The Champions League is back to its most electric stage: the semifinals. On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 21:00 CET, Arsenal FC will host Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium, kicking off a pair of high-stakes two-legged battles that will decide who lifts the trophy at the Allianz Arena on May 31. The other semifinal sees FC Barcelona welcoming FC Internazionale Milano to Camp Nou the following night. No away goals rule. No mercy. Just football at its most brutal, beautiful, and unpredictable.
How We Got Here: The Quarterfinals That Shook Europe
The road to these semifinals wasn’t just tough—it was theatrical. Defending champions Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, the team that had won four of the last nine titles, were dumped out in the quarterfinals by FC Internazionale Milano. A 2-2 draw in Munich, followed by a 2-1 win in Milan, sent the Nerazzurri through on a 4-3 aggregate. It was the kind of result that makes neutral fans sit up straight: Inter, once written off, now one step from glory.Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain survived a nightmare in Birmingham. After losing 3-2 at Villa Park, they still advanced 5-4 on aggregate, thanks to a 3-1 win in the first leg. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife—Aston Villa’s fans roared, but PSG’s depth, and the clinical finishing of Kylian Mbappé, proved decisive.
And then there was Barcelona. Down 3-1 at Signal Iduna Park against Borussia Dortmund, the Catalan giants looked finished. But a 4-0 win at Camp Nou? That’s not a comeback. That’s a statement. The 5-3 aggregate win silenced doubters who thought Barca’s midfield had lost its rhythm. This team is playing with fire in its belly.
The Semifinal Matchups: A Continent’s Best Face Off
The draw on February 21, 2025, at the House of European Football in Haren, Brussels set the stage for a perfect storm of rivalries. Arsenal vs PSG isn’t just about English vs French football—it’s about two clubs hungry to end decades of near-misses. Arsenal haven’t reached the final since 2006. PSG have never won it. Both know this might be their best shot.Barcelona vs Inter is older history. The 2010 final, when Inter beat Barca 2-0 in Madrid, still stings for the Catalan faithful. Now, with Inter’s midfield maestro Nicolò Barella and Barca’s young phenom Lamine Yamal, it’s a generational clash. Inter’s disciplined structure versus Barca’s fluid attack—it’s chess with cleats.
And here’s the twist: the winner of Arsenal vs PSG will be designated the "home" team for administrative purposes in the final. That means they’ll get to choose their kit color and locker room. Small thing? Maybe. But in a final where every detail matters, it’s a psychological edge.
The Rules: No Away Goals, Reset Cards, and the Road to Munich
The 2024/25 format changes are in full effect. No away goals rule. Ever. If the aggregate is tied after 180 minutes, it goes to extra time. If still tied, penalties. No exceptions. This isn’t just a tweak—it’s a philosophy shift. UEFA wants results decided on the pitch, not by geography.And here’s something fans might not realize: all yellow cards reset after the quarterfinals. That means no one carries a suspension into the second leg unless they get a red card in the first leg. A single reckless tackle in the 89th minute of the first leg could cost a player the final. One moment of madness, and your team’s hero becomes a bystander.
The final, set for Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 21:00 CET at the Allianz Arena, will be the first Champions League final held in Munich since 2012—when Chelsea beat Bayern on penalties. The stadium, with its 75,000 seats, will be packed with fans from four nations. The atmosphere? Electric.
Why This Matters: A New Era Begins
Real Madrid’s exit ends an era. For the first time since 2018, the final won’t feature the club that’s dominated European football for over a decade. This is a passing of the torch. The new generation—Barcelona’s youth, Inter’s tactical discipline, PSG’s star power, Arsenal’s relentless energy—are stepping into the spotlight.And it’s not just about trophies. It’s about identity. Can Arsenal prove they’re a true European force? Can PSG finally break their curse? Can Inter become Italy’s first Champions League winner since 2010? Can Barcelona reclaim its place at the summit?
The answers come in April and May. And they’ll be written in sweat, passion, and the occasional heartbreak.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly are the semifinal legs scheduled?
The first legs are on Tuesday, April 29, and Wednesday, April 30, 2025, with Arsenal vs PSG and Barcelona vs Inter kicking off at 21:00 CET. The return legs follow on Tuesday, May 6, and Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at the same time. All matches are played at the home stadiums of the first-leg hosts.
What happens if the aggregate score is tied after the second leg?
The away goals rule has been abolished since the 2021/22 season and remains gone in 2025. If scores are level after 180 minutes, two 15-minute extra time periods are played. If still tied, a penalty shootout decides the winner. No tiebreakers based on goals scored away from home.
Who has the advantage in the final: the winner of Arsenal vs PSG or Barca vs Inter?
The winner of the Arsenal vs PSG tie will be designated the "home" team for administrative purposes in the final. That means they choose their kit color, locker room, and warm-up zone. While it doesn’t affect the result on the pitch, it can influence team morale and fan experience—small advantages that matter at this level.
Are any players suspended going into the semifinals?
No. All yellow cards accumulated during the group stage and knockout rounds reset after the quarterfinals. The only way a player misses the second leg or final is by receiving a red card in the first leg of the semifinals. That means even players with two yellows are cleared for action.
Why is the final being held in Munich?
Munich was selected by UEFA in 2022 as part of its rotation system for neutral venues. The Allianz Arena last hosted the final in 2012, when Chelsea beat Bayern on penalties. This time, Bayern aren’t playing, but their home ground will still be the stage for a new champion to be crowned.
How did the format change affect the 2024/25 tournament?
The league phase expanded from 32 to 36 teams, with each side playing eight matches instead of six. The top eight automatically advanced to the round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th entered a two-legged play-off. This created more unpredictability—lower-ranked teams like PSV and Feyenoord made deep runs, and it’s why we’re seeing such unexpected semifinal matchups.
