Paris Saint-Germain
PSG’s latest English opponents offered a different kind of threat to Luis Enrique’s team.Arsenaloffer far more muscle than Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa. It was a physical battle PSG were prepared for, and dealt with pretty comfortably at the Emirates. Quieting the crowd early is a rung on the ladder in semi-finals, and PSG managed that almost with their first attack. Ousmane Dembélé hit his shot early to score, having surged into the heart of Arsenal’s defence to start the danger.
If PSG’s midfield is a little more intricate and delicate than Arsenal’s, they did not shirk the physical battles. PSG played the dark arts, the margins, well. They were also unlucky not to get a second goal when Jurrien Timber manhandled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the box. Gianluigi Donnarumma was called into frequent action but aslim, perhaps vital, advantagewas secured heading into the second leg. Having survived London, can PSG now deal with the pressure of history and their support in the Parc des Princes?
Inter
Such was the madness in Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium that only at the final whistle, as the Catalans’ body language showed off their disappointment, did it register that Inter had pulled off a decent result. If the goals came from the unlikely source of a Denzel Dumfries double, and Marcus Thuram’s incredible back-heeled opener after 30 seconds, that showed the threat Inter possessed when the ball was crossed into the box. It might have been better – Inter did have a two-goal lead – but the Italians ended the more satisfied of the twodespite a 3-3 draw.
If Simone Inzaghi’s usually touch-tight defence was unable to stopBarcelona, their own attack made up for it, though Lautaro Martínez’s muscle injury means he is likely to miss the second leg. Next week: can a team full of experienced campaigners ride out another Barcelona storm?
Arsenal
It was supposed to be the night the Emirates Stadium inspired its heroes, and yet it ended up a cauldron of complaint and discomfort. In truth, Arsenal did not give their fans much to work with. Unlike on the continent, an English crowd’s mood follows the pattern of a game rather than acting as a wall of noise whatever the state of play. PSG’s speed and guile made Arsenal ill at ease, and referee Slavko Vinčić became a main character with a series of decisions that annoyed and team and fans who are still over-sensitive to the whims of officials. Bukayo Saka’s yellow card came after he was penalised for a clear foul on Nuno Mendes. His petulance reflected an overall lack of composure.
The biggest game yet of Mikel Arteta’s still short managerial career saw his team again suffer because of a lack of focal point in attack. Thomas Partey’s absence led to a midfield reshuffle that failed to bring the best from Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard. Mikel Merino was missed in the auxiliary striker role he has fulfilled of late. Still, all is not lost.
Barcelona
As it was at Bayern Munich, Hansi Flick’s brand of football is a gift to this competition, the high line and risk-taking playing a huge part in the classic encounters his teams serve up. To follow the madness of last weekend’s Clásico, Wednesday saw a game almost as ridiculous.
It is defence rather than attack that may well cost Barça their chance to lift the trophy for the first time in a decade. They failed to live with Inter’s height and set pieces, and for all the brilliance of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, among other flair players, they had luck. The latter’s “goal” smashed off Yann Sommer to go in. A toenail’s length offside decision denied Henrikh Mkhitaryan from making it 4-3. Though Ferran Torres scored, Robert Lewandowski, fighting desperately to be fit for the return leg at Milan next week, was missed.
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Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)
The goalkeeper’s repeated rise to the big occasion in this season’s competition brings back memories of his performances for Italy at Euro 2020. Perhaps only someone of his height could have made that fingertip save from Leandro Trossard. Donnarumma has that rare ability, for a goalkeeper, to be influential all over the field. He did so by being forever the face of Arsenal’s frustrations. “The real MVP,” as teammate Vitinha, given the official award, wrote on social media of his keeper.
Denzel Dumfries (Inter)
In a game of spectacular goals, Dumfries’ overhead kick took the cake. That he scored another granted him man of the match status. Inter have missed the Dutchman in recent weeks, and his second goal, a header, was the exemplar of his team’s dominance of the aerial duels. “We saw the real Inter, we played with heart,” he said.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
The superlatives keep rolling. The brilliance continues. Without Lewandowski, Barcelona looked to give the teenager the ball as often as possible and he delivered, scoring the solo strike that pulled them back into the game, before then decorating the game with his stratospheric skill. One chip off the angle of post and bar looked like a mis-kick. On second look, he’d actually meant it. The Messi comparisons are flowing, but was his La Masia predecessor as good as this at 17? The answer at this point is no. And Messi was playing in a better Barcelona team.
Jakub Kiwior (Arsenał)
Arteta will point out, with justification, that injuries have hampered his team. A small-ish squad has been stretched and the supporting cast has been called upon. With Gabriel out for the season, and expensive purchase Riccardo Calafiori also struggling for fitness, Kiwior has put in some fine performances in recent weeks. He made mistakes during PSG’s early goal, but he recovered his poise to make a series of vital blocks. A player who previously gave cause for concern has become a solid citizen.