Champions League semifinals offer contrast of easy-on-the-eye PSG-Bayern and robust Atletico-Arsenal

The two Champions League semifinals that start this week have a bit of a beauty and the beast contrast. Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich on Tuesday pairs two easy-on-the-eye attacking teams playing arguably the highest quality technical soccer in the world today. Atletico Madrid vs. Arsenal on Wednesday is a clash of traditionally durable styles with tight defenses. Titleholder PSG and Bayern each has won the Champions League in the past six seasons. Atletico and Arsenal never have been European champion and are a combined 0-for-4 in finals. PSG and Bayern have a total of 24 domestic league titles between them in the last 14 seasons. Bayern is already Bundesliga champion this season and another French title is likely coming to Paris next month. Atletico was twice Spanish champion in that period, while Arsenal is in a duel with Manchester City to earn a first English title in 22 years. What the semifinals have in common is being rematches from this season’s league phase, which were won by Bayern and Arsenal.

The real final?

PSG vs. Bayern would be many people’s choice of the ideal final, after their majestic displays in the quarterfinals to eliminate, respectively, Liverpool and Real Madrid. They are the tournament joint top scorers this season, each with 38 goals. It was the final in 2020 when Bayern became European champion for the sixth time and PSG lost its first title match appearance. That game in Lisbon was the strange climax to the delayed, pandemic-affected season — played in an empty stadium in mid-August. It was decided by Kingsley Coman, the former PSG trainee who eventually starred in Munich. It was also the only time Bayern advanced to the final in its last six semifinal appearances. The five losses were against Spanish opponents and the one victory was against a French team. was beaten in a single-leg game at the lockdown Lisbon mini-tournament. Bayern won on its trip to Paris in November. before halftime for a tackle on . Still, PSG under coach Luis Enrique peaks in the second half the season, finding a new level since signing Georgia winger in January last year. The return game is on Wednesday next week in Munich, where to win its first European title.