logo
Owen Hargreaves predicts Champions League final ahead of Arsenal vs PSG

Owen Hargreaves predicts Champions League final ahead of Arsenal vs PSG

Metro22-04-2025

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.
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
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
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. More Trending
'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.'
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Former England manager Fabio Capello makes Arsenal vs PSG prediction
MORE: Former Arsenal duo Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey set for Championship showdown
MORE: Bukayo Saka injury fear and PSG plans will not stop Arsenal delaying Liverpool's Premier League title party

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Villa interested in Sancho - Thursday's gossip
Villa interested in Sancho - Thursday's gossip

BBC News

time20 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Villa interested in Sancho - Thursday's gossip

Aston Villa show Jadon Sancho interest, Newcastle make Burnley's James Trafford their top target and Liverpool consider Anthony Gordon Villa have become the latest club to show an interest in signing England winger Jadon Sancho, 25, from Manchester United following his loan at Chelsea. (Teamtalk), externalNewcastle United have made Burnley and England goalkeeper James Trafford, 22, their top target this summer. (Times - subscription required), externalLiverpool are not looking to sell Colombia winger Luis Diaz, 28, and have received no offers, despite reported interest from Barcelona and Saudi side Al-Nassr. (Times - subscription required), externalBut should Diaz leave, Newcastle's £80m-rated England winger Anthony Gordon, 24, is being seriously considered by Liverpool as a replacement. (Teamtalk), externalArne Slot's Liverpool could also compete with Arsenal to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, with the 22-year-old Slovenia striker the subject of a £67m bid from the Gunners. (TBR Football), externalHarvey Elliott is most likely to join a Serie A club if the English midfielder, 22, leaves Liverpool this summer. (Football Insider), externalEverton would have to match Thierno Barry's release clause of 40m euros (£33.7m) to sign the French striker from Villarreal. (Teamtalk), externalChelsea are unwilling to pay the £25m AC Milan want for their 29-year-old France goalkeeper Mike Maignan. (Standard), externalBrentford will look to appoint Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna if current manager Thomas Frank leaves to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham. (Football Insider), externalWest Ham have contacted Club Brugge about signing 24-year-old Nigeria midfielder Raphael Onyedika, but face competition from AC Milan. (TBR Football), externalManchester City and Barcelona have expressed an interest in Arsenal's 15-year-old English midfield prospect Max Dowman. (FootballTransfers), external

Sir Dave Brailsford set for reduced role at Manchester United after reshuffle
Sir Dave Brailsford set for reduced role at Manchester United after reshuffle

North Wales Chronicle

time21 minutes ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Sir Dave Brailsford set for reduced role at Manchester United after reshuffle

Brailsford has played a major part since Ratcliffe secured his stake in United in February 2024, stepping down as team principal of the Ineos Grenadiers cycling team to take charge of footballing operations at Old Trafford and investing considerable time and energy in driving change at the club. But after a season in which United finished 15th, their worst Premier League finish, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham, Ratcliffe is planning a shake-up which will see Brailsford return to his role as director of sport for the wider Ineos group, as first reported by The Times. Under the plans, Jason Wilcox – currently United's technical director – will reportedly be named director of football, and former Tour de France winner and Olympic champion Geraint Thomas is set to take on a leadership role with the Grenadiers when he retires as a rider at the end of the year. Brailsford, 61, has overseen a major overhaul of United's operations, including a £50million redevelopment of the Carrington training ground. Ratcliffe has scaled back some of Ineos's sporting commitments, terminating its sponsorship of the New Zealand rugby team and ending his bid to win the America's Cup. However, Ratcliffe remains committed to the cycling team, who no longer hold the dominant position they did when winning the Tour de France in seven out of eight editions between 2012 and 2019. Thomas, 39, has said he will retire after the Tour of Britain in September.

England put through gruelling training camp inside 35C tents after stars are given special stress-monitoring tablets
England put through gruelling training camp inside 35C tents after stars are given special stress-monitoring tablets

Scottish Sun

time26 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

England put through gruelling training camp inside 35C tents after stars are given special stress-monitoring tablets

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) YOU can only hope Eberechi Eze and his England team-mates were not expecting an easy few days in Spain after an exhausting season. Although it is only Andorra in a World Cup qualifier in Barcelona on Saturday, Thomas Tuchel put his players through an unusual but excruciating end-of-season fitness test as he prepares for baking-hot temperatures at next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. 8 The Three Lions found a new twist to training Credit: Getty 8 Jude Bellingham is hoping to spread his appeal even wider Credit: Getty 8 Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham, Reece James and Co were pushed hard in searing temperatures ahead of Saturday's qualifier Credit: Getty 8 Eberechi Eze is still on a high after FA Cup glory Credit: Getty Although the weather was 26C here in Girona yesterday, it was far hotter inside the tent where Tuchel made his players take on a strength-sapping bike exercise. And it came after they had swallowed a biometric tablet to allow the FA medics to get an accurate reading of how the players deal with extreme stress. For Eze, his partying after winning the FA Cup final with Crystal Palace must have seemed like a long time ago. The Eagles forward, 26, said: 'After taking those tablets, you had to be on the bike for about 45 minutes and just had to keep going. 'They monitored your heart rate and they monitored your actual body temperature. 'It was quite difficult to do and 45 minutes is a long time on a bike. 'But it was something that was definitely helpful and it gave a bit of insight into myself and how I cope with those situations, which was interesting. "It was the first time for me doing something like this.' 8 Thomas Tuchel hopes his squad sizzle - against Andorra Credit: Getty 8 It's the Three Lie-downs as England eye pole position in their group Credit: Getty BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, 23, added: 'It was tough. It was 36C inside the tents and we had to get to a certain watts or something on a bike and maintain it.' Ivan Toney knows all about heat as he plays in Saudi Arabia for Al-Ahli. Rashford to Inter Milan? Man Utd Star Eyes Shock Serie A Move! The striker, 29, said: 'You can't blast out running crazy for 90-plus minutes. "It has to be tactical when you make the runs and these kind of things change your game a bit — but it is good. 'It's different but I'm getting used to it now. 'You have to change your game a little bit and maybe you have to sit back for a bit or keep the ball for a bit.' The team have certainly enjoyed themselves at this luxury golf resort outside Girona since they arrived, after watching the F1 in Barcelona on Sunday. The Camiral Golf and Wellness Centre is set to stage the Ryder Cup in 2031. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was playing golf here at an event with Gianfranco Zola a few days ago, while the football centre used to be Girona's training ground and Brighton and City have stayed here in pre-season. England will remain on site until tomorrow afternoon before heading to Barcelona to prepare for the match at Espanyol's stadium. Tuchel's team then play Senegal in a friendly at the City Ground in Nottingham on Tuesday. Palace star Eze is certainly enjoying life with England. Scoring his first goal, on his tenth appearance in the 3-0 win over Latvia in March, was clearly a big deal. It's only when you speak to fans and you see what it means to them . . . that's when you really understand how amazing it is. Eberechi Eze on FA Cup joy He said: 'Yes, a special moment for me. I scored my first goal and that brought more confidence. 'I'd say it followed throughout the rest of the season, which was good for me and for Palace.' When you mention that historic Cup final win for Palace against Manchester City, Eze just cannot stop smiling. He said: 'For me, the most special thing is when you speak to fans and you see the fans' faces and you get to understand what it truly means to them. 'Of course, winning as a player is important — and being part of the first team to do it for Palace is definitely special. 'But it's only when you speak to fans and you see what it means to them . . . that's when you really understand how amazing it is.' Yet will he still be at Palace next season? Spurs are one of several clubs interested in him. Asked if he is thinking about his future, Eze gave little away. He said: 'At the moment, not so much. "I feel like I'm here on camp with England and I'm trying to work here on camp with England. 'Those things will take care of themselves.' 8 Eze and Myles Lewis-Skelly hope to start vs minnows Andorra Credit: Getty

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store