By: Jack Stewart
With the Champions League quarter finals now over, only four teams remain to win club football’s most prestigious trophy. This round featured some of the most exciting goals and moments from the entire tournament, including key upsets. Last year’s winner, Real Madrid, as well as last year’s runner-up Borussia Dortmund, were both eliminated in this round, as was German powerhouse Bayern Munich. This leaves only four teams remaining: Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona, and Inter Milan. Neither Arsenal nor PSG have ever won the Champions League, and it’s been over a decade since Barcelona or Inter have won, meaning this year’s final will feature some of the highest stakes in recent memory. These four sides all proved themselves in this year’s quarter-finals and gave fans lots to take away from their performances, setting up what could be one of the best Champions League semi-finals in years.
This May Be Arsenal’s Year
If one thing has defined the Mikel Arteta era of Arsenal, it’s choking. The club has become notorious for their second-place finishes in the Premier League and their disappointing performances in the Champions League. They made the final once back in 2006; however, they fell short to Barcelona 2-1. Recently, they’ve fared no better, with a disastrous loss to Chelsea in the 2021 Europa League final and two disappointing stints in the Champions League in 2023 and 2024. While another second-place finish in the Premier League feels almost certain, a strong Champions League performance is looking very promising. Over both legs of the quarter-finals, Arsenal looked in complete control over reigning champions Real Madrid, winning 5-1 on aggregate. The first leg at The Emirates was led by an incredible performance by Declan Rice, whose two free-kick goals stunned both players and fans alike. The second leg at the Bernabeu, while not as dominant, still saw Arsenal put up a great showing. While this club may seem cursed at times, if anything were to be a sign of a changing future, it’d be beating the reigning European champion.
Paris Saint-Germain Looks Better Without Mbappé
Over the summer of 2024, superstar striker Kylian Mbappé left PSG to join Real Madrid, rounding out a squad that’s now worth $1.47 billion. This move seemed disastrous to PSG, as not only did they lose their best player, and arguably the best player in the world, but Mbappé also left on a free transfer, meaning that PSG made nothing from his departure. Hopes were low for PSG; however, the club has shocked everyone by being even better than before. In Mbappé’s absence, numerous players have now been able to step up and take a greater role in the French side. Ousmane Dembele has led one of the most dangerous attacks in all of Europe, which features him up top alongside Bradley Barcola and recent signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the wings. Joao Neves, another recent signing, has helped anchor PSG’s midfield, along with fellow Portugal national team member Vitinha. This PSG side also features what’s easily the best fullback pairing in the world, with Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi both having standout seasons. This squad is one of the most well-rounded in all of Europe, featuring some of the game’s biggest stars working together in a fluid and brilliant system. Paris Saint-Germain has never won the Champions League, and despite coming close with Mbappé, this year’s team seems as close as ever to finally finishing the job. Despite expectations of a down year, this iteration of PSG is one of the strongest in recent memory, and 2025 could easily be their year.
Barcelona Still Looks Like The Favorites
It has been a decade since FC Barcelona has won the Champions League, with recent squads living in the shadow of former teams. The post-Messi era of Barcelona has presented a lot of challenges for the club, but this season has proven that they’ve pieced themselves back together. This Barcelona squad has been one of the most exciting teams to watch in all of Europe, mainly due to their front three. Brazilian left winger Raphinha has been the standout this year, and he makes a strong case to win the Ballon d’Or. On the other side has been Lamine Yamal, who is the most promising young talent in world football. At only seventeen years old, Yamal has been tearing up defenses and shows promise of becoming an all-time great. Other key players like Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, Pau Cubarsi, and Jules Kounde have also all been in great form, and this Barcelona team looks like the strongest in Europe. They’ve been one of the favorites for the entire tournament and became most fans’ number one favorite after Liverpool’s elimination at the hands of PSG. This side is truly special, and their dominance has become reminiscent of Barcelona teams of the early to mid-2010s. Many have cited Barcelona as the favorites for this year’s final, and it’s clear to see why; they’ve played at a top level both domestically and internationally, and they don’t look like slowing down any time soon.
Inter Milan Is A True Dark Horse
Ever since losing the 2023 Champions League final to Manchester City, Inter Milan has been seeking that finals win, which they haven’t had since 2010. Their 2024 season has been hard-fought, with a tight title race between them and Napoli in the Serie A and an underdog win against Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals. This Inter squad has branded itself on its efficiency and depth, with an extremely disciplined and balanced squad. They edged out Bayern Munich in a tough matchup that saw Inter advance 4-3 on aggregate to advance to the semi-finals. Players like Lautaro Martinez, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Alessandro Bastoni have been the soul of this team and have helped to create the balance that this squad has become known for. Despite some challenges, both these players and the team as a whole have proved themselves over the course of this Champions League tournament. They defeated a tough Arsenal squad in the group stages, secured quality victories over Feyenoord in the round of 16, and won a tight contest against Bayern Munich in the quarters, as previously mentioned. While they may not always have been the favorites, this year’s Inter Milan squad has seemingly proven themselves again and again. Despite being up against an intimidating Barcelona team, Inter has shown that their efficiency and tactical brilliance can make anything happen.
