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Europe UEFA Champions League Semifinals - 2nd Leg
- Thread starter spkutano
- Start date
Inter vs Barcelona Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Inter:
Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Arnautovic, Thuram
Barcelona:
Szczesny; Garcia, Araujo, Cubarsi, Martinez; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Torres
Inter will welcome Barcelona to Stadio Meazza on Tuesday, to conclude their Champions League semi-final. The first leg played in Spain finished with a 3:3 draw. The Italians stunned the hosts as they scored two goals through Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries and it looked like Barca had a mountain to climb at Montjuic Olympic Stadium. However, young Lamine Yamal scored a wonderful 24th-minute reply, while Ferran Torres equalized the result in the finish of the first half. The second half have produced two more goals. Inter restored the lead in the 63rd minute when Dumfries found the back of the net for a second time that evening. But Barcelona again responded in style and levelled just two minutes later when a stunning 25-yard strike from Raphinha clattered the bar, bounced down and into the net, via a touch off Inter goalkeeper Sommer's back.
Inter were doing a fantastic job this season. They were excellent in the Champions League, they were leaders in Serie A and they were just one step away from the Coppa Italia final. But then a sort of collapse happened. The Nerrazurri lost two matches in the league and dropped to the second place. They are three points adrift of leaders Napoli, with only three matches to be played. Inter were also eliminated in the semifinal of the national cup after lost 3:0 to city rivals Milan. What is worst, the players confidence is low in the worst possible period. Coach Simone Inzaghi has additional issues as key player and club's top goalscorer Lautaro Martinez is sidelined due to a hamstring injury sustained during the first leg. This is a huge handicap for Inzaghi, Lautaro is simply irreplaceable. Valentin Carboni and Benjamin Pavard are Inter's other two absences.
Barcelona are in good position ahead of the crucial few weeks of the season. They already won Copa del Rey after beating Real 3:2 in the final played last week. The Blaugrana are first in La Liga with a four-point advantage to the second-placed Real Madrid. Considering the fact Barca will host Real next weekend, it is possible the difference to be increased. Even a defeat isn't a catastrophe, Barcelona need three more victories. There are no easy opponents in La Liga, but I think Barcelona are able to beat their last three rivals - Espanyol, Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao. Having that on mind, it is clear the match against Inter is the most important. A success at Meazza would see them in the Champions League final. But history is not on their side ahead of the second leg. The Catalans have lost their last four semi-final games away from home. Coach Hansi Flick has some additional issues as Robert Lewandowski is rated as doubtful, though the last news from the medical department are optimistic. Alejandro Balde could be named on the bench.
Inter vs Barcelona Prediction:
While Barcelona are still on track for three trophies, Inter somehow collapsed. Simone Inzaghi's men are out of Coppa Italia, while their position in Serie A looks complicated. They suffered two narrow, but painful defeats. Inter lost 1:0 to Bologna and Roma and dropped to the second place in Serie A, three points adrift of leaders Napoli. It is hard to believe Antonio Conte and his players could do mistake in the crucial part of the season. Inter are in bad form and the players confidence is low. The absence of the best goalscorer Lautaro Martinez is huge handicap for Inzaghi as he is simply irreplaceable. Finally, Barcelona have a player able to make a difference - Lamine Yamal. At the age of just 17, he played on the highest level and has scored five Champions League goals this season, with only Haaland (10), Mbappe (6) and Raul (6) managing more in one season as teenagers.
Inter vs Barcelona Pick: Barcelona to Qualify @ 1.75 with Everygame
Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Paris Saint-Germain
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Ramos, Kvaratskhelia
Arsenal:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
Paris Saint-Germain are big favorites to qualify for the final of European most prestigious club competition. The French champions won 1:0 in London and now need to remain unbeaten at home. Of course, Arsenal won't give up without fight. They failed to capitalize the home advantage after conceding an early goal. Ousmane Dembele was the scorer after only four minutes. However, the goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was PSG's hero as he was against Liverpool and Aston Villa earlier in the competition. He saved brilliantly from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard either side of the break, while Arsenal saw Mikel Merino's header from a Declan Rice free-kick ruled out for offside. Raya also has some good saves, while Goncalo Ramos hit the bar in the finish of the match.
Paris Saint-Germain have become a Premier League's expert. The Parisians have already eliminated Liverpool and Aston Villa in the previous rounds of the knockout phase. The focus is now on Arsenal and PSG will try to secure the final. Coach Luis Enrique heavily rotated during the weekend and lost 2:1 to Strasbourg. However, the defeat is not important at all. Paris Saint-Germain have secured the title in Ligue 1, but the problem is Arab owners are not satisfied with domestic trophies anymore, they want Champions League. Enrique has the majority of his players available, only Dembele is rated as doubtful after he suffered a hamstring injury in the first leg. Lee Kang-in is also an injury doubt, but he wasn't expect to start anyway.
Arsenal were fantastic against Real Madrid in the previous round, but it seems their batteries are empty at the moment. The Gunners suffered a painful defeat to Bournemouth during the weekend. Worst of all, Arteta started with the best players and I think that was a big mistake. Liverpool had already secured the title, so the result from that match wasn't too important. However, Arsenal are in must win situation and they need to score. The problem is Arteta has no recognized striker available as Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are out injured. That's not all, Jorginho, Gabriel Magalhaes, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori are also sidelined, while Jurrien Timber, who missed the defeat to Bournemouth, is rated as doubtful.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal Prediction:
Paris Saint-Germain are very good under Luis Enrique. Arsenal are fourth English side to visit Parc des Princes this season. PSG beat Manchester City 4:2 in the group stage and beat Aston Villa 3:1 in the quarterfinal. And don't be fooled by the narrow defeat from Liverpool. It was a strange match in which Alisson Becker was the key name. The Brazilian goalkeeper ended up making nine saves, the most he’s ever made in a match for Liverpool, while the Reds faced 27 shots; they last faced that many (excluding extra-time) away to Real Madrid in November 2014. PSG made them suffer like no one else have this season. That is why I think PSG are able to beat Arsenal. The Gunners are in poor form, the defeat to Bournemouth surely impact the players confidence. Arteta missed a good opportunity to rest his key players and I think it was a mistake. PSG look too strong at the moment.
PSG vs Arsenal Pick: PSG to win @ 2.11 with Pinnacle
Possible starting lineups:
Paris Saint-Germain
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Ramos, Kvaratskhelia
Arsenal:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
Paris Saint-Germain are big favorites to qualify for the final of European most prestigious club competition. The French champions won 1:0 in London and now need to remain unbeaten at home. Of course, Arsenal won't give up without fight. They failed to capitalize the home advantage after conceding an early goal. Ousmane Dembele was the scorer after only four minutes. However, the goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was PSG's hero as he was against Liverpool and Aston Villa earlier in the competition. He saved brilliantly from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard either side of the break, while Arsenal saw Mikel Merino's header from a Declan Rice free-kick ruled out for offside. Raya also has some good saves, while Goncalo Ramos hit the bar in the finish of the match.
Paris Saint-Germain have become a Premier League's expert. The Parisians have already eliminated Liverpool and Aston Villa in the previous rounds of the knockout phase. The focus is now on Arsenal and PSG will try to secure the final. Coach Luis Enrique heavily rotated during the weekend and lost 2:1 to Strasbourg. However, the defeat is not important at all. Paris Saint-Germain have secured the title in Ligue 1, but the problem is Arab owners are not satisfied with domestic trophies anymore, they want Champions League. Enrique has the majority of his players available, only Dembele is rated as doubtful after he suffered a hamstring injury in the first leg. Lee Kang-in is also an injury doubt, but he wasn't expect to start anyway.
Arsenal were fantastic against Real Madrid in the previous round, but it seems their batteries are empty at the moment. The Gunners suffered a painful defeat to Bournemouth during the weekend. Worst of all, Arteta started with the best players and I think that was a big mistake. Liverpool had already secured the title, so the result from that match wasn't too important. However, Arsenal are in must win situation and they need to score. The problem is Arteta has no recognized striker available as Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are out injured. That's not all, Jorginho, Gabriel Magalhaes, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori are also sidelined, while Jurrien Timber, who missed the defeat to Bournemouth, is rated as doubtful.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal Prediction:
Paris Saint-Germain are very good under Luis Enrique. Arsenal are fourth English side to visit Parc des Princes this season. PSG beat Manchester City 4:2 in the group stage and beat Aston Villa 3:1 in the quarterfinal. And don't be fooled by the narrow defeat from Liverpool. It was a strange match in which Alisson Becker was the key name. The Brazilian goalkeeper ended up making nine saves, the most he’s ever made in a match for Liverpool, while the Reds faced 27 shots; they last faced that many (excluding extra-time) away to Real Madrid in November 2014. PSG made them suffer like no one else have this season. That is why I think PSG are able to beat Arsenal. The Gunners are in poor form, the defeat to Bournemouth surely impact the players confidence. Arteta missed a good opportunity to rest his key players and I think it was a mistake. PSG look too strong at the moment.
PSG vs Arsenal Pick: PSG to win @ 2.11 with Pinnacle