Champions League 2025/26: PSG & Bayern on course for semi-final showdown

With the first-leg matches in the 2025/26 Champions League quarter-finals now completed, the potential last-four line-up is a little clearer.

Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Arsenal are each ahead in their respective ties and well-placed to progress to the semi-finals.

Online bookmakers rate Arsenal as the favourites to lift the trophy, but it would be foolish to think the outcome is a foregone conclusion.

Bettors who use crypto casino deposit bonus offers to wager on games such as blackjack and roulette may feel that PSG or Bayern are better value bets.

Both teams produced dominant first leg performances to keep themselves firmly on course for a blockbuster showdown in the semi-finals.

Read on as we look at the state of play in each quarter-final tie and predict who we think will make it through to the next stage of the competition.

Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain (PSG lead 2-0)

Paris Saint-Germain will head to Anfield with a two-goal advantage in their quarter-final tie. However, they should already be through to the next round.

The reigning champions left Liverpool chasing shadows at the Parc des Princes and should really have put the tie to bed before the trip to Liverpool.

There will be plenty of nonsensical rhetoric about ‘famous comebacks’ ahead of the second leg, but it would be a major surprise if PSG fail to complete the job done.

Liverpool were second best in every department and the Ligue 1 giants will dump them out of the competition next week.

Prediction: PSG to progress.

Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (Bayern lead 2-1)

Tuesday’s fixture at the Bernabeu Stadium between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich bore all the hallmarks of entertaining clash in the NBA.

Both sides had 20 shots as they threw caution to the wind on a breathless night in Spain. The home side were particularly vulnerable as Bayern sparkled.

While Bayern will undoubtedly fancy their chances of progressing to the semi-finals, they must not make the mistake of underestimating the 15-time European champions.

Madrid could still go through if Kylian Mbappe produces something special, but Bayern should have enough about them to get over the line.

Prediction: Bayern to progress.

Arsenal vs Sporting CP (Arsenal lead 1-0)

It would be fair to say that Arsenal and Sporting CP did not give fans in Portugal too much to cheer about in their first meeting.

The game was a war of attrition as both sides struggled to create any meaningful chances. Kai Havertz’s late goal ultimately gave Arsenal a crucial advantage.

The Gunners should be able to fend off Sporting at the Emirates Stadium to set up a semi-final meeting with Atletico or Barcelona.

However, they will need to step things up if they go through, as this level of performance will not be good enough against either of the Spanish giants.

Prediction: Arsenal to progress.

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona (Atletico lead 2-0)

Atletico capitalised on Pau Cubarsi’s dismissal to put themselves in pole position to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2016/17.

Barcelona will believe they could still turn things around having recorded a 2-1 league victory over Atletico at the Metropolitano Stadium last weekend.

The La Liga leaders have scored 127 goals across all competitions and still posed a threat to Atletico despite being down to ten men.

However, Diego Simeone’s side are generally a tough nut to crack on their own patch and they should emerge victorious.

Prediction: Atletico to progress.

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