CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Arsenal and Inter take a giant step towards the Champions 'semis'

The Tuesday matchday in the UEFA Champions League left two teams with one foot in the semifinals, although no tie can be considered closed, as the defeated teams are two 'heavyweights' with a thousand battles behind them and enough quality in their squads to react to two very tough defeats. Arsenal and Inter Milan clearly overcame Real Madrid (3-0) and Bayern Munich (1-2), respectively, although the 'gunners' clearly imposed themselves with greater authority.

The team led by Mikel Arteta crushed Madrid in an unforgettable second half for the Londoners and a nightmare for the 'merengue' side. Declan Rice, with two impeccable free-kick conversions with his right foot, from both sides of the area, tipped the balance in favor of an Arsenal that, from the first goal in the 58th minute, was a true steamroller. Mikel Merino, in the 75th minute, capped the rout with another remarkable finish, first-time, entering the penalty spot like a '9'.

Madrid, for its part, threw in the towel very early, physically and mentally overwhelmed by a 'gunner' team that was always organized and knew how to take full advantage of the defensive fragility of the whites. Fede Valverde and David Alaba were the chosen full-backs by Carlo Ancelotti at the Emirates Stadium and both were clearly outmatched. In the end, the result was fair and the whites return to the Santiago Bernabéu crushed, after three consecutive defeats in 90 minutes (the draw against Real, in the Cup, came in extra time).

• Return match: Real Madrid vs Arsenal. Wednesday, April 15 at the Santiago Bernabéu (21:00 hours). Aggregate: 0-3.

Inter struck in Munich in a great match

Inter Milan, on the other hand, managed to hold on in a match where Bayern reached the area more often, but efficiency made the difference in favor of Simone Inzaghi's side. Lautaro Martínez scored the 0-1 in the 38th minute, finishing a good collective action where Marcus Thuram assisted his attacking partner, silencing the Allianz Arena. The second half was much less spectacular, with multiple interruptions due to the physical play imposed by the 'nerazzurri'.

Sommer's saves and Harry Kane's lack of precision kept the score at zero for the Italian goal, until Thomas Müller, who had come on ten minutes earlier for Leroy Sané, equalized the score in the 85th minute after several minutes of Bavarian siege. The locals tried to push for a comeback, but it was Inter who struck again, in the 88th minute, with a stunning goal from Davide Frattesi after a lethal counterattack from the left, initiated by Lautaro and finished with a perfect pass from Carlos Augusto.

Looking ahead to the return leg at Giuseppe Meazza, the tie still looks open knowing the power of the Bavarian attack. However, the good defensive work of the Italians, who have conceded only 3 goals in 10 matches, clearly tips the balance in their favor. The winner of this tie will face the winner of the FC Barcelona-Borussia Dortmund tie in the 'semis'.

• Return match: Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich. Wednesday, April 15 at the Giuseppe Meazza (21:00 hours) Aggregate: 2-1.