A place in the UEFA Champions League final is up for grabs as PSG host Arsenal in Wednesday’s semi-final second leg in the French capital. Here’s our prediction and preview for the clash.
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PSG vs Arsenal: Preview
PSG vs Arsenal Preview: Paris Saint-Germain will defend a slender 1-0 lead when they welcome Arsenal to Parc des Princes for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.
Ousmane Dembélé opened the scoring just four minutes into the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last Tuesday, before officials ruled out Mikel Merino’s potential second-half equaliser for offside. Dembélé’s goal marked his eighth in the Champions League this season—second only to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s record of 10 in a single campaign for PSG (2013-14)—and handed Luis Enrique’s men a narrow advantage to bring back to Paris.
PSG Aim to Protect Narrow Advantage at Home
PSG vs Arsenal Preview: The hosts enter the clash with confidence, having won three of their last four Champions League home games, racking up 14 goals in those victories. However, they have also suffered two home defeats this season—against Liverpool and Atlético Madrid—and haven’t lost more than three home games in a single campaign since 2020-21.
João Neves dominated Arsenal’s midfield at the Emirates, registering 51 tackles in this season’s Champions League—more than any midfielder since Arturo Vidal’s 52 in 2014-15. Neves has also applied 756 high pressures on opponents during the 2024-25 campaign, over 100 more than any other player, and will likely join Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz in midfield once again for the second leg.
PSG’s strength isn’t limited to physical battles. They have completed 150 line-breaking passes in the Champions League this season, trailing only Bayern Munich (156). Dembélé has delivered 25 of those—joint-most of any player this campaign—but remains a doubt for Wednesday after picking up a hamstring injury in the first leg.
With this clash in mind, Luis Enrique rested all his regular starters except João Neves for Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Strasbourg.
Arsenal Look to Overturn Deficit in Hostile Territory
PSG vs Arsenal Preview: Arsenal will expect a bigger impact from their midfield engine on Wednesday, as Declan Rice looks to raise his influence. In the first leg, Rice delivered a match-high six line-breaking passes in the final third and completed 50 passes—joint-most among all players on the pitch. Leading all Arsenal players in the 2024-25 Champions League for line-breaking passes that led to shots (7) and goals (3), Rice remains central to Mikel Arteta’s game plan. The Gunners boss will count on the England international to step up in the French capital.
Arteta can also draw confidence from Arsenal’s recent form on the road, with his side winning each of their last four Champions League away matches. However, they have never managed five consecutive away wins in European competition.
History presents a challenge. Only two teams have ever reached the Champions League final after losing the home leg of a semi-final: Ajax in 1995-96 against Panathinaikos, and Tottenham—Arsenal’s north London rivals—against Ajax in 2018-19. Arsenal have never advanced after losing the first leg of a European tie at home. In contrast, PSG have progressed on every such occasion except once—when they crashed out to Manchester United in the 2018-19 season.
Wednesday’s showdown will define both clubs’ European ambitions, with each side chasing just a second-ever appearance in the Champions League final. PSG last reached it in 2019-20, falling to Bayern Munich, while Arsenal’s lone final came in 2005-06, where they lost to Barcelona.
Arteta took no such approach as his counterpart, fielding an almost full-strength lineup as Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday.
PSG vs Arsenal: Head-to-Head
Arsenal lost their last two away matches against French opposition—falling to Rennes in 2019 and Lens in 2023—after going unbeaten in their first 13 such games (winning 8 and drawing 5).
Despite that, PSG fans may still feel anxious. Their first-leg victory marked their first win over Arsenal in six meetings, having previously drawn three and lost two.
Arteta likely believes his team deserved at least a draw in the opening leg, as Arsenal created 1.63 expected goals compared to PSG’s 1.16. However, Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb performance kept the visitors in front.
The odds remain against Arsenal turning the tie around. They drew 1-1 on both of their previous visits to PSG (in March 1994 and September 2016), a result that would once again see the French side advance on aggregate.
PSG vs Arsenal: Team News and Predicted Lineup
PSG – Team News
Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique is waiting to find out if Ousmane Dembélé will be fit to face Arsenal in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg at the Parc des Princes.
The in-form Frenchman netted his 33rd goal of the season across all competitions to secure PSG’s 1-0 first-leg win, but the victory came at a cost as he picked up a hamstring injury shortly after scoring.
That injury ruled Dembélé out of PSG’s 2-1 Ligue 1 defeat to Strasbourg over the weekend. While the club has confirmed encouraging progress in his recovery, Enrique is unlikely to risk him in the starting XI.
As a result, Portugal international Gonçalo Ramos is set to lead the line against Arsenal, with the dangerous duo of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué supporting him on the flanks.
Bradley Barcola, who scored PSG’s lone goal in the Strasbourg defeat, remains another option through the middle. However, Ramos offers a more natural No. 9 presence and should retain his spot if Dembélé fails to recover in time.
Dembélé is one of two injury concerns for the French champions, alongside Lee Kang-in. The South Korean midfielder was unlikely to start regardless, with João Neves, Vitinha, and Fabián Ruiz set to form the midfield trio once again.
PSG will make major changes to their backline, bringing Achraf Hakimi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos, and Nuno Mendes back into the starting XI after resting them over the weekend.
PSG – Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
- Goalkeper – Donnarumma
- Defenders – Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes
- Midfielders – Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz
- Forwards – Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Doue
Arsenal – Team News
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has raised doubts over Jurrien Timber’s availability for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.
Timber missed Arsenal’s 2-1 Premier League loss to Bournemouth over the weekend due to a knock. After the match, Arteta admitted that the Dutch defender might also miss the trip to Paris.
However, Arteta has a history of being less than transparent with team news—especially following disappointing results—so Timber could still feature in the starting XI.
If fit, the former Ajax star may take Ben White’s place in defence. David Raya, William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior, and Myles Lewis-Skelly are all expected to retain their positions from the 1-0 defeat in the first leg.
Arteta will definitely welcome back a key figure in Thomas Partey, who missed the first leg due to suspension. The Ghanaian midfielder will likely take up his usual role as the deep-lying anchor at the Parc des Princes.
With Partey returning to the No. 6 role, Declan Rice—who opened the scoring against Bournemouth—should operate with more freedom on the left side of midfield, while Martin Ødegaard is expected to start despite a minor knock at the weekend.
This setup allows Arteta to push Mikel Merino into a more advanced role, potentially replacing Leandro Trossard in the starting XI, with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka continuing on the flanks.
Arsenal – Predicted Lineup ( 4-3-3)
- Goalkeper – Raya
- Defenders – White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly
- Midfielders – Odegaard, Merino, Rice
- Forwards – Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
PSG vs Arsenal: Prediction
Arsenal face a do-or-die scenario on Wednesday—another defeat would all but end their season, leaving only a top-five Premier League finish to chase.
Despite being overwhelmed early by PSG in the first leg, the Gunners’ spirited response later in the first half should fuel belief in a possible turnaround.
If they strike first and silence the Paris crowd, they could set the stage for an unforgettable night.
Liverpool showed that success at the Parc des Princes is possible, though their win relied on a goalkeeping masterclass from Alisson Becker—something Arsenal, with their tendency to surrender leads, may struggle to replicate.
Partey’s return offers a major boost in midfield, while Dembele’s potential absence weakens PSG. However, as Arsenal push forward, they risk leaving space for PSG’s dangerous wingers to exploit and edge closer to European glory.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 PSG (Aggregate 1-3)
When and Where to Watch PSG vs Arsenal Match? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 semi-final second leg between PSG and Arsenal will take place at the Par des Princes Stadium in Paris, France. The match is set for May 8 at 12:30 am IST. It will be broadcast live on the Sony Network and can be streamed online via Sony LIV.
Read More: Champions League 2024-25: Inter vs Barcelona Preview, Prediction and Where To Watch The Match LIVE
FAQs
Ousmane Dembele scored the only goal for PSG in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
PSG continue to monitor Dembele’s hamstring injury, and Luis Enrique may avoid risking him from the start.
Arsenal can overturn the deficit if they score first and maintain control, but history and PSG’s home record present a challenge.
Thomas Partey returns from suspension to anchor Arsenal’s midfield, while Martin Odegaard is fit to start.
PSG reached the final once in 2019–20, while Arsenal’s only final appearance came in 2005–06.
