Historic duel: Arsenal hosts PSG in the Champions League semi-finals!

Historic duel: Arsenal hosts PSG in the Champions League semi-finals!

On Tuesday, April 28, 2025, Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will face each other in the semi-final first leg of the UEFA Champions League. Kick-off is at 9:00 p.m. in London. For Arsenal, this is a return to the semi-finals for the first time since 2009 and the team will want to use the opportunity to put themselves in a good position for the final in Munich. PSG, on the other hand, comes as champions of Ligue 1, having already won against other Premier League teams such as Liverpool and Aston Villa and is now hoping for their next success.

In attack, PSG can rely on the talents Ousmane Dembelé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, while Arsenal rely on Bukayo Saka to strengthen the attack line. The Gunners beat Real Madrid 5-1 in the quarter-finals and are therefore playing with a lot of confidence. However, Arsenal will be without Thomas Partey, who is suspended, and Jorginho is also injured, while Mikel Merino's appearance remains questionable.

Historical contexts and challenges

Coaches of the two teams, Mikel Arteta for Arsenal and Luis Enrique for PSG, are both Spanish and face the challenge of leading their teams to success. Despite significant financial investment from Qatar, PSG have yet to win a Champions League title and can only look back on their only international title, the 1996 Cup Winners' Cup. The Parisians also had to admit defeat to Bayern Munich in the 2020 Champions League final.

For Arsenal, however, this semi-final represents a chance to end the period that has elapsed since their last appearance in the final in 2006. The team has not lost in five previous duels with PSG and can look back on a winning streak in previous encounters, including success in the 1994 semi-final duel in the Cup Winners' Cup.

Current form and statistics

Both teams presented themselves differently in the current season. PSG recently suffered a 3-1 defeat against OGC Nice, which was their first defeat of the season in Ligue 1. In contrast, Arsenal recently played 2-2 against Crystal Palace and is therefore a little less consistent. This different form could be decisive in the upcoming duel.

In the UEFA Champions League, club statistics for the 2023/24 season have once again shown that the tournament is still considered the highest level in European club football. Revenues exceed three billion euros, mainly from television rights, and the allure of the UCL captivates football fans worldwide. The current title holder is Real Madrid, who beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in last season's final. Real Madrid also holds the record for the most Champions League titles with 15 successes.

The upcoming semi-final between Arsenal and PSG not only promises an exciting clash, but could also have significant historical dimensions for both teams. All eyes will be on the London Stadium to see who takes the first step towards the final in Munich.

Laola1 reports, BBC offers the latest updates and Statista presents the most comprehensive UEFA Champions League statistics.