First of all, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Barcelona 4-1 in the second leg of the European Champions League (UCL) quarterfinals in the 2023-2024 season at the Estadi Olympics in Luis Companis in Barcelona, Spain on Wednesday (Korea time). PSG successfully advanced to the semifinals with a total score of 5 to 4.

Lee Kang-in was not able to start in the match. Lee Kang-in, who was waiting to be dispatched from the bench, stepped on the field as he was replaced by Bradley Barcola in the 32nd minute of the second half. Lee Kang-in played his role in the midfield, and contributed to PSG's firm suppression of Barcelona. With PSG's victory, Lee Kang-in will make his first UCL semifinal appearance.

The next day was Kim Min-jae's Day. Bayern Munich defeated Arsenal 1-0 in the second leg of the UCL quarterfinals during the 2023-2024 season at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. Bayern successfully advanced to the semifinals by beating Arsenal with a score of 3 to 2.

Kim also failed to enter the stadium as a starter. Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel started Eric Dier and Matthijs de Licht. Kim, who was waiting in the bench, replaced Nusair Mazrawi in the 31st minute of the second half and was deployed to the stadium. It was an unfamiliar position to Kim as a left fullback, but he led his team to a scoreless victory by beating his Arsenal ace Bukayo Saka. Kim is also making it to the semifinals of the UCL for the first time in his career.

It is the first time since Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo, who played for PSV Eindhoven in the 2004-2005 season, that two Korean players made it to the semifinals in the UCL, the world's best professional stage. Lee Kang-in and Kim Min-jae are the fourth and fifth Korean players in the UCL semifinals. Since Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo, Son Heung-min has made it to the UCL semifinals in the 2018-2019 season.

There is a possibility that the two players will meet in the final. Bayern will clash with Real Madrid and PSG with Dortmund to advance to the final, although it is still too early to expect. If both players reach the final, the first UCL match between Koreans will take place in Asian history.

If both players reach the UCL final, there will be a Korean UCL winner. This will be the first time since Park Ji-sung won the first UCL trophy in Asian history at Manchester United in the 2007-2008 season. No Asian player has won the UCL since Park Ji-sung. Among Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in, there could be the second UCL winner in Asia.

The UCL semifinal schedule will begin in May, and the long-awaited final will be held at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on June 2.

BY: 메이저사이트