The UEFA Champions League semi-final second legs take place on Tuesday 5 May and Wednesday 6 May 2026, bringing the penultimate stage of European club football’s premier competition to its decisive conclusion. With places in the Budapest final at stake, these return fixtures carry enormous weight, and the two-legged semi-final format has produced some of the most dramatic nights in the competition’s history.
What Are the Champions League Semi-Final Second Legs?
The Champions League semi-finals are played over two legs, with each of the four remaining clubs hosting one match. The second legs determine which two teams will contest the final at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest on 30 May 2026. Aggregate scores from both legs decide the tie, with away goals no longer carrying additional weight following UEFA’s rule change in 2021. If the aggregate score is level after 180 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time are played, followed by a penalty shootout if required.
The 2025/26 Champions League features a revamped format introduced in the previous season, with 36 teams competing in a single league phase before the knockout rounds. The quarter-final pairings for this season are Sporting CP vs Arsenal, Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich, Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool. The winners of these ties will progress to the semi-finals, with the bracket determining which sides meet at this stage.
When Are the Champions League Semi-Final Second Legs?
The second legs are scheduled for Tuesday 5 May and Wednesday 6 May 2026, with kick-off times at 21:00 CEST (20:00 BST / 15:00 ET) on both evenings. The first legs take place the previous week on 28 and 29 April 2026. The specific fixture allocation for each night will be confirmed by UEFA following the quarter-final results.
Where Are the Champions League Semi-Final Second Legs?
The second legs are hosted by the clubs drawn at home for the return fixture. The venues will depend on which teams progress through the quarter-finals, but the stadiums of this season’s last eight offer some of football’s most iconic settings. Potential hosts include the Santiago Bernabeu (Madrid, capacity 81,044), the Allianz Arena (Munich, 75,024), Camp Nou (Barcelona, currently under renovation with reduced capacity), the Parc des Princes (Paris, 47,929), Anfield (Liverpool, 61,276), and the Emirates Stadium (London, 60,704), among others. Each of these grounds has its own distinct European night atmosphere, and the second leg in particular tends to generate an electric environment as the home crowd senses the opportunity to reach the final.
Key Contenders
The quarter-final draw has set up four compelling ties. Real Madrid, the competition’s most successful club with 15 titles, face a stern test against Bayern Munich, winners of six European Cups. Both sides have pedigree at this stage, and their meetings have produced classic encounters in recent years, including Real Madrid’s remarkable comeback in 2022.
Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, continue to build their European credentials after reaching the quarter-finals for the second consecutive season. They face Sporting CP, who staged a stunning second-leg comeback against Bodo/Glimt in the round of 16. Paris Saint-Germain take on Liverpool in a repeat of several memorable European ties, while the all-Spanish clash between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid promises tactical intrigue and local rivalry.
The defending champions from the 2024/25 season will be looking to retain their crown, but the depth of quality across the last eight means predicting the semi-finalists remains genuinely difficult. The second legs will reward composure, tactical intelligence, and big-game mentality.
How to Watch
In the United Kingdom, Champions League coverage is shared between TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video. TNT Sports hold the rights to the majority of matches, including the semi-finals and final, and can be accessed via the HBO Max streaming platform (£25.99 per month) or added to Sky and Virgin Media packages. Amazon Prime Video holds first pick of Tuesday night fixtures, meaning one of the two second legs may be available to Prime subscribers (£8.99 per month) at no additional cost.
In the United States, every Champions League match is available on Paramount+, with plans starting at $8 per month for Essential or $13 per month for Premium. Select high-profile matches are also broadcast on the CBS linear network and CBS Sports Network. Paramount+ offers a Multiview feature allowing fans to watch multiple matches simultaneously.
In Germany, DAZN and Amazon Prime Video share coverage. In Australia, Stan Sport holds exclusive rights (from AUD $20 per month on top of a standard Stan subscription). Across much of Europe and beyond, DAZN is a primary broadcaster, while other regional partners include beIN Sports (Middle East and North Africa), Sony Sports Network (India), and various local broadcasters across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Full broadcast partner details are available on UEFA’s official website.
History and Records
The Champions League semi-final second leg has been the setting for some of the competition’s most unforgettable moments. Liverpool’s 4-0 victory over Barcelona at Anfield in May 2019 stands as perhaps the greatest second-leg comeback in the tournament’s history. Trailing 3-0 from the first leg, goals from Divock Origi (two), and Georginio Wijnaldum (two) completed a remarkable turnaround, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quick-thinking corner kick becoming one of the competition’s most iconic moments.
That same season, Tottenham Hotspur produced their own semi-final miracle in Amsterdam, overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit after falling 2-0 down on the night to Ajax. Lucas Moura’s 96th-minute winner, completing his hat-trick, sent Spurs to their first ever Champions League final. In 1999, Manchester United trailed Juventus 2-0 within 11 minutes of the second leg in Turin before fighting back to win 3-2 and advance 4-3 on aggregate, en route to their famous treble.
Real Madrid hold the record for the most Champions League semi-final appearances, reflecting their unmatched pedigree in the competition. The biggest away victory in a semi-final second leg came when Real Madrid defeated Bayern Munich 4-0 at the Allianz Arena in 2014. The highest-scoring semi-final tie in the Champions League era was the 2018 meeting between Liverpool and Roma, which produced 13 goals across the two legs.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for Champions League semi-final matches are distributed primarily through the participating clubs, with each home team managing sales for their respective fixture. Availability is typically limited to season ticket holders and members first, with any remaining allocation released to the general public. Demand for semi-final tickets vastly exceeds supply, and matches at this stage are almost always sold out.
Prices vary depending on the host club and stadium, but supporters should expect to pay between £50 and £250 for standard seats at face value. Away supporters receive a guaranteed allocation from UEFA. Hospitality packages, where available, can range from several hundred to several thousand pounds depending on the venue and the package tier. Fans are strongly advised to purchase only through official club channels or UEFA’s ticketing platform to avoid fraudulent resellers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Champions League semi-final second legs take place?
The second legs are on Tuesday 5 May and Wednesday 6 May 2026, with kick-off at 21:00 CEST (20:00 BST) on both nights.
Where are the Champions League semi-final second legs being held?
The venues depend on which teams progress from the quarter-finals. The second legs are hosted by the clubs drawn at home for the return fixture.
How can I watch the Champions League semi-finals?
In the UK, coverage is on TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video. In the US, all matches are on Paramount+. DAZN covers much of Europe and other international markets.
Who won the Champions League last season?
The 2024/25 Champions League final was held at the Allianz Arena in Munich, with the winning side earning the right to defend their title in the 2025/26 edition culminating in Budapest.