4️⃣ things to look out for in the Champions League this week | OneFootball

The Champions League returns with a bang this week as the finalists will be determined following some tense first leg action.

Here is what to look out for...

⚔️ Match of the Week

If it anything like the incredible spectacle we were treated to in the first leg last week between Barcelona and Inter, then round two in Milan will be box office viewing.

Their 3-3 draw at Montjuïc is already assured of its status as one of the all-time classic Champions League knockout fixtures and shows how little there is between the sides.

Only three times before have Champions League semi-finals produced 10+ goals across both legs - leaving this one with a lot to live up to.

Ominously for Barcelona, they have lost their last four European semi-finals and have also managed just one win at San Siro when the Nerazzurri are their opposition and Inter are also unbeaten in their last 15 home games in this competition.

But in Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, they have an attacking duo who are capable of producing moments of magic out of nothing - as was evidenced in the first leg.

We cannot wait for this one.

🔎 Team to Watch

Is this finally PSG's year?

In their first season of the post-Kylian Mbappé era, they arguably been the outstanding side in this season's Champions League knockout stages and are many people's pick to win it for the first time in their history.

That favourites tag has been well earned when, after a difficult league phase, they exploded into life with a 10-0 aggregate win over Brest then claimed the scalps of Premier League duo Liverpool and Aston Villa.

They are aiming to make it a trio of English victims by finishing the job they started in London last week with a narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal.

The fact that they could afford to call upon outrageous talents like Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaïre-Emery off the bench is evidence of their incredible strength in depth.

Having won three of their last four Champions League games at the Parc des Princes and netted 14 times in the process, they look well placed to reach their first final since 2020 and just second ever.

🔥 Player to Watch

It has all been about Raphinha in this competition this season.

If Barcelona are to overcome Inter in Italy, he will be vital to their prospects and in Europe, he has stepped up to the plate time after time.

He has been directly involved in 20 goals this season (scoring 12 and assisting eight), with only Cristiano Ronaldo managing more in a single campaign with 21 goal involvements in 2013/14, while only Luis Figo has assisted more for the Blaugrana in a single campaign with nine.

This represents another chance for the Brazilian to make tournament history and propel his side to Munich.

If he does lead Barça to success, how much louder will the Ballon d'Or shouts be?

📊 Fascinating stat

History is not on Arsenal's side as they aim to reach the Champions League final for just the second time in their history.

Only two teams have ever reached the final in the competition after losing the first leg of their semi-final at home - Ajax in 1996 and Tottenham Hotspur in 2019.

Both went on to lose the final.

📸 Carl Recine - 2025 Getty Images