Bayern Munich, Atlético de Madrid, PSG and Arsenal. The draw on April 17 in Nyon confirmed the pairings for the Champions League 2025-26 semi-finals: PSG vs Bayern Munich and Atlético de Madrid vs Arsenal. The final is scheduled for May 30 at the Puskás Arena in Budapest.
Bayern Munich: the most complete team left
Xabi Alonso has built something in Munich that feels different from recent Bayern sides — disciplined without being rigid, direct without abandoning structure. Harry Kane arrives at the semi-finals as the competition’s leading scorer. The Allianz Arena has been impenetrable in European nights this season. Real Madrid needed three goals there without conceding. It has happened in football before. It did not happen against this version of Bayern.
The question is not whether Bayern reach the semi-finals. The question is whether their tactical depth holds up against the other side of the bracket.
Atlético de Madrid: Simeone’s best European team in years
Two away goals at Camp Nou, zero conceded across the entire quarter-final. Simeone has taken Atlético to the last four fourteen times in seventeen knockout campaigns where he held an aggregate lead going into the second leg. The numbers are not decoration — they reflect the structural discipline of a team that does not concede leads.
Griezmann scored when it mattered. Julián Álvarez provided the second goal. Oblak kept a clean sheet in the ground where few visitors keep clean sheets. This Atlético is quieter than the 2014 and 2016 versions but not less effective.
PSG: the defending champions no one wanted in the draw
Defending the Champions League title requires handling pressure from the first round. PSG have done exactly that — eliminating Liverpool across two legs. The remontada at Anfield did not happen. PSG managed the 2-0 first-leg lead with the tactical composure of a team that knows how to protect a result. Dembélé remains the most dangerous wide player in the competition. Luis Enrique has built a structure that absorbs pressure without losing its shape. PSG arrive in the semi-finals as the team no one wanted in the draw.
Arsenal: qualified and dangerous
The 0-0 at the Alvalade served its purpose. Arsenal qualified with a 3-1 win at the Emirates. Gyökeres, the one player capable of altering the tie, had his chance in Lisbon and did not take it. Arsenal enter the semi-finals as the team with the most unresolved questions. That can be a weakness. It can also be what makes them dangerous.
The draw (April 17)
The UEFA draw in Nyon on April 17 confirmed the two semi-final pairings:
- Tie A — PSG vs Bayern Munich: first leg on April 28 at the Parc des Princes in Paris, second leg on May 6 at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The most feared draw of the tournament. The competition’s most complete team against the defending champions.
- Tie B — Atlético de Madrid vs Arsenal: first leg on April 29 at the Civitas Metropolitano in Madrid, second leg on May 5 at the Emirates Stadium in London. The tactical chess match: Simeone’s defensive structure against Arteta’s high press.
Key dates
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| QF second legs | April 15–16 |
| SF draw | April 17, Nyon |
| SF first legs | April 28–29 |
| SF second legs | May 5–6 |
| Final — Puskás Arena, Budapest | May 30, 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
Who are the Champions League 2026 semi-finalists? Bayern Munich, Atlético de Madrid, PSG and Arsenal. The draw on April 17 confirmed the ties: PSG vs Bayern Munich (Tie A) and Atlético de Madrid vs Arsenal (Tie B).
When did the Champions League semi-final draw 2026 take place? The draw took place on April 17, 2026, at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
When are the Champions League 2026 semi-finals played? The first legs are on April 28–29 and the second legs on May 5–6, 2026.
Who is favourite to win the Champions League 2026? Bayern Munich, with Xabi Alonso as manager, is the most complete side remaining in the competition. Atlético de Madrid and PSG are considered the other two realistic candidates for the title.
Where is the Champions League 2026 final? The final is at the Puskás Arena in Budapest on May 30, 2026.
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