The Champions League semifinals bring a familiar clash as Barcelona’s dynamic attack meets Inter Milan’s resilient defense.
Sound familiar?
It harks back to 2010 — when Lamine Yamal was not yet three years old and Lionel Messi was approaching his peak — as Camp Nou staged one of the most iconic matches in tournament history. That night, Inter, managed by Jose Mourinho, protected a 3-1 first-leg advantage with a defensive masterclass, surviving more than an hour with 10 men to lose only 1-0 and reach the final.
As Barcelona and Inter prepare to meet again on Wednesday, memories of that gripping encounter will resurface — with both teams displaying similar characteristics to those from 15 years ago.
Barcelona has returned to the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2018-19, powered by the competition’s most potent attack in the expanded 36-team group stage. Led by Yamal, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski, Barca scored 28 goals in eight games and added nine more in knockout wins over Benfica and Borussia Dortmund.
Meanwhile, Serie A champion Inter has maintained its defensive steel, conceding just once in the group stage and edging Bayern Munich in a gritty quarterfinal. Inter’s run carries echoes of its 2010 triumph, when it captured its third European Cup title by defeating Bayern in the final.
Arsenal vs. Paris Saint-Germain
While Barcelona-Inter offers a rich history, the semifinal between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain feels much fresher.
The two sides have met only three times in the Champions League and never in the knockout rounds. One of those meetings was earlier this season, with Arsenal claiming a 2-0 victory at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal will host the first leg on Tuesday, aiming to build on the momentum from their impressive quarterfinal wins over reigning champion Real Madrid. PSG, on the other hand, are looking to eliminate a third consecutive English opponent after knocking out Liverpool and Aston Villa — though the latter less convincingly.
With former stars Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Messi gone, PSG is pursuing its first Champions League title with a new generation of rising talents. Arsenal is also seeking a historic first European crown, having last reached the semifinals in 2009.