Champions League semi-final predictions: Gunners and Barca to enjoy home comforts
– Arsenal have won 16 of their last 21 home European matches
– Defeat against Aston Villa ended a run of four Champions League away wins for PSG
– Inter Milan have won 10 of their last 19 away Champions League games
– Barcelona have won only 11 of their last 23 home European games
Just four clubs are left standing with dreams of winning the Champions League this season.
Arsenal are bidding to reach just their second ever final, nearly two decades on from a painful late loss against Barcelona in Paris.
In their way is a Paris Saint-Germain side potentially three games away from ending a long-standing quest to be crowned kings of Europe.
A decade has passed since Barcelona made it four Champions League crowns in nine years, but the Catalans are now on the verge of a first final in that time.
Inter Milan, beaten finalists two years ago, last raised this famous trophy in 2010.
Arsenal v Paris St-Germain (Tuesday 8pm)
PSG are becoming a regular foe for the Premier League‘s elite. This is their seventh game against English opponents in the competition and a fifth on the trot after eliminating Liverpool and Aston Villa.
Despite those scalps, the Parisians don’t have a particularly strong record against English opposition. The first-leg victory against Villa was one of only four in PSG’s last 12 matches against English clubs and, of course, they went on to lose the return leg despite racing into a 2-0 lead in Birmingham.
Arsenal will become the sixth English club to reach multiple European Cup finals if they overcome this hurdle.
Victories home and away against Real Madrid in the last-eight should have left Mikel Arteta’s side feeling pretty good about themselves. They fully merited both wins and were 5-1 winners on aggregate.
The Gunners have nine wins from 12 games in this new-look Champions League this season.
All their eggs have rested in the European basket for some time now and the Londoners can earn a first leg advantage.
There were 2-0 winners when these sides met in the group stage back in October at the Emirates and Arteta would be ecstatic if they can stage a repeat.
Score Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Paris St-Germain
Barcelona vs Inter Milan (Wednesday 8pm)
Barcelona had a tough preparation as their Copa del Rey win over bitter rivals Real Madrid went 120 minutes and beyond midnight in Seville on Saturday.
Hansi Flick’s side did at least get the welcome boost of prevailing when Jules Kounde lashed in an extra-time screamer for a 3-2 win against a Madrid side that soon lost their cool.
Barca’s home form at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys has been impressive this season, with five wins and one draw in the Champions League.
They have averaged more than three goals per-game along the way but it was Serie A side Atalanta that claimed the only blemish in a 2-2 draw in January.
The Italian champions must try and repeat that feat now. Inter were excellent in defeating Bayern Munich 2-1 in Germany in their quarter-final first leg before playing out a 2-2 draw in Milan.
Barca dominated for much of the first half in the Copa del Rey final but they allowed Madrid to forge into a second-half advantage.
Inter boss Simone Inzaghi will take some heart from that and his side have shown repeatedly this season how tough they are to break down, conceding just twice in six Champions League away games. They can bring this back to the San Siro delicately poised.
Score Prediction: Barcelona 1-0 Inter Milan
Listen to top Radio Stations in Abia State CLICK HERE
Support Afnews Independent Journalism
At Afnews, we are dedicated to providing accurate, insightful, and timely news coverage. Our commitment to journalistic integrity ensures that you receive trustworthy information, unfiltered and unbiased. To maintain our independence and continue delivering quality content, we rely on the support of our readers.
If you value the work we do, please consider making a contribution. Your support enables us to keep bringing you the stories that matter.
Donate today and help us keep independent journalism alive. Thank you for your support!
