FC Bayern Munich booked their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals after a dramatic 6-4 aggregate victory over Real Madrid.

The tie took a decisive turn late on when Madrid were reduced to ten men following an 86th-minute red card to Eduardo Camavinga. Bayern capitalized on the advantage, with late goals from Luis Díaz and Michael Olise sealing progression for Vincent Kompany’s side.

Despite a spirited first-half display from Madrid, with Arda Güler netting twice and Kylian Mbappé also on target, the Spanish giants fell short and now risk ending the season without silverware.

Arsenal FC also advanced after a goalless draw against Sporting CP in the second leg, progressing 1-0 on aggregate following their first-leg victory.

Atlético Madrid reached the semi-finals for the first time in nine years, overcoming FC Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate. This came despite a 2-1 defeat in the second leg, having secured a crucial 2-0 win in the first encounter.

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain progressed in dominant fashion, defeating Liverpool FC 4-0 on aggregate. Ousmane Dembélé starred with a brace in a 2-0 second-leg win at Anfield.

The semi-final fixtures are now set, with Bayern Munich facing Paris Saint-Germain, while Arsenal take on Atlético Madrid.

Semi-Final Fixtures:

First Legs

• April 28: Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich
• April 29: Atlético Madrid vs Arsenal

Second Legs

• May 5: Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid
• May 6: Bayern Munich vs Paris Saint-Germain

All matches kick off at 21:00 CET.

The final will be held on May 30 at the Puskás Aréna.

The road to European glory intensified last week as the knockout phase play-offs of the UEFA Champions League delivered drama, upsets and dominant performances, culminating in a blockbuster Round of 16 draw held on Friday, February 27, 2026.

After a week of high-stakes second-leg encounters, eight teams joined the league phase top seeds to complete the Round of 16 lineup.

Spanish giants Atlético Madrid produced a commanding 4–1 victory over Club Brugge to seal a 7–4 aggregate win. In Italy, however, it was heartbreak for Inter Milan, who fell 2–1 at home to Norway’s Bodø/Glimt, crashing out 5–2 on aggregate in one of the round’s biggest upsets.

Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen advanced comfortably after a 0–0 draw against Olympiacos ensured a 2–0 aggregate progression. Meanwhile, Newcastle United underlined their resurgence on the continental stage, edging Qarabağ 3–2 to complete an emphatic 9–3 aggregate triumph.

Italian side Atalanta overturned their tie in style, beating Borussia Dortmund 4–1 to progress 4–3 overall. Despite a 3–2 second-leg win, Juventus were eliminated as Galatasaray advanced 7–5 on aggregate.

In France, Paris Saint-Germain drew 2–2 with Monaco but progressed 5–4 overall, while defending champions Real Madrid secured a 2–1 victory over Benfica to advance 3–1 on aggregate.

English football continues to shine in Europe this season, with all six participating clubs reaching the Round of 16, a remarkable statement of dominance. Spain has three teams still in contention, Germany two, Italy just one, and France one following the play-off eliminations.

The seeded teams from the league phase — Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP and Manchester City — now prepare for stern tests against the play-off winners.

The February 27 draw produced several mouthwatering clashes:

• Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
• Real Madrid vs Manchester City
• Newcastle United vs Barcelona
• Bodø/Glimt vs Sporting CP
• Galatasaray vs Liverpool
• Atalanta vs Bayern Munich
• Atlético Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur
• Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal

With the knockout brackets now confirmed, the race for Champions League glory enters a decisive and electrifying stage.

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League round of 16 matches will be played in March 2026. The first legs are scheduled for March 10–11, 2026, and the second legs will follow on March 17–18, 2026.

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off fixtures have been confirmed, opening the door to a series of high-stakes two-legged encounters as clubs fight for a place in the Round of 16.

One of the standout ties will see Benfica face Real Madrid once again, renewing a rivalry that already delivered drama in the league phase. The Portuguese side defeated the Spanish giants 4–2 on Matchday 8, a result that proved decisive in securing their progression into the play-offs.

Benfica’s place was sealed in remarkable circumstances, with goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scoring deep into stoppage time in the 90+8th minute, a goal that ultimately sent the Lisbon club through on goal difference and underlined the razor-thin margins of the new competition format.

Elsewhere, the draw produced several compelling fixtures featuring Europe’s traditional heavyweights and emerging challengers.

Full Knockout Phase Play-Off fixtures

Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain

Galatasaray vs Juventus

Benfica vs Real Madrid

Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta

Qarabag vs Newcastle United

Club Brugge vs Atlético Madrid

Bodø/Glimt vs Inter Milan

Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen

The play-offs involve clubs that finished between ninth and 24th in the league phase, including Real Madrid, PSG, Juventus, Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid, reflecting the competitiveness introduced by the expanded Champions League structure.

The ties will be contested over two legs, with matches scheduled for 17/18 February and 24/25 February 2026, and the eight winners progressing to the Round of 16, with the draw set for 27 February 2026.

Real Madrid made their superiority count as they dispatched Borussia Dortmund to win the Champions League at Wembley.

The game had lots riding on it with both teams looking to win it as the days rolled by even on the final day.

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Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi missed two glorious chances in the first half to put his side ahead but for inefficiency, he failed to put the ball behind the net.

Towering forward, Niclas Fullkrug also got his chances to break the deadlock but his effort hit the post, with recalled Real keeper Thibaut Courtois also providing a formidable barrier.

The second saw the Spanish setup begin to assert supreme dominance creating a host of chances, Kroos’s two free kicks were met with equal saves by Kobel in post for Dortmund.

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A quarter to end the game, Dani Carvajal rose highest to head home the game’s opener sending the over 40, 0000 Madridistas present at Wembley into delirium pandemonium.

Youngster Jude Bellingham who had quiet an evening set Vinicius Jr on the road for the second goal on the night to quell any hopes of a comeback from the German outfit.

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The win saw Real Madrid claim its 15th crown, departing Toni Kroos, Carvajal, Nacho, and Luka Modric claimed Champions League winners’ medals for the sixth time, Carlo Ancelotti wrote more history with his fifth win as coach in the competition.