Champions League Semi Finals Tips & Predictions
Arsenal host PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night and the Gunners will be hoping to follow up their stunning quarter-final victory over Real Madrid.
The Emirates will be expecting Mikel Arteta’s men to deliver a big performance, but PSG has already beaten Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa in Europe this term.
Elsewhere, free-scoring Barcelona take on a rock-solid Inter side on Wednesday night, and it could be a contest of attack against defence.
Tip 1: Arsenal to beat PSG @ 11/10
PSG have been highly rated in the Champions League campaign, but there is more than one reason to think that the Parisians’ expectations may be dashed in north London on Tuesday night.
Luis Enrique’s men were easily brushed aside 2-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates in the league phase of the competition and that defeat in October has been excused by PSG’s apparent improvement.
However, the Paris outfit were beaten by Aston Villa in the second leg of their quarter-final tie and in truth, Enrique’s men were clinging on to their advantage in the final moments of that contest.
Of course, there was the penalty shootout success against Liverpool, but that tie ended 1-1 after the two games between the sides, and PSG were hardly dominant winners.
The Parisians are a threatening counter-attacking unit, with the pace and direct running of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola in forward positions, but the defence is more than a little suspect and PSG lack power and strength in midfield.
Arsenal will pose a huge threat from set-plays and the Gunners’ physicality is expected to win the midfield battle.
There are options in attack for Arteta’s side too, with Mikel Merino likely to be fit enough to return and Leandro Trossard scoring three goals in his last two matches.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli should get plenty of joy out wide against PSG’s marauding full-backs, and Arsenal are fancied to take a first-leg advantage back to Paris.
Tip 2: Inter or draw double chance v Barcelona @ 5/4
Barcelona have scored 37 goals in their 12 Champions League matches this season and will carry a huge threat at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Wednesday night, even without the injured Robert Lewandowski.
However, Inter look a team capable of stopping Barca’s attacking magic. The Nerazzurri have allowed only five goals in their 13 European games this term and Simone Inzaghi’s men have kept eight continental clean sheets.
Inter’s hopes are complicated a little by their Serie A title battle and Sunday’s 1-0 home defeat to Roma isn’t ideal preparation for a clash with Barcelona.
However, Inzaghi is a superb tactician who can set his side up to pick up a positive result in Spain.
In a contest of attack against defence, defence may just come out on top on this occasion.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation