The first two semifinalists of the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League are confirmed: Paris Saint‑Germain and Atlético Madrid. Both teams advanced on Tuesday night after decisive quarterfinal second‑leg performances that eliminated Liverpool and Barcelona, respectively.
At Anfield, PSG silenced the home crowd with a 2–0 victory, repeating the scoreline from the first leg in Paris. Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, struck twice in the second half to seal a 4–0 aggregate triumph. The French champions, managed by Luis Enrique, are now one step closer to defending their European crown — a feat achieved only once in the modern era by Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018. “It’s difficult to defend the Champions League, but we’re here again, and we’ll make the most of it,” Enrique told reporters after the match.
Meanwhile, in Madrid, Atlético endured a tense evening against Barcelona. Despite losing 2–1 at the Metropolitano, Diego Simeone’s side progressed 3–2 on aggregate thanks to their 2–0 win in the first leg. Barça struck early through Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, but Ademola Lookman responded swiftly to restore Atlético’s advantage. The visitors’ hopes faded after Eric García was sent off in the 79th minute, and Atlético held firm to reach their first semifinal since 2017.
According to World Soccer Talk, both clubs will receive around €15 million ($17.6 million) in prize money for reaching the semifinals, adding to their already substantial earnings from earlier rounds.
The remaining quarterfinals take place tonight: Arsenal host Sporting CP after winning 1–0 in Lisbon, while Bayern Munich face Real Madrid with a 2–1 advantage from the first leg. The winners will meet Atlético and PSG in the semifinals, scheduled for April 28–29 and May 5–6, with the final set for May 30 at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.
For PSG, the challenge is to maintain momentum and chase back‑to‑back titles. For Atlético, it’s a return to Europe’s elite stage under Simeone’s trademark resilience. As the competition narrows to four, the Champions League promises another thrilling chapter in football’s most prestigious tournament.