to click, they have arguably been the best team in Europe. They sit first in Ligue 1, but due to their poor start, they finished 15th and had to go to a playoff. In this playoff, they faced another French team, Brest. In the first leg against Brest, PSG routinely beat them 3-0, and in the second, PSG trashed them 7-0 (10-0) and went through to the next round. In the Round of 16, PSG had a real test, having to face Liverpool, the 6-time winner of the competition and the team that finished top of the table in the league phase. In the first leg in Paris, PSG completely outplayed the Reds but lost 1-0 after Harvey Elliott came off and won it in the 87th minute. In the second leg at Anfield, PSG were determined to turn it around. Within 15 minutes, Ousmane Dembele silenced a rocking Anfield by making it 1-0 (1-1). PSG then survived a Liverpudlian onslaught and the game went to penalties. PSG’s goalkeeper, Donnarumma, saved 2 penalties, PSG won 4-1 on penalties, and went on to the quarter-finals. In the Quarter Finals, they faced Aston Villa. In the first leg in Paris, PSG went 1-0 down but went on to win 3-1. In the second leg in Birmingham, PSG made it 2-0 (5-1) in half an hour, but in the 34th minute, Youri Tielemans made it 2-1 (5-2), and Villa Park came to life. McGinn made it 2-2 (5-3) in the 55th minute, and Ezri Konsa made it 3-2 (5-4) in the 57th minute. PSG spent the next half an hour surviving Aston Villa, constantly attacking, but they hung on and went through. 

My Prediction 

Arsenal will win the first leg in London 2-1, However, the Parc de Princes will be too much for the Gunners, and PSG will win the second 2-0, thus going through 3-2 on aggregate. 

Inter Milan vs. Barcelona 

Inter Milan 

In 2010, Inter Milan, led by manager Jose Mourinho, won the Champions League; however, since then, Inter Milan has been unable to reach such heights again. However, the last few years have shown that summiting that mountain is indeed possible. They won Serie A in both 2021 and 2024, and are currently top of the league. In 2023, they even made the Champions League final. This year they look really good. Inter Milan came fourth in the league phase, and then cruised past Rotterdam Feyenoord in the Last 16, winning 2-0 away, and 2-1 at home (4-1 on aggregate). In the quarterfinals, they faced the German powerhouse Bayern Munich. In the first leg, they traveled to Munich. In the first half, Argentinian striker Lautaro Martinez put Internazionale up 1-0. As the game reached its dying embers, super sub Thomas Muller made it 1-1 in the 85th minute, and the Allianz Arena was rocking. Just as Bayern thought they were back in it, all hope quickly vanished as Dave Fratessi made it 2-1 in the 88th minute. In the second leg, Bayern wanted it badly, and Harry Kane broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, making it 1-0 Bayern (2-2). However, 6 minutes later, Lautaro Martinez made it 1-1 (3-2), and 3 minutes after that, Benjamin Pavard made it 2-1 (4-2). In the 76th minute, Eric Dier got a goal back for Bayern, but it wasn’t enough, and Inter are now in the Semifinals. 

Barcelona

Barcelona, Més que un club, is one of the greatest clubs to ever grace this beautiful game. They have created some of the greatest players of all time, including Lionel Messi, and if they didn’t create them, there is a high chance that at one point they played for them. After Messi departed in 2021, the club went into a dark time. This team is the best Barcelona team since before the Pandemic, and they are within touching distance of their first Champions League in 10 years. They currently sit atop La Liga, and they finished 2nd in the Champions League, league phase. This Barcelona team poses the deadliest front line in all of Europe, with 36-year-old goal machine Robert Lewandowski, current Ballon d’Or favorite Raphinha, and the best 17-year-old since Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal. They cruised past Benfica 4-1 on aggregate in the first leg and faced Borussia Dortmund. In the first leg in Barcelona, Barca thrashed Dortmund 4-0. The second leg wasn’t so smooth; a Serhou Guirassy brace made it 2-0 Dortmund (4-2), and Barcelona started to panic. But this panic was short-lived as an own goal made it 2-1 (5-2). Serhou Guirassy got his hat trick, but it proved to be a consolation, and Barcelona went through 5-3 on aggregate. 

Prediction

The first leg at the Camp Nou will end in a 3-1 win for Barcelona, the second leg at the San Siro in Milan will end 2-1, with Inter leaving Barcelona to go through 4-3 on aggregate.