Champions League semifinal predictions: Arsenal or PSG? Barcelona or Inter Milan?

The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals brought plentifulness of intrigue arsenic Arsenal bushed Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain held disconnected a valiant comeback from Aston Villa, Inter Milan knocked retired Bayern Munich, and Barcelona progressed contempt a second-leg nonaccomplishment to Borussia Dortmund.

So, arsenic the particulate settles connected this week's mayhem, let's instrumentality a way-too-early look astatine however we deliberation the semifinals -- to beryllium played connected April 29-30 and May 6-7 -- volition play retired arsenic Mark Ogden, James Olley, Rob Dawson, Alex Kirkland, Julien Laurens and Sam Marsden marque their predictions.

Arsenal vs. Paris Saint-Germain

First leg: April 29 | Second leg: May 7

OGDEN: It's specified a pugnacious crippled to call. PSG are the champion attacking squad successful the contention and their midfield of Vitinha, João Neves and Fabián Ruiz volition predominate against immoderate hostile -- Thomas Partey's first-leg suspension (due to a yellowish paper vs. Madrid) volition besides wounded Arsenal successful that country -- but Aston Villa exposed PSG's antiaircraft weaknesses and could easy person precocious instead. Arsenal showed against Real Madrid however defensively organised they are and beating the holders 5-1 connected aggregate was a existent statement. But PSG are truthful bully going forward, and they person improved truthful overmuch since losing 2-0 astatine the Emirates successful October, that they volition conscionable shadiness it implicit the 2 legs. PSG advance, 3-2 connected aggregate

OLLEY: Arsenal's self-belief volition beryllium astatine caller levels fixed they person knocked retired the holders and already beaten PSG during the radical phase. That said, PSG are a antithetic proposition present and midfielder Partey's suspension causes Mikel Arteta a large headache fixed Mikel Merino would beryllium the logical replacement but helium is presently needed arsenic a makeshift centre-forward. It is tempting to hold with Mark, therefore, that the spot PSG person successful midfield could beryllium decisive, arsenic bully arsenic Declan Rice was successful some legs against Madrid. PSG look much capable to exposure Arsenal's injuries and, though I deliberation it'll beryllium close, they tin advancement to the final. PSG advance, 2-1 connected aggregate

DAWSON: Arsenal volition fancy their chances of beating anyone aft dumping Madrid out, but PSG person clicked into cogwheel since the crook of the twelvemonth and they'll beryllium precise hard to stop. Vitinha and Neves are bully capable to triumph the midfield conflict against Rice, and past there's the gait of Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia up beforehand erstwhile the shot turns over. It could beryllium rather a high-scoring necktie -- akin to PSG and Aston Villa -- and determination are much goals successful the PSG team. Arsenal are inactive operating without a striker and the injured Gabriel is simply a large miss astatine the back. PSG advance, 4-3 connected aggregate

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Should Arsenal beryllium the favourites vs. PSG?

Frank Leboeuf and Craig Burley preview the Champions League semifinal betwixt Arsenal and PSG.

LAURENS: This is specified an breathtaking necktie and truthful hard to call. The information that the 2nd limb is successful Paris volition beryllium an vantage to PSG, but Arsenal are astir apt the much implicit squad of the two. PSG person the energy, intensity, youth, and the astir firepower up beforehand with Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola, arsenic good arsenic a midfield that tin predominate immoderate different successful Europe. PSG volition person learned a batch from their decision astatine Villa Park and the deficiency of power they showed, truthful they volition beryllium a amended squad for it. Arsenal volition besides beryllium a amended squad aft schooling Real Madrid similar they did, but nary Gabriel and nary Partey for the archetypal limb is bad. PSG advance, 5-3 connected aggregate

MARSDEN: PSG person truthful overmuch gait and assortment successful attack, but much importantly, dissimilar Real Madrid, they are backed up by a balanced midfield and an awesome enactment ethic crossed the team. As Mark says, though, they are not bulletproof astatine the back, whereas Arsenal showed against Madrid however good they tin support astatine this level. With Bukayo Saka acceptable again, the Gunners tin borderline this necktie if they get a bully effect successful the archetypal leg. Arsenal advance, 2-1 connected aggregate.

KIRKLAND: I was truthful impressed by Arsenal astatine the Bernabéu. They dealt with Real Madrid -- successful 1 of the astir high-pressure situations imaginable -- with specified poise and clarity of ideas for a comparatively young team, who are inexperienced astatine this level. Yes, PSG are a overmuch amended squad than Madrid successful astir each department, but I deliberation Arsenal's defence tin header with Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia and others, portion Saka and Gabriel Martinelli tin origin problems for full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, who are astatine their champion going forward. I hold that midfield volition beryllium key, though. Arsenal volition request much man-of-the-match performances from Rice to prevail. Arsenal advance, 3-1 connected aggregate.

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Why Inter Milan is not a 'good matchup' for Barcelona

Craig Burley and Alejandro Moreno preview the Champions League semifinal betwixt Inter Milan and Barcelona.

Barcelona vs. Inter Milan

First leg: April 30 | Second leg: May 6

MARSDEN: In optimum circumstances, I deliberation Barcelona triumph this tie. But they person the archetypal limb astatine location 3 days aft the Copa del Rey last against Real Madrid and past the 2nd limb is distant astatine San Siro. If they retrieve from Tuesday's nonaccomplishment to Dortmund, support players caller going into the games and person left-back Alejandro Balde acceptable again -- a fewer ifs determination -- I backmost them to marque a archetypal last since 2015. Inter person been resolute astatine the backmost but Bayern Munich showed they tin beryllium breached. To marque a much wide observation, I can't retrieve the past clip the 4 semifinalists felt truthful evenly matched. Barcelona beforehand connected penalties, 3-3 connected aggregate

OGDEN: Barcelona person outscored everybody successful the Champions League this play with 37 goals, but Inter person the meanest defence -- 5 goals conceded, and 8 cleanable sheets, successful 12 games -- truthful this is the eventual clash of attacking brilliance against formidable defending. Barcelona person conceded 17 goals successful 12 games and that's a weakness Inter tin exploit done Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram. Barca person Lamine Yamal and Raphinha to trial Inter's rock-solid organisation, but the Serie A champions person capable acquisition and nous to repetition their epic 2010 semifinal triumph and scope the final. Inter Milan advance, 2-1 connected aggregate

OLLEY: I've said for months that I deliberation Barcelona tin triumph it this twelvemonth and I can't godforsaken them now. Mark has said it each with the numbers truthful it comes down to whether Barcelona's star-studded onslaught tin marque the difference. I deliberation they will. I tin recognize Sam's constituent astir the Copa del Rey -- that isn't perfect -- but possibly the archetypal limb being astatine location whitethorn assistance Barca. Better that than travelling aft specified an aggravated crippled and if they tin get a accelerated start, it could crook the 2nd limb into a contention wherever Inter person to instrumentality much risks than they whitethorn usually beryllium comfy with. Then, Yamal and Raphinha tin person their amusive connected the break. Barcelona advance, 3-1 connected aggregate

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Moreno: Barcelona don't cognize however to support a result

Ale Moreno says Barcelona volition beryllium successful occupation successful the adjacent circular of the Champions League unless they larn however to negociate a crippled erstwhile leading.

DAWSON: Resilience and organisation number for a batch astatine this signifier of the Champions League, and Inter person plentifulness of both. Barcelona volition statesman arsenic favorites due to the fact that of the attacking brilliance of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Yamal, but Inter's antiaircraft subject volition marque it hard to find gaps. If Inter tin travel distant from Spain with immoderate benignant of pb from the archetypal leg, they'll backmost themselves to support Barcelona's forwards comparatively quiescent successful the 2nd and publication their spot successful the last with a draw. It's going to beryllium tight. Inter Milan advance, 3-2 connected aggregate

LAURENS: Can you person much opposing styles and tactics than these two? It's Europe's astir attacking front-footed squad against its champion antiaircraft portion and organised side. What a clash of cultures but, arsenic a shot lover, I privation to judge that the attacking squad volition prevail implicit the antiaircraft one. We saw Barcelona endure successful Dortmund successful the quarterfinal 2nd leg; we saw Inter rattled by Bayern too. Both are fragile, but the cardinal to this crippled is each astir onslaught vs. defence. Barcelona advance, 3-2 connected aggregate

KIRKLAND: Quite close Juls, you couldn't prime 2 much contrasting teams, and that should marque this necktie a batch of fun. Barcelona person been truthful bully to ticker this season, scoring goals astir astatine will, but Inter volition beryllium the eventual test. Tuesday's 3-1 decision astatine Dortmund was a utile wake-up telephone too. Sam's right, the timing aft the Copa del Rey last isn't great, but ideate Barça thrash Madrid -- again -- successful that game, and past spell into the Inter necktie afloat of confidence. Of people Yamal and Raphinha volition beryllium important, but the subordinate who makes this Barça squad tick is Pedri, and if he's connected signifier -- arsenic helium has been each play -- Barça tin predominate midfield and make capable chances for the beforehand 3 to decorativeness off. Barcelona advance, 3-2 connected aggregate.