The UEFA Champions League, the most prestigious club competition in world football, has made a triumphant return for its second season under the new format. Promising even more excitement than the previous campaign, here is everything you need to follow this edition from start to the grand finale.
**The 2025/26 Champions League Final**
Paris Saint-Germain will face Arsenal in Budapest, Hungary, on May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Arena. Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00 CET, as confirmed by UEFA to facilitate fan travel and enjoyment.
**Semi-final Matchups**
– Semi-final 1: PSG vs Bayern Munich (6-5 on aggregate: 5-4 first leg, 1-1 second leg)
– Semi-final 2: Atlético Madrid vs Arsenal (1-2 on aggregate: 1-1 first leg, 1-0 second leg)
**Quarter-final Results**
– Quarter-final 1: PSG vs Liverpool (4-0 on aggregate: 2-0 first leg, 0-2 second leg)
– Quarter-final 2: Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich (4-6 on aggregate: 1-2 first leg, 4-3 second leg)
– Quarter-final 3: Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid (2-3 on aggregate: 0-2 first leg, 2-1 second leg)
– Quarter-final 4: Sporting CP vs Arsenal (0-1 on aggregate: 0-1 first leg, 0-0 second leg)
**Round of 16 Results**
The draw took place on February 27 in Nyon. After the ties were played, the following teams advanced (bold indicates qualifiers for the quarter-finals):
– PSG (11) vs Chelsea (6): 8-2
– Galatasaray (20) vs **Liverpool (3)**: 1-4
– **Real Madrid (9)** vs Manchester City (8): 5-1
– Atalanta (15) vs **Bayern Munich (2)**: 2-10
– Newcastle (12) vs **Barcelona (5)**: 3-8
– **Atlético Madrid (14)** vs Tottenham Hotspur (4): 7-5
– Bodo/Glimt (23) vs **Sporting CP (7)**: 3-5
– Bayer Leverkusen (16) vs **Arsenal (1)**: 1-3
**Play-off Results (positions in league phase in parentheses)**
– **Real Madrid (9)** vs Benfica (24): 3-1
– Inter Milan (10) vs **Bodo/Glimt (23)**: 2-5
– **PSG (11)** vs Monaco (21): 5-4
– **Newcastle (12)** vs Qarabag (22): 9-3
– Juventus (13) vs **Galatasaray (20)**: 5-7
– **Atlético Madrid (14)** vs Club Brugge (19): 7-4
– **Atalanta (15)** vs Borussia Dortmund (17): 4-3
– **Bayer Leverkusen (16)** vs Olympiacos (18): 2-0
**2025/26 Champions League Format**
Despite initial doubts, the revolutionary new league phase format proved a resounding success. More high-stakes matches between Europe’s elite, no room for complacency, and drama until the final matchday. Even giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and eventual champions PSG had to fight hard for qualification.
A total of 36 teams competed in the initial league phase, each playing eight matches (four home, four away) – resulting in 144 matches in total.
At the end of this phase, 24 clubs advanced to the knockout rounds, while the remaining 12 were eliminated. The top eight teams automatically progressed to the round of 16. Teams finishing 9th to 16th entered a two-legged play-off, with the winners joining the top eight. From there, quarter-finals and semi-finals narrowed the field to two finalists, who will battle for the trophy at the Puskás Arena in Budapest on May 30, 2026.
**Teams Qualified for the 2025/26 Champions League**
– **England:** Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle
– **Spain:** Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal
– **Italy:** Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta, Juventus
– **Germany:** Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund
– **France:** Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Monaco
– **Turkey:** Galatasaray
– **Netherlands:** PSV Eindhoven, Ajax
– **Portugal:** Sporting CP, Benfica
– **Other:** Bodo/Glimt (Norway), Club Brugge (Belgium), Olympiacos (Greece), Qarabag (Azerbaijan)