UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Finals Second Legs

Bayern 4-3 Real Madrid (6-4 AGG) - Allianz Arena

The best match of the season so far in the Champions League with end to end action, 7 goals, a red card and 2 goals in the final few minutes of the match to win the tie. With nearly 70% of possession and the better of most of the stats it was not surprising that Bayern ended the game with a win and booked their place in the semi finals. 

Real Madrid started the game well and with the game headed to extra time they looked relatively comfortable. Then a second yellow card for Camavinga changed the game with only 4 minutes of time remaining. It was an extremely avoidable red card as Camavinga fouled Kane and held onto the ball as Bayern tried to restart the game. With these deliberate actions the referee decided it was another bookable offence and gave the Frenchman his marching orders. 

From there Bayern applied the pressure and scored just 3 minutes later to go 5-4 up in the tie. Another goal was added by Olise in the 94th and it was game over after that. The holders PSG await Bayern Munich in the semi-finals as they battle it out for a place in Budapest on May 30th. 

It took just 35 seconds for Arda Guler to make the breakthrough at the Allianz. A mistake from Neuer as he passed the ball straight into the path of Guler whilst outside of his box. He took a run up to the ball and shot straight away into an empty net to make it 1-0 and level the game on aggregate at 2-2. The perfect start for Real Madrid and a costly mistake from Neuer who was the hero in the game at the Bernabeu just 1 week prior. 

Much to the relief of Bayern and their fans Madrid were only ahead for 5 minutes before Pavlovic equalised and put them back ahead on aggregate. A corner from Kimmich was whipped in and Lunin was scrambling to get back to his goal but was not able to get near the ball. Pavlovic was almost stood on the line as he glanced it in and the Allianz erupted. 

Shortly before the half hour mark Real were winning again and Arda Guler got his second of the match too. He looked fixed on the ball with total concentration as with a free kick just outside the D of the box. He whipped the ball towards the top corner and Neuer was able to get a hand to it but was unable to keep it out. A top quality strike when they needed it most from Arda Guler. 

However, once again Real Madrid could not keep their lead as just 9 minutes later Harry Kane put Bayern level again on the night. A piercing run through the centre of the pitch from Upamecano caused trouble and he put a pass through the Madrid team to the feet of Kane in the box. The Englishman was able to take a touch and fire it into the bottom corner with any pressure as Madrid’s defending left a lot to be desired from the attack. 

The action from the first half didn't end there when 4 minutes later Kylian Mbappe made it 3-2 to Real Madrid. A controversial goal with a Bayern player down as Madrid chose to play on. Although it is not in the rules of the game, it is the referees and players discretion for the game to be stopped. Vinicius Jr. ran with the ball down the wing and drove at Tah in the middle when he spotted the run of Mbappe as he burst through the middle. He was unmarked and picked the ball up, taking a touch and finishing it past Neuer. 

There were no goals in the second half until the 89th minute from Luis Diaz. A give and go on the edge of the box between Diaz and Musiala was clever and Diaz took one more touch and took the shot. A deflection off Militao took it away from Lunin and Bayern regained their lead on aggregate. 

The final goal of the match was a moment of magic from Michael Olise. He picked the ball up half way into the half and ran straight as Ferland Mendy. As he got to the edge of the box he quickly shifted it to his left foot and curled his shot off the post and in. A superb solo effort to put Bayern into the semi-finals of the Champions League for only the second time since they won the competition in 2020.

Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona (3-2 AGG) - Metropolitano Stadium

Another fantastic game of the Champions League this season. Ultimately, Barcelona fell short again as they did at this stage last season. Despite 2 early goals they were unable to keep the clean sheet they needed. As well as another sending off which was an almost mirror copy of the one from last week for Cubarsi this time it was his replacement Eric Garcia that was sent off after a VAR review. 

Despite nearly 60% possession and 9 shots on target Barcelona could not get the extra goal they needed to force extra time and were eliminated. The gameplan of Diego Simeone to frustrate the Barca players and do what they needed to make the semi finals paid off. Atletico now face Arsenal in the semi-finals to try and make their first final in 10 years.

It was a great start for Barcelona as they went ahead in the 4th minute after a mistake at the back by Clement Lenglet. He seemed to panic on the ball and was unaware of Lamine Yamal closing him down as he tried to give the ball back to Musso in goal. Yamal blocked the attempted back pass and it fell to Ferran Torres who immediately played the ball into the path of Yamal who was through on goal. He finished it past Musso and got Barca to within 1 in the tie. Exactly what they would have wanted to start the game and try to quiet the Atletico fans. 

Just 20 minutes later Barcelona were level in the tie after making it 2-0 on the night. They worked the ball from the right into the middle of Atleti’s half where Dani Olmo took one touch and played it to Ferran Torres. A great few touches out of his feet and exquisite finish into the top corner from Torres with Atletico’s lead wiped out from the first leg when this goal went in. 

The goal to win the tie came just after the half hour mark for Atletico through Ademola Lookman. The goal had similarities to the Lewandowski goal against Newcastle in the previous round at the Camp Nou. There was a clinical move from defence to attack in the space of 5 seconds as it moved from Le Normand to Molina then into Griezmann in the middle of the pitch. He flicked the ball into the path of the run in behind by Llorente and as he was running he spotted Lookman across the box. He played the ball perfectly into his path as he arrived into the box and Lookman made no mistake and scored from close range. A great team move by Atletico in what proved to be the tie winning goal. 

Liverpool 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain (0-4 AGG) - Anfield Stadium

A match in which the result did not necessarily reflect the 90 minutes that were played. However, PSG showed why they are the reigning champions of the competitions with a good defensive display and ruthless in attack to keep another clean sheet and make their way to the semi-finals once again. 

The stats were in the favour of Liverpool with the better of the shots and those on target as well as nearly 60% of possession. Although, the possession and shots were not entirely necessary for PSG as they were defending their lead from the first leg. They picked their moments and added to their lead when Liverpool were going all out for a goal and put themselves out of reach as time ran out. Next up is Bayern Munich in the semi-finals for PSG as they try to retain the trophy which has not been done since Real Madrid’s 3-peat from 2015-2018. 

A touch of class from the Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele as he showed why he is the star man for PSG. A pass from Kvaratskhelia across the edge of the box was to the feet of Dembele. He took a touch and sold a dummy to get past Mac Allister to get it onto his favoured left foot. A curled, controlled shot into the bottom corner was the result with a great goal to put PSG 3-0 ahead in the tie. 

In the 91st minute PSG added a second on the night to replicate the score from the first leg and make it 4-0 on aggregate. Once again it was Dembele that scored and Kvaratskhelia was involved in the buildup to the goal. He passed the ball down the left side to Barcola as he made the run inside the left side. He put the ball across the box and Dembele put it past the onrushing Mamardashvili to seal their place in the semi-finals. 

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP (1-0 AGG) - Emirates Stadium

A rather uneventful match at the Emirates with Arsenal managing to make it past Sporting due to the 90th minute Kai Havertz goal in the first leg. The second leg only had 2 shots on target in the entire game, both of which hit the post for each team. 

The first of which was for Sporting as a looped ball to the back post by the left back Araujo was hit on the volley by Geny Catamo. He struck it with the outside of his boot and with Raya beaten, the post came to Arsenal’s rescue. 

On the other hand, Arsenal hit the post from a corner with set pieces being the specialty this season. The youngster Max Dowman crossed the ball to the back post and Trossard met it and tried to catch the keeper off guard with a header straight at goal. It struck the post and was cleared by Sporting. 

Sporting did nearly get their goal with the last attack of the game but it was agonisingly past the post. Arsenal head to their second semi-final in as many years where they will meet Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.