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When Paris St-Germain and Inter Milan face off at the Allianz Arena on 31 May, it will mark the first Champions League final in 21 years without a Premier League, Bundesliga, or La Liga. Since Jose Mourinho’s Porto defeated Monaco in 2004, at least one club from England, Germany, or Spain has featured in every final, with the last 14 champions hailing from those leagues.

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This dominance has fueled a perception that other leagues lack quality. Fans, especially in England, often dismiss these leagues as farmers’ leagues. PSG boss Luis Enrique humorously addressed this stereotype after eliminating Arsenal, declaring, we are the league of farmers!

Both PSG and Inter have upset expectations to reach the final, challenging long-held assumptions about the strength of their domestic leagues. Their success suggests a shift in European football’s balance of power and raises questions about whether the Premier League’s perceived superiority still holds.

2025 UEFA Champions League Final: Ditching the Galacticos

Only Luis Enrique truly knows whether he meant it when he claimed Paris St-Germain would be better off without Kylian Mbappe. The France captain and the club’s all-time top scorer had just announced his intention to leave in May 2024 when Enrique boldly stated that PSG would improve both offensively and defensively.

We’ll be a better team. We’ll sign players with strong mentalities who truly identify with the club, he said. A year on, Enrique’s prediction has proven accurate. PSG cruised to the Ligue 1 title with six games to spare and went unbeaten, showing little sign of missing their former talisman. Although the lack of strong domestic competition could be seen as a setback when preparing for European success, Enrique’s PSG have defied that logic.

France’s only Champions League triumph came via Marseille in 1993. PSG came close in 2020, finishing runners-up, and have since reached two semi-finals and two quarter-finals. But Enrique’s 2023 arrival signalled the need for change. That summer, Lionel Messi departed for Inter Miami, and Neymar moved to Al-Hilal, marking the decline of PSG’s ‘Galactico’ era.

Mbappe’s exit a year later brought it to an end. In their place, Enrique built a high-intensity, team-oriented side that prioritises the collective. Though they stumbled early in the Champions League and finished the group stage in 15th, they rallied. Boosted by January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG have since eliminated four English clubs, Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal, on their way to the final.

Experience counts for Inter.

Inter Milan’s semi-final triumph over Barcelona will be remembered as one of the greatest two-legged ties in Champions League history. Despite the brilliance of 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, Barcelona were ultimately undone by the composure and experience of Simone Inzaghi’s Inter side. Inzaghi fielded a starting XI that included 10 players over the age of 25, in contrast to Barcelona’s six.

At 37, veteran defender Francesco Acerbi became the second-oldest player to score in a Champions League knockout match, netting a dramatic 93rd-minute equaliser at the San Siro to send the tie into extra time. Goalkeeper Yan Sommer, 36, who joined Inter for just £5 million after Andre Onana’s departure to Manchester United, was instrumental with key saves that kept his side alive.

Inter’s midfield, anchored by the seasoned pairing of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu—whose combined age is 67—highlighted the team’s reliance on experienced players. Much like PSG, Inter have frequently faced doubts from fans who question the standard of Serie A.

However, they have proven their worth this season, eliminating Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. And losing only once in eight Champions League matches despite finishing fourth in the group stage. With two Serie A titles in the past four years and three European Cups to their name, Inter’s run underscores their enduring pedigree in European football.

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Champions League Final struggles, but Europa League success

Arsenal were the sole English club to reach the Champions League semi-finals, but the Europa League final could still feature two familiar Premier League rivals. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur both carry aggregate leads into their Europa League semi-final second legs on Thursday. If they advance, the two teams will face each other for the fourth time this season in the final, scheduled for 21 May in Bilbao.

Tottenham, who last lifted European silverware in 1984 when they won the UEFA Cup. They are aiming for their first Europa League title. Manchester United, meanwhile, are chasing their second Europa League crown after winning in 2017 and finishing as runners-up in 2021. What’s particularly notable is that both clubs have spent much of this Premier League season in the bottom half of the table.

Tottenham currently sit 16th, with United just one place above in 15th. If either club wins the tournament, they will become the lowest-placed team ever to win the Europa League. In the Europa Conference League, Swedish side Djurgarden face an uphill battle, needing to overturn a 4-1 first-leg deficit against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea, already two-time Champions League winners, are strong favourites. A victory would make them the first club to have won all three major European trophies: the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.

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Arsenal’s Champions League campaign ended with a 2-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final second leg, sealing a 3-1 defeat on aggregate. Despite a bright start at the Parc des Princes, Mikel Arteta’s side couldn’t capitalise on early chances. Within the first eight minutes, Declan Rice headed wide, and Gianluigi Donnarumma made two excellent saves to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard.

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Arsenal dominated the opening stages but found themselves behind when Fabian Ruiz struck a thunderous goal after a poorly cleared free-kick. The warning signs had already emerged when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck the post just minutes earlier. Arsenal’s vulnerability from set-pieces remains a concern, having now conceded five goals from dead-ball situations.

Since the start of April tied with Ipswich Town for the most across all competitions in that span. The Gunners pushed hard, delivering 17 crosses in the first half alone, above their average for a full European game this season. Yet, the challenge ahead was steep. To progress, Arsenal needed to overturn a half-time deficit in a Champions League away game. They had only managed once in their previous 30 attempts.

Arsenal’s Resilience Falls Short as PSG Advance to Champions League Final

PSG’s clinical edge proved decisive, as they advanced to the final to face Inter Milan. Bukayo Saka nearly brought Arsenal level just after the hour mark, but Gianluigi Donnarumma continued his heroic form against English sides with another superb fingertip save. PSG soon had the chance to seal the tie when a VAR review awarded them a penalty for a Myles Lewis-Skelly handball.

However, David Raya stepped up, diving low to his left to deny Vitinha’s weak spot-kick and keep Arsenal’s hopes alive. Arsenal’s hopes took another hit just minutes later as their defensive weaknesses were exposed once more. Thomas Partey, back from suspension, was caught in possession inside his box by Ousmane Dembele.

He laid the ball off for Achraf Hakimi to coolly finish past Raya, making it 2-0 on the night. Despite the setback, Arsenal showed resilience and clawed their way back into the contest with just under 15 minutes remaining. Leandro Trossard battled past Marquinhos and crossed for Saka, who scored on the rebound after his initial effort was saved.

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Arsenal’s Wastefulness Proves Costly

That spark nearly turned into something more, as Saka had a golden chance to equalise in the 80th minute. Unmarked from Riccardo Calafiori’s cross and with an xg of 0.81, he fired over from six yards. A miss that summed up Arsenal’s night and sealed their Champions League exit. Despite Gianluigi Donnarumma’s outstanding performance for PSG, Arsenal will be left frustrated by their lack of clinical finishing.

Over the two legs, the Gunners generated a combined 4.77 Expected Goals (xg). But managed just one goal and inefficiency that may intensify calls for a new striker. Their 3.14 xg in the second leg was the highest recorded against PSG in this season’s Champions League. Their 19 shots marked their most in a knockout match since a 2016 clash with Barcelona.

Mikel Arteta acknowledged Donnarumma’s impact, saying the Italian goalkeeper won the game for PSG. But he also pointed to Arsenal’s injury woes, key players Gabriel, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz were all absent, having been ruled out for the remainder of the season. I’m incredibly proud of the players, Arteta said.

Given the context and the injuries, this is probably the worst condition we could be in coming into such a big game. Still, the players gave everything, and that gives me encouragement for the future, but tonight, I’m very upset. Arteta boldly claimed that Arsenal had been the best team in this year’s competition, adding.

Arsenal Eyes on Champions League Qualification

This tournament is decided in both boxes, and PSG had the best goalkeeper and the most clinical finishers. Declan Rice echoed Mikel Arteta’s praise for Gianluigi Donnarumma, while voicing his frustration over Arsenal’s inability to capitalise on their early dominance in Paris. Speaking to TNT Sports, the midfielder said, It’s gutting.

We started so strongly that if one of those early chances had gone in, the whole game would’ve changed. That’s football. Small margins. It felt like it just wasn’t our night. We gave it our all, and across both legs, we had enough chances to score three or four, but Donnarumma was outstanding.

With their Champions League dream over for this season, Arsenal must now focus on securing qualification for next year’s competition. Arsenal have now lost all four of their two-legged semi-finals under Arteta. And attention now turns to their final three fixtures in the Premier League. They face a tough trip to Anfield to play newly crowned champions Liverpool. Followed by a crucial home clash against top-five contenders Newcastle United.

Arsenal need to collect four points from their remaining three games to guarantee a spot in next season’s Champions League. After three straight defeats in all competitions, they must regroup quickly and rediscover their form. Sunday’s match at Anfield offers a crucial opportunity to reset and keep their season goals alive.

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Gary Lineker has revealed the two teams he hopes will reach the Champions League final, though he concedes one might not make it. He has weighed in on the ongoing Champions League semi-finals. With both ties finely balanced after the first-leg encounters, football fans anticipate an exciting conclusion to the semi-finals next week.

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In the first semi-final, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) edged past Arsenal with a narrow 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium. The result gives the French champions a slender lead heading into the second leg in Paris. In the other tie, Barcelona and Inter Milan played out a thrilling 3-3 draw, setting the stage for a tense and dramatic return leg at the San Siro.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker emphasised just how evenly matched the remaining teams are. He acknowledged that predicting the outcome is extremely difficult. He expressed confidence that Barcelona, his former club, have what it takes to progress. Despite the away leg being played in Milan, Lineker noted that Barcelona’s approach remains consistent regardless of the venue.

Champions League Final 2025: UCL Semi-Finals Set for Dramatic Second Legs

It’ll be similar to Wednesday night, that’s just the way Barcelona play, whether home or away, Lineker remarked. He also pointed out Inter’s sharp finishing in the first leg, praising Marcus Thuram’s strike. Denzel Dumfries’ impressive overhead effort was a standout moment. He stressed that Inter will need to take their chances again if they hope to keep pace with Barcelona’s attacking style.

Although Lineker predicted that Barcelona would advance to the final, he also tipped PSG to overcome Arsenal and join them in Munich on May 31. However, he revealed a personal preference for an Arsenal appearance in the final, suggesting he would rather see the Gunners progress instead. I’d like to see Arsenal go through, but PSG might just have too much, he admitted.

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All four semi-finalists have been impressive throughout the competition, and Lineker acknowledged that each club has a strong case for deserving a spot in the final. With everything still to play for, the second-leg matches promise to deliver the drama and excitement that have defined this season’s Champions League. As Lineker said, with the margins so tight, it’s impossible to predict who will ultimately triumph.

UCL Semi-Finals: Lineker Shares His Take

Gary Lineker has offered his predictions for the Champions League semi-finals, though he admits his picks come with some hesitation. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, the former England striker tentatively forecasted a final between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Despite acknowledging how closely matched all four semi-finalists are.

Champions League Final: Lineker said, I’m leaning towards a Barcelona vs PSG final, though I say that without much confidence. He emphasised that while Arsenal still have a chance to progress, the odds are stacked against them, especially having to travel to Paris with a relatively inexperienced squad. I don’t think Arsenal are entirely out of the running, but it’s a big challenge for them to go there with a relatively young squad.

Though to be fair, just look at how young Barcelona’s team is, too, he added, noting the youthful makeup of both sides. Lineker also reflected on the thrilling 3-3 draw between Barcelona and Inter Milan, admitting that anything could happen in the return leg at the San Siro. However, he couldn’t bring himself to bet against the Spanish side.

Gary Lineker’s 2025 UEFA Champions League Final Picks Revealed

Anything could happen in the Barcelona vs Inter clash, but I just can’t bet against this Barca side, he said. Although Lineker predicted a Barcelona-PSG final, he admitted he’d prefer to see an Arsenal vs Barcelona showdown, expressing his loyalty to English football. Arsenal vs Barca is the final I’d love to see, simply because I’m a supporter of English football, he said.

Arsenal now face an uphill battle to turn the tie around after their 1-0 loss at home, leaving them as the least likely team to lift the trophy. Still, hope remains within the squad. Gunners midfielder Mikel Merino expressed confidence following the narrow defeat, insisting his team can defy the odds in the second leg. Paris is a difficult place to play, but we’ve shown we can go toe-to-toe with any team, Merino said.

With all due respect, I believe we’ll win the second leg. He praised his team’s resilience and spirit, emphasising their ability to rise to the occasion. Based on what I’ve seen tonight, we showed we can go toe-to-toe with a top team like PSG. This team never quits. We have the technical skill and, most importantly, the drive to go to Paris, win, and do it for our fans and ourselves.

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