{"id":27677,"date":"2025-04-17T13:54:09","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T13:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/27677\/"},"modified":"2025-04-17T13:54:09","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T13:54:09","slug":"theo-walcott-names-favourite-to-win-champions-league-after-arsenal-beat-real-madrid-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/27677\/","title":{"rendered":"Theo Walcott names ‘favourite’ to win Champions League after Arsenal beat Real Madrid | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\tTheo Walcott discussing the 2025 Champions League (Picture: BBC One)<\/p>\n

Theo Walcott<\/a> has named the \u2018favourite\u2019 to win the Champions League<\/a> after the four semi-finalists were confirmed.<\/p>\n

One of Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona or Inter Milan will be crowned European champions this season after the four clubs booked their place in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n

Premier League runners-up Arsenal produced two sensational performances to thump Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Gunners held all the cards following a shock 3-0 win in the first leg and dismissed any fears of a Madrid comeback by winning 2-1 at the Bernabeu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Arsenal will face PSG in the semi-finals after the French champions survived a major scare to beat Aston Villa 5-4 on aggregate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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PSG, who knocked out Premier League champions-elect Liverpool earlier in the competition<\/a>, progressed despite losing 3-2 in a Champions League classic at Villa Park.<\/p>\n

Barcelona made relatively light work of their quarter-final tie against Borussia Dortmund, going through courtesy of a 5-3 win on aggregate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Real
\n\t\tArsenal celebrate after knocking out Real Madrid (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Barca \u2013 who also have aspirations of winning La Liga, currently sitting four points ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the table \u2013 also lost in the second leg but had a huge advantage following a 4-0 first-leg victory.<\/p>\n

Inter Milan make up the semi-final line-up after an impressive win over German giants Bayern Munich<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Serie A side won 2-1 at the Allianz Arena and drew the home leg 2-2 to advance at the expense of Vincent Kompany\u2019s Bayern.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Aston
\n\t\tParis Saint-Germain edged past Aston Villa (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Both semi-finals are incredibly hard to call but ex-England forward Walcott rates his former club Arsenal as the \u2018favourites\u2019 to win the Champions League after they dispatched of Real Madrid.<\/p>\n

\u2018I want Arsenal to win it and they are certainly capable of going all the way,\u2019 he told BBC Sport<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018They will be favourites now, after going to the Bernabeu and beating Real Madrid, but there is something about Inter Milan that worries me. The way they defend makes me think they have a real chance too.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\"Borussia
\n\t\tBarcelona proved too strong for Borussia Dortmund (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018It is still so open, though, and I can\u2019t even call either semi-final right now, let alone the final \u2013 it\u2019s too hard to say who will win it with any certainty.\u2019<\/p>\n

Ex-Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha is also backing Mikel Arteta to guide Arsenal to their first ever Champions League triumph.<\/p>\n

\u2018As I look at the two ties left now, I think it\u2019s going to be one of the first-time winners, so either Arsenal or PSG, whoever comes through their semi-final,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Inter
\n\t\tInter Milan knocked out Bayern Munich (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s a shame for one of them because they are the two best teams in the competition. It\u2019s very hard to choose between the two but I am going to go for Arsenal.<\/p>\n

\u2018Beating Real Madrid, even if this isn\u2019t the best version of Real Madrid is one thing, but to go to the Bernabeu with all the talk about a comeback and be so robust, showed they have what it takes.<\/p>\n

\u2018Overall, in terms of how they are prepared to defend\u00a0 and suffer, and still have a threat in attack, I would argue they are the most complete team left in the competition.\u2019<\/p>\n

PSG tipped to lift Champions League trophy<\/p>\n

Despite Arsenal\u2019s stunning display against Real Madrid, a number of pundits believe they will be knocked out by eventual winners PSG.<\/p>\n

\u2018I just think PSG are such a well-balanced team,\u2019 Chris Sutton, the former Premier League striker, said. \u2018They\u2019ve got rid of all the big hitters now.<\/p>\n

\u2018They\u2019ve got Ligue 1 wrapped up already so they can concentrate on the Champions League and they just ooze class and quality.\u2019<\/p>\n

Ex-England defender Matt Upson added: \u2018It\u2019s easy to change opinion once you get through another set of games but I\u2019m going to stick with my gut feeling of PSG to win the competition.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think they\u2019ve been standout performers all the way through. This side has a grit about it that I\u2019ve not seen in any other PSG team.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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