PSG vs Arsenal: Preview, Team News, Possible Lineups, Prediction for Champions League Clash
- Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal will battle tonight for a spot in the Champions League final against Inter Milan
- The Ligue 1 champions have a 1-0 advantage from the first-leg and need to avoid defeat to reach the final set for May 31 in Munich, Germany
- Both teams have injury concerns, including first-leg goal scorer Ousmane Dembele, who will likely play
- Former Kenyan midfielder Titus Mulama believes PSG will get the job done tonight because of their experience
Paris Saint-Germain will face Arsenal tonight in a thrilling second leg of the Champions League semi-final. The Gunners must secure a victory to reach the final, while the French team can advance with a draw or better.
Source: Getty Images
PSG vs Arsenal Champions League preview
PSG stunned Arsenal in the first-leg with a 1-0 win. Ousmane Dembele scored in the fourth minute before they dominated the majority of the match.
They could've scored more had they were clinical. Arsenal will need to be in top form at Parc des Princes. The good news is that they are just 1-0 down and showed promise in the final stages of the first leg.
Arsenal have lost on French soil in their last two visits, vs Rennes in 2019 and Lens in 2023. Still, PSG's first leg win over Arsenal was their first in six attempts.
The Ligue 1 champions have lost twice at home in the Champions League this season.
What coaches said ahead of PSG vs Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is already one of Arsenal's greatest coaches, and a win over PSG to reach the final will put him in the history books.
"We are here to make history, and we have a big opportunity...The result, in my opinion, should have been very different to that one. So, another opportunity to prove that and earn the right to be in the final."
The Spaniard last won a trophy with the Gunners five years ago and have fallen short in the Premier League three seasons in a row.
Source: Getty Images
PSG boss Luis Enrique led Barcelona to Champions League glory in 2015 and has a chance to do it again with the Parisians this season.
"We're here because we deserve to be, we won the first game and tomorrow's objective is to win the second...There will be details we can control. We're going to have to stay true to the ideas we've had so far," Enrique said via PSG's website.
Team news and possible line-ups for PSG vs Arsenal
Arsenal have an injury crisis, but have reached the semis without some of their starters. Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Gabriel Jesus are out until next season.
Ousmane Dembele was a doubt for tonight's match, but it appears he will be available for selection.
Jurrien Timber will be a game-time decision for Arteta, while Calafiori is ready to return.
PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
PSG vs Arsenal prediction
PSG were dominant in the first-leg, and Opta's supercomputer expects them to win within 90 minutes with a 45.4% chance.
Arsenal have a 30% chance of winning in 90 minutes, while the probability of a draw is 24.6%.
Former Kenyan international Titus Mulama believes PSG will go through to the final.
"I think PSG will and should qualify. They have a mature, tightly knit and experienced unit. Plus, they have been at this stage more in the last few seasons. This might give them an edge over Arsenal lads, who sometimes want to play and score the 'perfect' goals," he told TUKO.co.ke.
What did Patrick Vieira say about Arsenal vs PSG?
Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira said the Gunners can overcome PSG in the second-leg.
The former three-time Premier League winner believes the group Mikel Arteta has put together can overturn the deficit.
The Frenchman said his former team needs to play a "perfect game" to reach the Champions League final.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
