Champions League Semis
- UEFA confirmed the Champions League semifinal pairings: Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich. (uefa.com) - Business Standard notes the first legs begin around April 28–29, with Vitinha’s fitness a question for PSG ahead of Bayern. ( ) - BBC reported Arsenal reached the semis after drawing with Sporting, confirming their route to this stage. (bbc.com)
The Champions League semifinals are set: Arsenal face Atlético Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain meet Bayern Munich over two legs starting next week. (uefa.com) UEFA says Paris Saint-Germain host Bayern Munich on Tuesday, April 28, and Atlético host Arsenal on Wednesday, April 29. The return legs are scheduled for May 5 at Arsenal and May 6 at Bayern. (uefa.com) Arsenal reached the last four after a 0-0 draw with Sporting CP on April 15 sealed a 1-0 aggregate win. UEFA’s match report said that sent Mikel Arteta’s side into a semifinal against Atlético. (bbc.com / uefa.com) The other side of the bracket came through heavier quarterfinals. UEFA’s fixtures page shows Paris Saint-Germain beat Liverpool 4-0 on aggregate, while Bayern Munich advanced 6-4 on aggregate against Real Madrid. (uefa.com) Atlético Madrid got here by knocking out Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate, according to UEFA’s results page. That leaves Diego Simeone’s team one round from a final in Budapest on May 30. (uefa.com / paramountplus.com) The semifinal format is the usual Champions League setup: home and away, aggregate score deciding who advances, with extra time and penalties if the teams are level after the second leg. beIN Sports’ schedule notes there is no away-goals rule. (beinsports.com) Paris Saint-Germain head into the Bayern tie with a fitness question in midfield. beIN Sports reported Vitinha suffered an injury against Lyon, and AFP said Luis Enrique was unsure on April 21 whether the Portugal international would be ready for the semifinal. (beinsports.com / sports.yahoo.com) For Arsenal, the semifinal is another step in a run that has leaned on defense as much as attack. BBC’s live report said the draw with Sporting was enough, and the Telegraph wrote that Arsenal have now reached consecutive Champions League semifinals for the first time. (bbc.com / telegraph.co.uk) The winners will play the final at Puskás Aréna in Budapest on Saturday, May 30. For now, the bracket has narrowed to four clubs from England, Spain, France and Germany, with the first leg in Paris arriving on April 28. (paramountplus.com / uefa.com)
