Champions League semis locked

The Champions League semifinals are set, with Atlético Madrid facing Arsenal and Bayern Munich meeting Paris Saint-Germain over two legs later this month. (uefa.com) UEFA confirmed the semifinals on April 14 after the quarterfinals ended, with first legs on April 28-29 and second legs on May 5-6. Atlético host Arsenal at the Metropolitano on Wednesday, April 29, while Bayern travel to Paris on Tuesday, April 28. (uefa.com; fcbayern.com; arsenal.com) The four clubs advanced through quarterfinals decided by narrow aggregate margins. Atlético beat Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate, Arsenal eliminated Sporting CP 1-0, Bayern knocked out Real Madrid 6-4, and Paris Saint-Germain beat Liverpool 2-0. (arsenal.com; uefa.com; uefa.com) Arsenal’s place carries a club milestone: the London side reached back-to-back European Cup or Champions League semifinals for the first time in its history. The club said that run followed a 1-0 aggregate win over Sporting CP. (arsenal.com) Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain renew one of the competition’s recent heavyweight matchups. UEFA’s official site highlighted the 2020 final between the clubs, won 1-0 by Bayern, as the semifinal field was finalized this week. (uefa.com) Atlético and Arsenal also have recent Champions League history this season. UEFA’s competition page lists a league-phase meeting that Arsenal won 4-0, giving the semifinal a rematch angle before the first leg in Madrid. (uefa.com) The winners will advance to the 2026 Champions League final, which UEFA has scheduled for Saturday, May 30. The semifinal bracket will decide which survivor comes out of Madrid-London and which emerges from Paris-Munich. (uefa.com) The next step comes quickly: Bayern-Paris Saint-Germain opens the semifinals on April 28, and Atlético-Arsenal follows on April 29, with the return legs a week later. (uefa.com; fcbayern.com; arsenal.com)