Exciting Holidays with Champions League

During the holiday, football fans are promised to have extremely exciting moments with the Champions League semi-final series, taking place on the morning of April 30 and May 1 (Vietnam time).

PSG (left) promises to take revenge on Arsenal - Photo: REUTERS

First will be the Arsenal - PSG match at 2am on April 30, followed by the Barca - Inter match at 2am on May 1.

PSG is different

The last time Arsenal and PSG met was in the group stage of this season, with the result being 2-0 in favor of Arsenal. It was also the most difficult time of the season for the French team.

The defeat to Arsenal opened a 4-match winless streak for PSG (3 losses) in the Champions League. It seemed like they would have to say goodbye to the tournament early in the group stage, but then a 3-match winning streak changed everything.

Thanks to that comeback, PSG entered the top 16, thereby avoiding the strong teams in the play-off round, and then confidently advanced to the semi-finals. The more PSG played, the better they became and the more they became a true team of coach Luis Enrique.

The match between two coaches Luis Enrique and Mikel Arteta promises many interesting factors, as both are typical strategists of Spanish football. They even have similar football philosophies.

Accordingly, both emphasize control, and do not need a striker to play in the attack. At PSG, coach Enrique pushed Kolo Muani away to put Ousmane Dembele in the middle. Meanwhile, at Arsenal, coach Arteta still managed well when both strikers Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz were injured.

Arsenal won half a year ago, but things will be very different in this rematch. In terms of experience, coach Enrique is still better, and he will certainly learn many lessons from the group stage defeat. Their comeback to beat Liverpool and hold on against Aston Villa showed that. PSG have more than enough experience against English teams this season.

Arsenal have the home advantage in the first leg, but that also means a number of key players will be absent. The list of players who will definitely miss this match for Arsenal is up to 6, adding Thomas Partey who is suspended alongside Jorginho, Gabriel, Havertz... who are injured. Not only that, Merino and Calafiori are also not sure to be fit to start this match.

In terms of physical strength, PSG also has many advantages because they have completed their domestic goals and can focus 100% of their strength on the Champions League semi-finals. Arsenal, on the other hand, are still not allowed to be subjective in the race for the top 5 in the Premier League.

The match between two coaches Luis Enrique (pictured) and Mikel Arteta promises many interesting elements - Photo: REUTERS

Inter is not afraid of Barca

Of the four semi-finalists, Inter Milan are the least favourites. That is an understandable assessment based on the quality of their squad and the form of their opponents. Barca are on a streak of emotional matches, culminating in a dramatic victory over rivals Real Madrid to win the Copa del Rey last weekend. In La Liga, they also have the upper hand and are allowed to relax for at least one round to focus on the Champions League.

On the contrary, Inter Milan are going through a difficult period with a series of 3 consecutive losses in domestic tournaments. From being at the top of Serie A, Inter Milan have now lost the initiative to Napoli and have been eliminated from the National Cup.

But in a Champions League match, sometimes that adversity will make Inter Milan even more determined. The Italian team has a good head-to-head record against Barca. In 2022, Inter beat Barca in the group stage. The annoying defensive style of Italian teams always makes it difficult for Barca's technical style.

Things are not all rosy for Barca either, as Lewandowski is injured and will definitely miss this match. They also lost Balde on the left wing of the defense. Inter Milan lost Thuram and Pavard, both of whom are also key players.

But overall, playing the second leg at home will help Inter Milan comfortably play defensive counter-attacks in the first leg. Barca is still more or less disadvantaged physically after having to go through 120 minutes of intense battle with Real Madrid last weekend.

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HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ngay-le-soi-dong-voi-champions-league-20250429075422493.htm