Owen Hargreaves has predicted the Champions League finalists as Arsenal, PSG, Barcelona and Inter Milan prepare for the semi-finals.
Four teams remain in the Champions League, with the 2025 trophy heading to one of Arsenal, PSG, Barca or Inter.
Premier League giants Arsenal thumped Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, their reward for knocking out the defending champions a daunting semi-final tie with PSG.
French champions Paris Saint-Germain survived a major scare to beat Aston Villa 5-4 on aggregate, having eliminated Premier League champions-elect Liverpool earlier in the competition.
The other semi-final tie sees La Liga leaders Barcelona take on Serie A giants Inter Milan following their respective victories over Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
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Asked who he expects to reach the Champions League final, to be played on May 31 at the Allianz Arena, Hargreaves said: ‘It’s a flip of a coin. I think Barcelona vs PSG.’
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel, Hargreaves added: ‘Arsenal look ready this year but if you look at it historically, it does take clubs steps [to win the Champions League].
‘Semi-finals are still amazing, they could do it, definitely. But PSG have been in this spot a bit more recently. They’ve got guys who have just been doing it a fraction longer than Arsenal.
‘PSG have the two best full-backs in the game. Right now, those two [Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi] are the best in the Champions League.
‘[Desire] Doue looks like he’s got rockets in his shoes, he’s looking at players knowing they can’t stop him. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is different. Vitinha plays like Modric. [Joao] Neves is unbelievable.
‘The back four is crazy good, the midfield three compliment each other and up top they’ve got pace and skill.
‘Arsenal can win with less possession and playing counter-attacking football because they’ve got the best defence. But I think the final will be PSG vs Barcelona.
‘That other game is a real clash of two styles. Inter Milan are cool without the ball, Barca have loads of the ball and that high line.
Arsenal vs PSG, routes to the semi-finals
Arsenal
League phase: 3rd (19 points from eight games)
Last-16 first leg: PSV 1-7 Arsenal
Last-16 second leg: Arsenal 2-2 PSV
Quarter-final first leg: Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
Quarter-final second leg: Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal
Paris Saint-Germain
League phase: 15th (13 points from eight games)
Play-off first leg: Brest 0-3 PSG
Play-off second leg: PSG 7-0 Brest
Last-16 first leg: PSG 0-1 Liverpool
Last-16 second leg: Liverpool 0-1 PSG (PSG win 4-1 on penalties)
Quarter-final first leg: PSG 3-1 Aston Villa
Quarter-final second leg: Aston Villa 3-2 PSG
‘Hansi Flick is the real deal by the way. Barcelona were a train-wreck when he took over.’
Hargreaves’ former Manchester United teammate Ferdinand, meanwhile, is predicting a PSG vs Inter Milan Champions League final.
‘I’m going to go for PSG – Inter Milan final, that’s what I’ll think it will be,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. ‘And I think PSG will win on the day, just.
‘I would love a Barca – PSG final, that would be my ideal final where you’ve got two front threes who are rolling it back and have got licence to attack people in a systematic, robotic time.
‘I think Inter get to the final but my ideal would be PSG and Barca just for the fact you’ve got to front threes who are allowed and want to take people on, who are exciting.
‘For entertainment purposes, PSG – Barca but part of me would like Arsenal to get there.
‘I wouldn’t mind Arsenal winning it, I’ve got to be honest. I like their players, I love Saka, I love Declan, I love Odegaard, Timber, Lewis-Skelly, Saliba, Gabriel, these are players I like.’
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