The UEFA Champions League quarter-final second legs take place on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 April 2026, with four ties reaching their conclusion across Europe. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain travel to Anfield to face Liverpool, Atletico Madrid host Barcelona in a fiery Madrid derby, Bayern Munich welcome Real Madrid to the Allianz Arena, and Arsenal entertain Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium. All four matches kick off at 21:00 CET (20:00 BST), with semi-final places at stake in what promises to be a decisive two nights of European football.
What Are the Champions League Quarter-Final Second Legs?
The quarter-final second legs are the return fixtures in the last-eight stage of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League. Each tie is decided on aggregate over two legs, with the away goals rule no longer in effect following its removal in 2021. If the aggregate score is level after 180 minutes, extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout determine which team progresses to the semi-finals.
The 2025-26 Champions League uses the revamped Swiss-model league phase introduced the previous season, with 36 teams competing in a single league before the top 24 advance through playoff and knockout rounds. The quarter-final draw was predetermined by the league phase standings, with higher-ranked teams earning home advantage in the second leg. That structure means Arsenal, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Atletico Madrid all host the return fixtures, having finished above their respective opponents in the league phase.
When Are the Champions League Quarter-Final Second Legs?
The second legs are spread across two nights:
Tuesday 14 April 2026
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona, 21:00 CET (20:00 BST / 15:00 ET)
Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain, 21:00 CET (20:00 BST / 15:00 ET)
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, 21:00 CET (20:00 BST / 15:00 ET)
Arsenal vs Sporting CP, 21:00 CET (20:00 BST / 15:00 ET)
The winners advance to the semi-finals on 28-29 April, with the final scheduled for 30 May at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
Where Are the Quarter-Final Second Legs?
Each second leg is hosted at the home ground of the higher-seeded team from the league phase:
Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid (Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona): Atletico’s 70,460-capacity home, officially renamed through a sponsorship deal, hosts the Madrid-Barcelona rivalry on European football’s biggest stage.
Anfield, Liverpool (Liverpool vs PSG): One of European football’s most iconic venues, Anfield holds 61,276 following the completion of the Anfield Road End expansion. The stadium has been the backdrop for some of the Champions League’s most memorable nights, none more so than the 4-0 demolition of Barcelona in 2019.
Allianz Arena, Munich (Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid): Bayern’s 75,000-capacity home has hosted numerous classic European encounters. The retractable exterior lighting panels make it one of the most distinctive stadiums in world football.
Emirates Stadium, London (Arsenal vs Sporting CP): Arsenal’s 60,704-capacity ground in north London provides the setting for the Gunners’ pursuit of Champions League glory. The club is exploring expansion plans that could eventually push the stadium past the 70,000 mark.
Key Contenders
Arsenal topped the league phase with a perfect 8-0-0 record, scoring 23 goals and conceding just four. No team has previously achieved a flawless winning record in the Champions League league phase, and the Gunners are the tournament favourites heading into the knockout rounds. Their defensive solidity, combined with firepower across the pitch, makes them the side every remaining team would prefer to avoid.
Paris Saint-Germain are the defending champions after their historic 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the 2025 final, the club’s first-ever Champions League title. Their title defence has been emphatic in the knockout rounds, with an 8-2 aggregate demolition of Chelsea in the round of 16 demonstrating that Luis Enrique’s squad remain a potent force in Europe.
Liverpool booked their quarter-final place with a commanding 4-0 win over Galatasaray at Anfield, a performance described as their best of the season. Mohamed Salah was central to the display, and Liverpool’s record in European competition at Anfield gives them a formidable home advantage for the second leg against PSG.
Bayern Munich have been devastating in the knockout phase, recording a staggering 10-2 aggregate victory over Atalanta and defeating PSG away from home with 10 men during the league phase. Vincent Kompany’s side combine defensive organisation with lethal attacking quality, and their second-leg hosting of Real Madrid sets up a renewal of European football’s most-played fixture.
Real Madrid have won the Champions League a record 15 times and never lack belief in this competition. Their meeting with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena reprises a rivalry that has produced 28 previous encounters, more than any other pairing in Champions League history. Madrid eliminated Bayern at the semi-final stage in 2023-24 and will carry that psychological edge into this year’s tie.
Barcelona were imperious in dispatching Newcastle 7-2 at Camp Nou in the round of 16 second leg, a display of attacking brilliance that served as a reminder of their credentials. The Spanish giants face a hostile atmosphere at the Metropolitano, where Atletico’s intensity and physicality make them dangerous opponents in any knockout tie.
Atletico Madrid reached the quarter-finals with a 7-5 aggregate victory over Tottenham, complemented by their Copa del Rey triumph over Barcelona. Diego Simeone’s side thrive in knockout football and will back themselves to cause an upset on home turf against their Catalan rivals.
Sporting CP are the underdogs of the last eight but have already demonstrated remarkable resilience. Their epic comeback from three goals down against Bodo/Glimt, winning 5-0 on the night in extra time to progress 5-3 on aggregate, was one of the great Champions League revival stories. They travel to the Emirates as outsiders but with nothing to lose.
How to Watch
United Kingdom: TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video share live broadcast rights for the Champions League in the UK. Amazon Prime Video has first pick of the Tuesday fixtures, with TNT Sports broadcasting all remaining matches. TNT Sports content is streamed via HBO Max (from March 2026), while Prime Video requires a standard membership (£8.99 per month). BBC Sport holds highlights rights. TNT Sports is available for £30.99 per month.
United States: Paramount+ is the primary streaming destination, with select matches simulcast on CBS and CBS Sports. DAZN also carries seven additional matches across the knockout rounds, including all four quarter-finals, shared with TelevisaUnivision for Spanish-language coverage.
Europe: DAZN holds rights in multiple European markets including Germany, Italy, and Spain. Canal+ broadcasts in France, while Movistar+ provides coverage in Spain alongside DAZN. In Germany, Amazon Prime Video shares rights with DAZN for select Tuesday fixtures.
Rest of World: Sony Sports Network covers the Indian subcontinent, beIN Sports broadcasts across the Middle East and North Africa, and Stan Sport provides coverage in Australia.
History and Records
The Champions League quarter-finals have produced some of the competition’s most dramatic moments, particularly in second legs where teams have overturned first-leg deficits. Barcelona’s “La Remontada” against PSG in 2016-17 remains the gold standard: trailing 4-0 from the first leg, Barcelona scored six goals at Camp Nou, with Sergi Roberto’s 95th-minute winner completing the most remarkable comeback in Champions League history.
Liverpool’s 4-0 second-leg victory over Barcelona at Anfield in the 2018-19 semi-finals is another legendary turnaround, with Divock Origi’s quick corner goal becoming one of the competition’s most iconic moments. The Reds went on to win the final that year. Deportivo La Coruna’s 4-0 second-leg dismantling of defending champions AC Milan in 2003-04 and Manchester United’s stoppage-time comeback against PSG in 2018-19 further illustrate that no deficit is truly safe in European football’s premier knockout competition.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have the distinction of being the most frequent opponents in Champions League history, with 28 previous meetings. Real Madrid lead the all-time head-to-head with 13 wins to Bayern’s 11, with four draws. Despite the volume of encounters, the two clubs have never met in a Champions League final.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the quarter-final second legs are sold directly through each host club’s official channels. UEFA does not sell individual match tickets for rounds prior to the final. Availability varies by fixture: Arsenal and Liverpool matches are typically among the most in-demand in European football, with season ticket holders and members receiving priority access.
On the secondary market, prices start from approximately £150 for Sporting CP vs Arsenal (first leg at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, capacity 52,095), with prices for the more high-profile ties considerably higher. Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid and Liverpool vs PSG command premium prices given the stature of the clubs involved.
For the 2026 Champions League Final in Budapest, general public ticket sales are conducted via UEFA.com, with ballot applications typically opening several weeks before the match.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Champions League quarter-final second legs take place?
The second legs are on Tuesday 14 April and Wednesday 15 April 2026. All four matches kick off at 21:00 CET (20:00 BST, 15:00 ET).
Which teams are playing in the quarter-final second legs?
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona and Liverpool vs PSG on Tuesday 14 April. Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid and Arsenal vs Sporting CP on Wednesday 15 April.
How can I watch the Champions League quarter-finals?
In the UK, coverage is shared between TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video. In the US, Paramount+ is the primary broadcaster, with select matches on CBS. DAZN covers multiple European and international markets.
Who won the Champions League last year?
Paris Saint-Germain won their first Champions League title in 2024-25, defeating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. PSG are defending their title this season and face Liverpool in the quarter-finals.
When is the 2026 Champions League Final?
The final takes place on Saturday 30 May 2026 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.