UEFA Champions League - Arsenal VS Paris Saint Germain (PSG) Prediction
UEFA Champions League - Arsenal VS Paris Saint Germain (PSG)
Match Time:30-04-2025 03:00 Wednesday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
------------------------------
Arsenal
The big blow for the Gunners came at the Santiago Bernabeu following Thomas Partey’s late booking in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg. After the end of the quarter-finals, all accumulated yellow cards will be wiped clear ahead of the semi-final clashes, but the Ghanaian must serve a one-match ban, which will see him miss this clash at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta did experiment with his lineup over the last two Premier League games, which did indicate what might be his preferred setup for the first leg. The big issue will be to find a balance in midfield with Partey missing, as Declan Rice might feature in the Ghanaian’s role for Arsenal against PSG.
Arteta used Mikel Merino besides Rice in the midfield setup against Ipswich Town, with Leandro Trossard leading the line. That might be the idea for the first leg at the Emirates, with the rest of his selections likely to be familiar.
The fact that Merino and Ben White missed the Crystal Palace game will keep fans waiting on the news over their fitness, although the wider expectation is for the dup to turn up fit. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to feature in the front three, while Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior and Myles Lewis-Skelly are all expected to form the backline.
PSG
Luis Enrique has a fully-fit squad to choose from ahead of the trip to North London, although the Spanish coach will make tactical changes depending on how he wants the team to play. PSG were full strength against OGC Nice on Friday nigh,t and it might be the case that a similar side takes the pitch at the Emirates.
One of the possible changes could be on the wings as Bradley Barcola could replace Desire Doue. Enrique’s wingers usually keep swapping positions, meaning Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will start on the right-hand side, while Ousmane Dembele will play centrally, at least on paper.
The latter missed the clash at the Emirates in the league phase due to a fallout with Enrique However, he has since repaired his relationship and turned out as one of the in-form attackers in the world coming to this stage of the season.
Enrique will not tweak too many things in the other parts of the pitch, with Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, and Joao Neves to start in midfield. Key full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes will be joined by Marquinhos and Willian Pacho in the backline, as Enrique will hope this team is enough to cause Arsenal problems.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Barcola, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Arsenal vs PSG Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
The two teams have crossed paths five times across competitions. The Gunners are unbeaten, winning twice.
In their league phase meeting in October, the Gunners won 2-0 at home.
Arsenal are unbeaten in 11 Champions League home games, winning nine without conceding.
PSG have won six of their last 10 away Champions League games, losing four.
Four of their five meetings have produced under 2.5 goals.
Both teams have scored 30 Champions League goals this season.
Prediciton: Arsenal 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain
Increasingly frail at the back and struggling to get Dembele firing on all cylinders in attack, the first signs of fatigue may now be setting in for PSG, who will also come into the first leg with fewer days rest than their North London counterparts. Enrique's men can still be backed to make the net bulge - especially with no Partey acting as the hosts' midfield screen - but the defensive might of Arsenal was unquestioned against Real Madrid, barring one silly William Saliba mistake. Arteta's men are well-equipped to deal with PSG's rampaging full-backs too, and we can picture the Gunners taking a slender lead to the Parc des Princes, although whether that will suffice for a ticket to the final remains to be seen.
From:Preview
The Most Popular
-
Indonesia Liga 1 - Persib Bandung VS PSS Sleman Prediction -
Spanish Copa Del Rey - FC Barcelona VS Real Madrid Prediction -
Stalemate in the Capital? Lazio Aim to End Slump as Parma Eye Breakthrough -
El Clasico Showdown: Barcelona Aims for 32nd Copa del Rey Title -
English Premier League - FC Bournemouth VS Manchester United Prediction -
England Championship - Leeds United VS Bristol City Prediction
