Champions League semi-finals are the most open in 20 years | OneFootball

So the final four are set, with this season’s Champions League semi-finalists confirmed.

Another fascinating week of European action has set up a semi-final lineup to savour.

This is arguably the most interesting semi-final quartet in over two decades, with Arsenal’s conquering of Real Madrid a key factor in that. The Spanish giants have won six of the last 11 editions of this competition and have reached the last four in 12 of the last 14 campaigns.

Arsenal did not edge the holders, but emphatically dispatched Carlo Ancelotti’s side with home and away wins in the last eight. This is an Arsenal side who are a distant second in the Premier League title race and who, famously, have never won this competition. It’s been 16 years since the Gunners last reached the semi-finals.

Arsenal’s coming-of-age tie is not the only intriguing sub-plot of the semi-finals. Barcelona, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain are all major names in European football but each offers their own fascinating narrative.

Barcelona have not won this competition for a decade, but incredibly are the only side remaining to have lifted the trophy in that period. Inter’s most recent success came when a fresh-faced Jose Mourinho led the Nerazzurri to treble glory in 2009/10. In the intervening period, Inter have reached the last four just once.

Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, are chasing a maiden success. Like Arsenal, the French champions are in search of an elusive European coronation. The Parisians have garnered little popularity since their Qatari-backed takeover in 2011, a divisive regime behind what has occasionally been deemed a vanity project.

Now, however, PSG appear to have got things right. The superstar signings have been consigned to the past, with a focus on exciting, emerging talent. Though money continues to be spent, it is done with the long term in mind. Joao Neves and Desire Doue are among the names who have become household this season, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and a reborn Ousmane Dembele have been a breath of fresh air. On the pitch, there’s plenty to like about Ligue 1’s dominant force.

Perhaps not since 2003/04 has there been a semi-final lineup with such unpredictability. That season, Porto stunned Europe to win an unexpected Champions League. In the semi-finals were Chelsea, AS Monaco and Deportivo La Coruna, each at that time without a major European title to their name.

This season, a case can be made for any of the sides to emerge victorious, a jeopardy that the Champions League has needed in this, the first season of its reformat.

Arsenal were outsiders heading into the last eight but produced the most dominant quarter-final performance of the final four – against the holders. P

SG have an electric energy that can unnerve any side, even if Aston Villa exposed some flaws in the French champions.

Inter Milan, in contrast, are arguably Europe’s best defensive side. Simeone Inzaghi’s outfit have conceded just five goals on route to the last four, despite facing sides including Manchester City, Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.

Finally, Barcelona might just be the best side in the tournament. With a head coach who has a history in this competition, the Spaniards see themselves as favourites.

Predicting who progresses to the final appears impossible but that’s what makes football great. The Champions League’s latter stages are set to be unpredictable and unmissable viewing.

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See more – Champions League Awards: Rice cooks at the Bernabeu

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