UEFA Champions League: Arsenal vs PSG preview 04/29/2025

UEFA Champions League: Arsenal vs PSG preview 04/29/2025



The UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is set to take place on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Emirates Stadium in London. This high-stakes encounter features two clubs eager to secure their first Champions League title.

 

🗓️ Match Details

  • Fixture: Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain
  • Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
  • Kick-off Time: 8:00 PM BST (1:00 AM BST+6, April 30 in Bangladesh)
  • Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
  • Competition: UEFA Champions League Semi-final, First Leg

 

📺 How to Watch Live

  • United Kingdom: Live coverage is available on Amazon Prime Video, which offers a 30-day free trial.
  • United States: Fans can watch the match on CBS Sports, Paramount+, TUDN USA, and ViX.
  • Bangladesh: The match is expected to be broadcast on Sony Sports Network channels and streamed via SonyLIV.

 




📰 Team News

Arsenal

Manager Mikel Arteta faces several injury concerns ahead of the clash:

  • Unavailable Players:
    • Martin Ødegaard (ankle)
    • Kieran Tierney (hamstring)
    • Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf)
    • Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee)
    • Mikel Merino (shoulder)
    • Ben White (knee)
  • Doubtful:
    • Riccardo Calafiori (knee)

With Thomas Partey suspended, Declan Rice is expected to assume a deeper midfield role. Rice has been instrumental in Arsenal's European campaign, notably scoring two free-kicks against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals

Paris Saint-Germain

PSG manager Luis Enrique also contends with squad issues

Unavailable Players:

    • Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles)
    • Lucas Hernandez (knee)
    • Gonçalo Ramos (ankle)
    • Ousmane Dembélé (disciplinary reasons
  • Doubtful:
    • Gianluigi Donnarumma (injury)
    • Nuno Mendes (illness)
    • Vitinha (injury)
    • Marco Asensio (injury)
    • Desire Doue (injury)

Enrique has emphasized the team's improvement since their previous encounter with Arsenal, highlighting their Ligue 1 title win and progression to the French Cup final.

 

📋 Predicted Lineups

Arsenal (4-3-3)

Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Havertz, Trossard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3)

Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Neves, Ruiz; Lee, Kolo Muani, Barcola

 

📊 Head-to-Head Record

Arsenal and PSG have met four times in European competition:

  • Arsenal Wins: 1
  • Draws: 3
  • PSG Wins: 0

Their most recent competitive meetings were in the 2016-17 Champions League group stage, both ending in draws.

 

🔍 Match Preview

Arsenal enters the semi-final with confidence, having eliminated Real Madrid with a 5-1 aggregate score in the quarter-finals. The Gunners have focused solely on the Champions League after their exit from the Premier League title race.

PSG, under Luis Enrique, have shown resilience, overcoming Premier League sides Liverpool and Aston Villa in previous rounds. The French champions aim for a treble, having secured the Ligue 1 title and reached the French Cup final.

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has urged the team to seize the moment and "just go for it," acknowledging PSG's potent attack featuring players like Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.