Former World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf has made a bold Champions League prediction before Arsenal host Paris Saint-Germain.
Frank Leboeuf has stated that the winner of the Champions League semi-final tie between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain will be considered the favourite to win the competition outright.
Arsenal are set to host PSG in the first leg of their semi-final at the Emirates Stadium, before travelling to the Parc des Princes for the return fixture.
The winner of this tie will face either Barcelona or Inter Milan in the final. Notably, neither the Gunners nor the Parisians have ever won the Champions League.
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What Lebouef said
However, former Premier League player and World Cup winner believes that whichever team progresses from the Arsenal-PSG clash will be the frontrunner for the final, even against either Barcelona or Inter.
“It's going to be a hell of a tie, and I'm looking forward to watching it, because those teams are favourites to win the Champions League,” the 1998 World Champion told Sports Mole.
"Whoever goes through is going to be the favourite for the final, even against Barcelona or Inter Milan. But we will see two crazy games."
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Arsenal managed to secure a victory against PSG during the league phase of the tournament, winning 2-0 in October 2024, and Mikel Arteta will be hopeful that his team can replicate that success in the semi-finals.
Leboeuf suggested that PSG would present a significantly tougher challenge for the Gunners compared to Real Madrid, whom the Premier League side comfortably defeated in the quarter-finals.
The former defender believes this is due to PSG's greater defensive work rate across the team, contrasting them with a Real Madrid side where individual stars were perceived to lack defensive commitment.
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"I think [Arsenal are] going to face a team. That's the problem with Real Madrid - they have the problem that Paris Saint-Germain had before,” said Leboeuf.
"When you have one star who doesn't run, it's OK. But when you have two stars who don't run defensively and are separated from the others, it's complicated.
“I thought Ancelotti would sort the problem out, but he wasn't able to, and that's the thing with Paris Saint-Germain - they have a team."
PSG progressed to the semi-finals after facing Premier League champions Liverpool in the round of 16 and Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.
What’s next for Arsenal and PSG?
With league events effectively sewn up for Arsenal or PSG, a Champions League final against Barcelona or Inter beckons for the victor.
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