The Champions League semi-finals are set, and here's my prediction for who will lift the trophy in Budapest
Speaking of PSG, they are undoubtedly the favorites, not only because of their performance last season but also because of the defensive solidity they've shown against their current opponent, Bayern Munich. That's the key to considering them the favorites, as they are strong in every position, with the exception of their goalkeeper, who is among the best in his field. Perhaps that's their only weakness, but as long as he's well protected, I think they'll have no problem advancing to their second consecutive final. This speaks to the excellent work being done by coach Luis Enrique, who undoubtedly deserves much of the credit for the success achieved in recent Champions League campaigns. Combined with the great team he has built, this is the secret to the recent successes of a team that suffered many disappointments before reaching its current level.
On the other hand, we have a closely contested series, and one that's difficult to predict, like Atlético de Madrid vs. Arsenal. In my opinion, they're evenly matched, although Arsenal has been the best in the Champions League so far, starting from the league stage. However, they've faced weaker opponents in both the round of 16 and the quarterfinals, and while they've defeated them, they haven't shone brightly enough to reaffirm their status as title contenders. Added to this are their recent domestic setbacks and the difficult end to the Premier League season, as Manchester City is close to catching them at the top of the table. So, the end of the season could be very successful or a complete catastrophe if they fail to win any of their remaining matches.
So I'm going with what I consider could be the grand final of the 2025-2026 season where PSG would face Atlético de Madrid with a victory for PSG which would undoubtedly be historic since they would repeat the title and why not think about achieving more consecutive ones because of their solid project with players at their peak performance also with enough money to strengthen themselves even more each season.
You can never underestimate the experience of having won the tournament before. PSG’s record as the holders means they know what it takes both a football and psychological perspective to get over the line. I agree, I think that the winner will come from the PSG v Bayern semi which in itself should be an amazing tie!