Champions League Semi Final 1st Leg Previews
Just four teams remain in with a chance of Champions League success this season. One representative from England, Spain, France and Germany will battle it out for a spot in the final over the next two Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
This week sees the crucial first legs, starting with Paris St. Germain, the holders, hosting Bayern Munich on Tuesday night. Then on Wednesday evening, Atletico Madrid will take on Arsenal at the Wanda Metropolitano. We’ll preview both these crucial games over the next fortnight, both first and second legs, to hone in on who will contest the final.
Tuesday 28th April
Paris St. Germain vs. Bayern Munich
The current holders face a team that has already beaten them in this tournament this season – and away from home too. Paris progressed after a battling victory over Liverpool, while Bayern saw off Real Madrid in their quarter final, winning both legs in what was a pulsating tie over two legs.
Team News & Prospective Line Ups.
Paris St. Germain’s injured duo from the game at Anfield, Desire Doue and Nuno Mendes, both returned to the first team squad at the weekend for PSG, so should be in contention to play in this game, however key midfielder Vitinha could be an absentee with a foot issue. Fabian Ruiz has returned to fitness and is in contention.
Possible PSG Team – (4-3-3)
- GK – Safonov
- DR – Hakimi
- DL – Mendes
- DC – Marquinhos
- DC – Pacho
- DMC – Joao Neves
- DMC – Zaire-Emery
- MC – Fabian Ruiz
- AML – Doue
- AMR – Kvaratskhelia
- AC – Dembele
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany will serve a touchline ban in this game, and the Germans will also be without Serge Gnabry, Tom Bischof and Svein Ulrich for this game. On the positive side Lennart Karl should be fit enough for at least the bench on Tuesday.
Possible Bayern Munich Team – (4-3-3)
- GK – Neuer
- DR – Stanisic
- DL – Laimer
- DC – Upemecano
- DC – Tah
- DMC – Kimmich
- DMC – Pavlovic
- MC – Musiala
- AML – Luis Diaz
- AMR – Olise
- AC – Kane
Prediction – Expect a closely fought contest. Bayern won 2-1 when they met in the league stage. However, PSG are a different beast in the knockout stages. Expect a closely fought contest and a 1-1 scoreline.
Wednesday 29th April
Atletico Madrid vs. Arsenal
After causing the upset of the previous round by getting the better of Barcelona over two legs, Atletico Madrid now face an Arsenal team who battled to a narrow 1-0 win over Sporting Lisbon across the two legs of their quarterfinal.
Team News & Prospective Line Ups
Atletico have a real concern over Ademola Lookman, with the former Everton winger in major doubt for this game after sustaining an injury in the Copa Del Rey Final last week. David Hancko is another absentee but Alexander Sorloth has recovered from a slight knock to be fit for this first leg tie.
Possible Atletico Madrid Team – (4-4-2)
- GK – Oblak
- DR – Llorente
- DL – Ruggeri
- DC – Pubilli
- DC – Lenglet
- MR – Simeone
- ML – Baena
- MC – Barrios
- MC – Koke
- AC – Griezmann
- AC – Alvarez
Arsenal come into this game with slight worries over Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz, who were both substituted in the game with Newcastle at the weekend as a precaution. However other than those two players, Arsenal should have an almost clean bill of health for this crucial first leg tie.
Possible Arsenal Team – (4-2-3-1)
- GK – Raya
- DR – Calafiori
- DL – Hincapie
- DC – Saliba
- DC – Gabriel
- DMC – Zubimendi
- DMC – Rice
- MC – Odegaard
- AMR – Saka
- AML – Eze
- AC – Gyokeres
Prediction – Atletico start as slight underdogs despite being at home, but they won’t make it easy for Arsenal here and with the Gunners not in the best of form, especially in front of goal, I think this game may finish up as a tight 0-0 draw.
Join us next week when we will review both first leg ties before previewing how the games will go in the second legs in London and Munich.
