The UEFA Champions League quarter-final first legs take place on Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 April 2026, with four blockbuster ties across Europe’s most prestigious club competition. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain host Liverpool, Real Madrid welcome Bayern Munich to the Santiago Bernabeu, Barcelona face Atletico Madrid in a fiery Spanish derby, and Sporting CP take on Arsenal in Lisbon. With a place in the semi-finals at stake, these two nights promise some of the highest-quality football of the season.
What Are the Champions League Quarter-Final First Legs?
The quarter-finals represent the last eight stage of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, the premier European club football competition. Following the new league phase format introduced in 2024-25, 36 teams competed in a single league table before a knockout playoff round reduced the field to 16. The round of 16 then whittled the competition down to eight clubs, who now contest two-legged quarter-final ties.
Each tie is played over two matches: a first leg at one team’s ground and a second leg at the other. The aggregate score across both legs determines who progresses. If the aggregate is level after both matches, extra time and penalties decide the outcome. The winners advance to the semi-finals on the road to the 2026 final in Budapest, Hungary.
Quarter-Final Matchups
The draw produced four outstanding ties, each with its own compelling narrative:
Sporting CP vs Arsenal (Tuesday 7 April, Lisbon): Arsenal topped the league phase with a perfect record, becoming the first team in the competition’s history to win all eight league phase matches. They scored the most goals and kept five clean sheets. Sporting CP, the Portuguese champions, represent a dangerous but beatable opponent for the Gunners.
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich (Tuesday 7 April, Madrid): A meeting of two of the most decorated clubs in Champions League history. Real Madrid hold a record 15 titles, while Bayern have lifted the trophy six times. This is a repeat of the 2023-24 semi-final, which Real Madrid won on their way to their most recent European crown.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid (Wednesday 8 April, Barcelona): An all-Spanish affair at Camp Nou, recently reopened after extensive renovations. Barcelona’s attacking firepower, spearheaded by Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, meets Diego Simeone’s famously resolute Atletico defence in what promises to be a tactically absorbing encounter.
PSG vs Liverpool (Wednesday 8 April, Paris): The defending champions host an English side with deep Champions League pedigree. PSG claimed their first ever Champions League title last season with a stunning 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the final, and they will be keen to prove that triumph was no one-off.
When Are the Champions League Quarter-Final First Legs?
The first legs are spread across two evenings:
Tuesday 7 April 2026:
- Sporting CP vs Arsenal, kick-off 21:00 CET (20:00 BST / 15:00 ET)
- Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich, kick-off 21:00 CET (20:00 BST / 15:00 ET)
Wednesday 8 April 2026:
- Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid, kick-off 21:00 CET (20:00 BST / 15:00 ET)
- PSG vs Liverpool, kick-off 21:00 CET (20:00 BST / 15:00 ET)
The second legs follow one week later on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 April, with the home and away sides reversed.
Where Are the Matches Being Played?
Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon (Sporting CP vs Arsenal): Sporting’s 50,095-capacity home ground, opened in 2003 and set in the northern part of Lisbon. It hosted several matches during Euro 2004 and served as a neutral venue for Champions League fixtures during the 2020 pandemic tournament.
Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid (Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich): One of football’s most iconic stadiums, recently transformed through a spectacular renovation that has given it a retractable roof, a wraparound screen, and a capacity of approximately 83,000. It has hosted four European Cup and Champions League finals.
Camp Nou, Barcelona (Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid): Barcelona returned to their famous home in November 2025 following over two years of renovation work. The stadium is currently operating at a reduced capacity of around 46,000, with full completion of the redevelopment scheduled for June 2026.
Parc des Princes, Paris (PSG vs Liverpool): The 47,929-capacity stadium in the 16th arrondissement of Paris has been PSG’s home since 1974. While compact by Champions League standards, the Parc generates one of the most intense atmospheres in European football on big nights.
Key Contenders
Arsenal enter the quarter-finals as many pundits’ favourites to win the competition outright. Their flawless league phase campaign was built on defensive solidity and the brilliance of Bukayo Saka, who passed 50 league goals and 250 total appearances for the club recently. Mikel Arteta’s side have matured into genuine contenders after several seasons of progress.
Real Madrid may have lost their European crown last season, falling to Arsenal in the quarter-finals, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side remain formidable. Kylian Mbappe has elevated his game to new heights this season, making the Santiago Bernabeu a daunting destination for any opponent. He faces a mouth-watering duel with Harry Kane, Bayern’s prolific striker and a leading Ballon d’Or contender.
PSG, the defending champions, looked sharp in dismantling Chelsea in the round of 16. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola have found their best form at the right time, while Ousmane Dembele’s return from injury adds another dimension. Liverpool, six-time European champions themselves, will provide a stern test of Paris’s credentials.
Barcelona possess two of Europe’s most fearsome attacking talents in Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, as evidenced by their 7-2 demolition of Newcastle earlier in the competition. However, Hansi Flick’s insistence on a high defensive line has left them vulnerable at the back, something Atletico Madrid’s counter-attacking style could exploit.
How to Watch
United Kingdom: TNT Sports holds the rights to the majority of Champions League matches, with games streamed live via the discovery+ app. Amazon Prime Video broadcasts select Tuesday night fixtures throughout the knockout stages, making it worth checking which specific matches each broadcaster covers. TNT Sports is available from around £25 per month, while Prime Video is included with an Amazon Prime subscription (£8.99 per month).
United States: CBS Sports is the exclusive English-language home for the Champions League through the 2029-30 season. The vast majority of matches are streamed live on Paramount+, with selected marquee fixtures also airing on the CBS broadcast network or CBS Sports Network.
Europe and beyond: DAZN holds rights in several European markets including Germany, Italy, and Spain. Canal+ broadcasts in France, while Movistar+ covers Spain alongside DAZN. In Australia, Stan Sport carries the competition. Fans in other territories should check UEFA’s official broadcast partner list for local coverage.
History and Records
The Champions League quarter-final stage has produced some of the competition’s most memorable moments. The record for goals in a single knockout match was set when Bayern Munich defeated Barcelona 8-2 in the 2019-20 quarter-finals, a result that sent shockwaves through European football. Cristiano Ronaldo remains the all-time leading scorer at the quarter-final stage with 25 goals, well clear of Lionel Messi on 12.
Several of this year’s ties echo famous encounters from the past. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have met 26 times in European competition, making it one of the most played fixtures in the history of the tournament. Their 2023-24 semi-final saw Real Madrid prevail in dramatic fashion at the Bernabeu. Roma’s legendary 2017-18 comeback against Barcelona (overturning a 4-1 first-leg deficit) and Ajax’s 2018-19 demolition of holders Real Madrid at the Bernabeu are reminders that no lead is safe at this stage of the competition.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for Champions League quarter-final matches are sold directly by each home club, not through UEFA centrally (unlike the final). Fans should visit the official websites of Sporting CP, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and PSG for availability and pricing. Most clubs prioritise season ticket holders and members, with any remaining allocation released to the general public.
On the secondary market, prices vary significantly by fixture. Tickets for high-demand matches such as Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich can command premium prices, with resale platforms listing seats from approximately £150 upwards. Fans are advised to purchase only through official club channels or UEFA-approved resale partners to avoid counterfeit tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Champions League quarter-final first legs kick off?
The first legs take place on Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 April 2026, with all matches kicking off at 21:00 CET (20:00 BST, 15:00 ET).
What are the quarter-final matchups?
Sporting CP vs Arsenal, Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich, Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid, and PSG vs Liverpool.
How can I watch the Champions League quarter-finals?
In the UK, matches are shown on TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video. In the US, coverage is on Paramount+ and CBS. DAZN holds rights in several European markets.
Who won the Champions League last season?
Paris Saint-Germain won their first Champions League title in 2024-25, defeating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final at the Allianz Arena in Munich.