Arsenal draws with Sporting, Bayern Munich defeats Real Madrid in UEFA Champions League
Topic:UEFA Champions League
12m ago12 minutes agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 9:49pm
Soccer ball resting on the back of a player, while a defender is trying to take the ball
Arsenal was not convincing, but it has advanced to the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League. (Reuters: Hannah Mckay)
In short:
Arsenal is through to the UEFA Champions League semifinals after securing the draw it needed against Portuguese side Sporting.
Bayern Munich defeated Real Madrid 4-3 in a thrilling second leg of their quarterfinal.
What's next?
Arsenal will face Atlético Madrid in the semifinals, while Bayern Munich will play Paris Saint-Germain.
English Premier League leaders Arsenal have advanced to the UEFA Champions League semifinals for the second consecutive year, holding Portuguese side Sporting to a goalless draw to progress 1-0 on aggregate.
Meanwhile, German giants Bayern Munich are through to the semifinals after scoring two late goals to win a thrilling tie against Real Madrid.
Arsenal were far from convincing as they held on to the lead given to them by Kai Havertz's stoppage-time goal in Lisbon last week.
The well-organised visitors posed a threat at times and almost went ahead on the night shortly before half-time when Geny Catamo's volley clipped the outside of the post.
Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard also struck the woodwork in the tense latter stages of a dour game in which Sporting ran out of ideas and could not prevent the hosts keeping an eighth clean sheet in 12 Champions League games this season to set up a semifinal clash with Atlético Madrid.
While the result was ultimately all that mattered, Arsenal again lacked spark and suffered an injury scare ahead of Sunday's colossal Premier League clash at Manchester City when Noni Madueke was forced off after a bang to the knee.
"We are delighted. It was a really tough test over two games," Arsenal captain Declan Rice said.
"To get to back-to-back semi-finals is an amazing achievement and now we want to go one step further."
Arsenal bowed out in the semifinals last season to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain, and they will have to improve against a dangerous Atlético side if they are to reach the final for only the second time, having lost to Barcelona in 2006.
As huge as Wednesday's match was, the looming clash with Manchester City that could make or break Arsenal's Premier League title quest was impossible to ignore.
Arsenal appeared to play with the handbrake on, managing only one effort on target.
They could have paid the price, with Sporting's Joao Simoes going agonisingly close with a shot with the last kick of the game.
Bayern late show sinks Real Madrid in epic quarterfinal
Bayern Munich's Luis Diaz and Michael Olise scored late goals to give the hosts a dramatic 4-3 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals, winning the tie 6-4 on aggregate.
Diaz struck in the 89th minute, and Olise in stoppage time, to seal Bayern's place in the semis, where they will play holders Paris Saint-Germain.
In a pulsating first half, Real took the lead three times, with Arda Guler pouncing on a terrible mistake by Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer in the first minute before whipping a free kick into the top corner in the 29th, after Bayern had levelled through an Aleksandar Pavlović header.
Harry Kane put the hosts, 2-1 winners in the first leg in Spain, level with his 12th goal in the competition this season before the visitors hit the woodwork through Vinicius Jr., who delivered a perfect assist in the 42nd minute for Kylian Mbappe to make it 3-2.
Real were reduced to 10 men in the 86th minute after substitute Eduardo Camavinga earned his second booking and Bayern took full advantage.
UEFA Champions League semifinals
Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich
First leg: Wednesday, April 29, 5am
Second leg: Thursday, May 7, 5am
Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid
First leg: Thursday, April 30, 5am
Second leg: Wednesday, May 6, 5am
All times in AEST
Reuters
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Posted12m ago12 minutes agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 9:49pm
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