Paris vs Arsenal Champions League semi-final second leg preview: Where to watch, predicted line-ups, team news
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
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Where to watch, predicted line-ups and team news for this UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg.
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Paris Saint-Germain host Arsenal in their UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday 7 May at 21:00 CET.
Match at a glance
When: Wednesday 7 May (21:00 CET)
Where: Parc des Princes, Paris
What: UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg
Who: The 2020 finalists against the 2006 runners-up
First leg: Arsenal 0-1 Paris
How to follow: Build-up and live coverage can be found here
Where to watch the game on TV
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
What do you need to know?
Ousmane Dembélé struck inside four minutes to spark an engrossing, tightly fought first leg in London. The 27-year-old's eighth goal of the current Champions League campaign gave Paris their first-ever win against Arsenal at the sixth attempt (D3 L2). "We suffered a lot," admitted Luis Enrique, whose team ended Arsenal's 17-match unbeaten run in European home games to edge closer to a first final since 2020.
The Gunners responded well after a difficult opening period, settling into the contest and forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma into action when Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard were sent through on goal.
History is not on their side as they eye a second-leg turnaround – Arsenal never previously recovering from a first-leg home defeat in Europe (five attempts) – but coach Mikel Arteta remains defiant. "We're going to have to do something special in Paris," he said, with a place in the club's first Champions League final in 19 years up for grabs.
Possible line-ups
Paris: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz; Doué, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia
Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Ødegaard, Partey; Rice; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Form guide
Paris
Form: LWLDWL
Latest: Strasbourg 2-1 Paris, Ligue 1, 03/05
Arsenal
Form: LLDWWD
Latest: Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth, Premier League, 03/05
Views from the camps
Luis Enrique, Paris coach: "We're bound to suffer because our opponents don't have a favourable result. We need to match our performance as closely as possible in the first leg to win the return leg and stay true to our ideas."
Achraf Hakimi, Paris defender: "It's one of the most exciting [matches I've played for Paris] because of the importance it has for the club. We're one step away from the final. I think there's a sense of calm from having played in a semi-final last year. I think that will help us."
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal coach: "If you want to be in the Champions League final, you have to do something special. We're going to have to do something special in Paris. We are here to make history; let's do our talking on the pitch. Winning trophies is about being in the right moment, in the right place."
Declan Rice, Arsenal midfielder: "We're really positive we can do something here. I think you need to have full belief, we certainly have that as a group. If we are the best versions of ourselves we can do just that."
Luis Enrique on Arteta
"I was lucky enough to know Mikel when I was a player. He was very young, and I remember him as a strong personality. He was a great player, he's a great coach. I wish him the best, but not for tomorrow's match."
Reporter's view
Alex Clementson, match reporter
Recent domestic disappointments may provide the backdrop, but the truth is all eyes have been on this crucial second leg. Paris will use their performance in north London as a blueprint for further success: a blistering opening spell, before exerting a level of control befitting of European champions. As for Arteta's men, their banner over the weekend said it all: "Believe." They beat Real Madrid in their own backyard, and they'll need to channel those heroics as they descend on a raucous Parc des Princes.