Somewhat unusually for recent times, four clubs from four different countries will battle for a place in the UCL final, to be staged at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena on May 31.
Despite Arsenal’s comprehensive elimination of the holders, Real Madrid, they are considered outsiders to take their first UCL crown.
Since it is Barcelona and the Gunners’ opponents, PSG, who are the teams favoured by the odds to meet in the final.
Arsenal v PSG.
Neither of these two teams have ever won the UCL, but it’s the Parisians who are favoured to edge the tie and go on to Munich.
This PSG team has been developed under Luis Enrique without past headliners such as Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe, to emerge as a more resilient and often just as potent team.
Not least because of the attacking talent of Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Georgian Kvaratskhelia, and the precocious Desire Doue.
Back that up with the midfield prompting of Vitinha and an experienced defence including Donnarumma, Hakimi, and captain Maquinhos and they may be able to finally deliver a much coveted Champions League title for their Qatari owners.
Having eliminated Premier League Aston Villa and new EPL champions Liverpool, PSG should have few fears of encountering Arsenal, even though they did lose at the Emirates in an earlier stage of the competition.
PSG also have the luxury of having already secured another domestic Ligue 1 title, albeit they still had an unbeaten record to preserve.
Meanwhile, their opponents have been keeping Liverpool ‘honest’ while maintaining their second position in the EPL.
But in doing so they have to endure the rigours of the English league and the obvious risks of losing players to injury.
Among those key men Mikel Arteta will be hoping to keep fit are Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and their new free-kick exponent, Declan Rice.
Arsenal certainly shocked UCL specialists Real Madrid though some thought an undercooked Los Blancos were particularly vulnerable, curiously to a side they have never beaten.
The Gunners will no doubt apply the pressure in the first leg at the Emirates in front of a vibrant crowd before experiencing an even more intimidating atmosphere in the French capital a week later.
Even with Mikel Arteta’s ability to carve out results without a recognised striker and with all their major players available Arsenal might not have enough against a new-look PSG side expected to go close to a maiden UCL.
Barcelona v Inter.
The second semi-final pits the favourites, Barcelona, against the three-times winners, Inter.
Barca are on course for a legendary treble of league title, Copa del Rey, and possibly UCL.
While their opponents are locked in a contest with Napoli for the Scudetto, they have lost out to their San Siro rivals AC in the Coppa Italia.
Whereas in the other semi, one team (Arsenal) will try to manage without a top goalscorer this encounter sees Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Inter’s Lautaro Martinez all bidding for the ‘golden boot’.
And certainly Barca have delivered some of the more impressive attacking performances during this season’s competition with wins over the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Benfica (in two ties)
Having an array of talent such as Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Gavi, and Pedri as well as those proven goalscorers makes Hansi Flick’s Catalans a formidable outfit.
But they can be vulnerable in defence and that aspect tends to be Inter’s strength.
Guided by the experienced Simone Inzaghi the Nerazzurri conceded just one goal in eight league phase matches.
Although they will be second-favourites, if Inter can withstand the Barca onslaught(s) they do have enough going forward with Martinez and Marcus Thuram (and possibly the enigmatic Arnautovic) to cause an upset.
But the chances point to Barcelona bidding for title number six and their first for some ten years.
And a contest many would relish, against PSG, featuring some of the world’s best emerging talent.
Analysis - John Bethell
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