Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and Arsenal will contest the 2025/26 Champions League semi-finals, with the final set for May 30 at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna. The four clubs survived a quarter-final round that saw European giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona eliminated, leaving a mix of defending champions and historic underdogs to vie for the trophy.
The semi-final schedule begins on April 28
UEFA confirmed the matchups and timing for the penultimate stage of the competition. The first legs kick off at 21:00 CET, starting with Paris Saint-Germain hosting Bayern Munich on Tuesday, April 28. Atletico Madrid will face Arsenal on Wednesday, April 29.
The return fixtures take place one week later. Arsenal will host Atletico Madrid on May 5, followed by Bayern Munich welcoming PSG on May 6. The winners of these two-legged ties will meet in the final on Saturday, May 30, with a 18:00 CET kickoff in Hungary.
Why Arsenal’s current run breaks a 140-year pattern
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side enters the semi-finals having achieved a milestone the club has never reached in its 140-year history. The Gunners are now appearing in back-to-back semi-finals, a feat that signals a fundamental shift in the club’s European standing.
“It’s a massive moment,” Arteta told TNT Sports. He credited the players for their resilience, specifically citing a moment of internal accountability after a domestic defeat to Bournemouth. According to Arteta, the squad sat together, analyzed the failure face-to-face, and took ownership of the result before returning to the pitch.
Arsenal secured their place in the final four with a disciplined 0-0 draw against Sporting in the second leg, advancing 1-0 on aggregate thanks to a late goal from Kai Havertz in the first leg. The team’s current record in the competition stands at 10 wins, 0 draws, and 2 losses.
How the quarter-finals filtered the final four
Bayern Munich’s path to the semi-finals was the most volatile. They overcame Real Madrid 6-4 on aggregate in a match defined by sudden swings in momentum. A late 89th-minute goal from Luis Diaz broke a 4-4 deadlock, while Michael Olise added a final curling strike to seal the victory at the Allianz Arena.
Paris Saint-Germain delivered the most clinical performance of the round, dismantling Liverpool 4-0 on aggregate. PSG’s dominance in the quarter-finals followed a similarly ruthless last-16 showing where they beat Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate.
Atletico Madrid relied on Diego Simeone’s trademark defensive grit to edge out Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate. This victory follows a high-scoring last-16 encounter where they narrowly beat Tottenham 7-5 on aggregate.
In Budapest the tournament concludes on May 30
The road to the Puskás Aréna has been defined by high-scoring anomalies and surprising collapses. Bayern Munich’s journey included a staggering 10-2 aggregate win over Atalanta in the last-16, while Real Madrid’s exit was preceded by a 5-1 aggregate loss to Manchester City earlier in the tournament.
Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming tie against Atletico Madrid, noting the specific atmosphere of their stadium. The Gunners must now navigate a clash against a side that has proven capable of frustrating the league’s most potent attacks.
When are the semi-final matches played?
The first legs take place on April 28 (PSG vs Bayern Munich) and April 29 (Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal). The second legs follow on May 5 (Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid) and May 6 (Bayern Munich vs PSG).
Where will the final be held?
The final will take place on Saturday, May 30, at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.
What is the historical significance of Arsenal’s achievement?
What we have is the first time in Arsenal’s 140-year history that the club has reached the Champions League semi-finals in back-to-back seasons.
