The UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg matches delivered a night of intense drama and thrilling football moments as four of Europe’s top teams battled for a place in the final. Arsenal hosted Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium in London, while Barcelona welcomed Inter Milan to the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium in Spain. Both matches had fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish, with standout performances, early goals, and late tension defining the evening.
In London, Arsenal suffered a 1–0 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in a match that saw the visitors make a very strong start. PSG took the lead in just the 3rd minute when Ousmane Dembélé scored a quick goal, setting the tone for the French side’s aggressive approach in the first half. PSG had several chances to extend their lead, but Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya made several excellent saves to keep the scoreline from worsening. The post also denied PSG another goal. Arsenal struggled to get into the game early on but improved in the second half. They thought they had equalized when Mikel Merino put the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed due to offside. Despite the home side’s efforts to level the match, PSG held on to their lead. However, the French side suffered a small setback as Dembélé, their goal scorer, had to leave the pitch with a muscle issue. This could be a concern for the team ahead of the second leg. Arsenal now face the difficult task of going to Paris for the second leg, which will be played at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. They must win there to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive.
Meanwhile, in Barcelona, football fans witnessed one of the most exciting Champions League matches in recent years as Barcelona and Inter Milan played out a 3–3 draw filled with goals, drama, and breathtaking moments. Inter Milan shocked the home fans by scoring within the first 30 seconds of the game through Marcus Thuram, making it the fastest goal ever scored in a Champions League semi-final. Inter continued to put pressure on Barcelona, and in the 21st minute, Denzel Dumfries scored their second goal, putting the Italian side 2–0 up. However, Barcelona refused to back down. Seventeen-year-old Lamine Yamal scored a brilliant solo goal to reduce the deficit, making history as the youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final. Before halftime, Ferran Torres completed the comeback by scoring Barcelona’s second goal, leveling the score at 2–2 and sending the stadium into celebration. In the second half, Dumfries scored again to restore Inter’s lead at 3–2. But Barcelona responded almost immediately when Raphinha took a shot that deflected off Inter’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer and ended up in the net for an own goal, making it 3–3. Both teams had chances to win the game late on. Yamal hit the crossbar with a powerful shot, and Inter thought they had scored again, but their goal was ruled out for offside. The draw leaves everything to play for in the return leg.
The second leg between Barcelona and Inter Milan will be played on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at the San Siro Stadium in Milan. With both teams having shown their strength in the first leg, the return match promises to be just as entertaining, as they fight for a place in the Champions League final. Football fans around the world will be eagerly waiting to see which two teams will book their spots in the biggest game in European club football.
