Champions League Semi-Finals 2026: PSG vs Bayern and Arsenal vs Atletico Preview

The quarter-finals of the Champions League are in the books and the semi-finalists have been confirmed. With a two-legged tie being all that separates each club from a date in Budapest, all four teams can now start dreaming of lifting the famous European silverware.

Paris Saint-Germain are still looking to defend their crown, having demolished Liverpool 4-0 on aggregate in the last-eight. But Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich will all be aiming to eliminate the reigning champions.

With only the best teams in the competition now remaining, there are no easy fixtures. Teams will have to be at their best for the semi-finals, which are set to be a fascinating watch for neutrals and nail-biting for supporters.

PSG vs Bayern: The match to decide the eventual champion?

If there’s a team that is best placed to end PSG’s Champions League run, it’s most likely Bayern Munich. The Bavarian side already holds an edge over their opponents this season, having beaten them 2-1 in the competition back in November 2025.

At that time, though, PSG wasn’t performing at its highest level. Since the knockouts began, Luis Enrique’s side has found a new gear, sweeping aside Chelsea with an 8-2 aggregate score before then looking relatively untroubled against Liverpool.

Willian Pacho and Marquinhos look imperious in the heart of the defence. And with all of Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia all scoring with regularity, Les Parisiens look like a complete team. 

Currently, PSG are considered outsiders to win the tie, and indeed the competition, by sportsbooks. But readers who wish to back the French club can bet on the match using a dafabet bonus code.

However, Bayern will be a bigger test than the two Premier League teams PSG beat en route to the semi-final. The German giants’ attack is a different proposition to anyone PSG has played in the knockout stage. 

Harry Kane is the competition’s second-highest goalscorer with 12 strikes, while Luis Diaz and Michael Olise also pose significant threats. The question will be whether Bayern’s backline, which was exposed in their 6-4 aggregate win against Real Madrid, will hold firm in the semi-finals.

Considering how dominant both teams have looked at points, this could very well be the tie that decides the eventual Champions League winners. Nevertheless, the two teams on the other side of the draw are not easy propositions.

Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal: Two teams seeking maiden Champions League

While the opposite side of the draw features two former Champions League winners, both Atletico Madrid and Arsenal are hoping to lift the trophy for the first time. Each has come close, with Atleti reaching the final on three occasions, while Arsenal lost out in 2006 against Barcelona. 

Nevertheless, the performances of both clubs in 2025/26 show that they have the tools to win. Atletico Madrid came out on top against an elite Barcelona team, winning 3-2 on aggregate after a 2-0 victory in the first leg at the Camp Nou. Diego Simeone’s team is filled with tireless workers, while Julian Alvarez and Ademola Lookman spearhead a fearsome attacking unit.

Arsenal, meanwhile, has looked strong both domestically and in Europe throughout the season. Mikel Arteta’s defensive setup has seen them keep eight clean sheets in the competition – more than any other team – while the danger that they pose from set-pieces requires close attention.

Although the Gunners beat Atletico 4-0 when the two teams met back in October 2025, the tie might well be decided by a single goal, as it was when the Gunners beat Sporting 1-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. 

Currently, Arsenal are the favorites for the tie among sportsbooks. But as fans have seen over the years, you cannot write off Diego Simeone’s Rojiblancos.

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