PSG meet Arsenal in the second leg of their 2024-25 UEFA Champions League semi-final.
With a 1-0 aggregate lead from the first leg, anything other than defeat would see PSG advance to the final, whilst a 1-0 loss would send the tie to extra time and a possible penalty shootout
Arsenal meanwhile need to win by a two-goal margin if want any chance of advancing to the final.
Team News
Lee Kang-In is a doubt for PSG after he suffered a shin injury in their 2-1 defeat against Strasbourg in Ligue 1, as manager – Luis Enrique rested his entire starting team from the first leg of this tie.
Ousmane Dembele missed that domestic game with a hamstring injury but could return if he passes late fitness checks.
Arsenal will welcome goalkeeper, Neto back to the bench after he was ineligible for their 2-1 home defeat against Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend.
Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber are both expected to shake off knocks and be available for this leg.
Riccardo Calafiori could return after he missed the Gunners’ last ten matches in all competitions with a knee injury.
Gabriel, Kai Havertz (both hamstring), Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu (both knee) and Jorginho (rib) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
PSG host Arsenal at Parc des Princes, Paris, on Wednesday 7 May at 9pm CEST (8pm UK Time), live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- PSG have won one of their four previous Champions League meetings against Arsenal (W1, D2, L1).
- Arsenal drew 1-1 in their sole previous Champions League visit to PSG in September 2016.
- Each of PSG’s two previous home games against Arsenal in all competitions ended in 1-1 draws.
- PSG have kept just one clean sheet in their last five home games against English opposition (W3, D1, L1), which came in a 2-0 victory over Manchester City in September 2021.
- Seven of Arsenal’s nine away goals in the knockout phase came from individual goalscorers as only Martin Odegaard scored twice – which both came in a 7-1 win at PSV Eindhoven in the Round of 16.
Prediction
With a slender lead, PSG certainly took a huge risk resting their entire starting line-up in the defeat to Strasbourg from a momentum perspective, because they will need to try and click again quickly despite having the advantage of being fully fresh for this leg.
Arsenal meanwhile did an excellent job of dominating the first half of their eventual defeat to Bournemouth but they just seemed to switch off mentally in the second half, especially from a defensive perspective perhaps with one eye on this game where a much better start is needed.
In fact I do think that they must score first if want any chance of advancing otherwise PSG will surely be heading to the final if can get in front early, but if Arsenal can play like they did at the weekend but more consistently then they should win this even if penalties are needed.
Prediction: PSG 1-2 Arsenal
Result: PSG 2-1 Arsenal (PSG win 3-1 on aggregate)
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