UEFA Champions League 2025-26

UCL Semi-Finals
2026 Preview

The final four are set. Two colossal semi-finals will decide who lifts the Champions League trophy in Istanbul — April & May 2026.

April/May 2026 Semi-Finals Final: Istanbul

The Semi-Final Draw

2025-26 Champions League — Final Four

Semi-Final 1
🔴
Arsenal
Premier League
VS
⚫🔵
Inter Milan
Serie A
First leg: Emirates Stadium, London
Semi-Final 2
🔵🔴
Barcelona
La Liga
VS
🔴⚪
Bayern Munich
Bundesliga
First leg: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona

Semi-Final 1: Arsenal vs Inter Milan

The English giants face the Serie A titans in a battle of contrasting styles

🔴 Arsenal — Tactical Profile

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal arrive at the semi-finals having dismantled their opponents with relentless pressing and fluid positional play. The Gunners have conceded just three goals in the knockout rounds, a testament to their defensive solidity built on the David Raya–Ben White partnership at the back.

Formation: 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1
Key Strength: High press, wide attacking width
Weakness: Can be exposed on quick transitions
UCL Record: W8 D2 L2 this campaign

⚫🔵 Inter Milan — Tactical Profile

Simone Inzaghi's Inter are the classic Italian heavyweight — disciplined, compact, and devastatingly dangerous on the counter. Their 3-5-2 system suffocates opponents and releases wing-backs Darmian and Dimarco into dangerous positions at will.

Formation: 3-5-2 / 3-4-2-1
Key Strength: Counter-attack, set pieces
Weakness: Wing-backs exposed against pace
UCL Record: W9 D1 L2 this campaign

Head-to-Head History — Arsenal vs Inter Milan

3
Arsenal Wins
2
Draws
4
Inter Wins

The two clubs last met in the 2003-04 UEFA Cup — Inter have the historical edge but this Arsenal side is the best the Gunners have produced in two decades.

Semi-Final 2: Barcelona vs Bayern Munich

A classic European heavyweight rivalry renewed at the semi-final stage

🔵🔴 Barcelona — Tactical Profile

Hansi Flick's Barcelona have returned to their Guardiola-era best — fearless attacking football built on youth, pressing and intricate combinations. Lamine Yamal and Pedri at the heart of everything, with Robert Lewandowski still producing at the highest level.

Formation: 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3
Key Strength: High press, direct attacks, Yamal
Weakness: Defensive organisation at corners
UCL Record: W10 D1 L1 this campaign

🔴⚪ Bayern Munich — Tactical Profile

Vincent Kompany has rebuilt Bayern into a relentless machine. Harry Kane is on course for one of the greatest Champions League scoring campaigns ever, and the supporting cast of Musiala, Gnabry and Kimmich makes them the most complete squad left in the competition.

Formation: 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3
Key Strength: Kane's clinical finishing, squad depth
Weakness: Susceptible to early goal pressure
UCL Record: W9 D2 L1 this campaign

Head-to-Head History — Barcelona vs Bayern Munich

9
Barcelona Wins
3
Draws
11
Bayern Wins

One of European football's greatest rivalries. Bayern have won the last four UCL meetings, including the infamous 8-2 drubbing in 2020 — but this Barcelona side is a very different beast.

Key Players to Watch

The men who could define these semi-finals

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal · Right Wing

The heartbeat of Arsenal's attack. Saka's directness, creativity and ability to draw fouls in dangerous areas will be the key to unlocking Inter's defensive block.

8 UCL Goals 6 Assists
🇪🇸

Lamine Yamal

Barcelona · Right Wing

At just 18, Yamal is already changing the course of Champions League ties. His one-on-one ability, composure and goalscoring instinct make him arguably the most dangerous player in the semi-finals.

11 UCL Goals 9 Assists
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Harry Kane

Bayern Munich · Striker

Kane has been on an extraordinary Champions League run this season. He leads the competition's scoring charts and has the experience, hold-up play and finishing to be the difference-maker against Barcelona.

13 UCL Goals 4 Assists
🇦🇷

Lautaro Martínez

Inter Milan · Striker

The Argentine captain leads Inter's line with relentless energy and clinical finishing. His partnership with Thuram has been one of the most lethal strike partnerships in Europe this season.

9 UCL Goals 5 Assists

Semi-Final Predictions

Expert picks and aggregate score predictions

Arsenal vs Inter Milan

Arsenal to advance
55%
Inter Milan to advance
45%

Predicted Aggregate

Arsenal 3 – 2 Inter Milan

Arsenal edge it at the Emirates in Leg 1, Inter dominate Leg 2 but it is not enough

Barcelona vs Bayern Munich

Barcelona to advance
52%
Bayern Munich to advance
48%

Predicted Aggregate

Barcelona 4 – 3 Bayern

A thrilling two-legged classic — Barcelona's home advantage proves decisive

Predicted UCL Final 2026

Arsenal vs Barcelona

Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul — June 2026

Read Final Preview →

Path to the Final

How each team navigated the knockout rounds

Arsenal's Journey

Group Stage1st Place
Round of 16vs Shakhtar (4-1)
Quarter-Finalvs Real Madrid (3-2)
Semi-Finalvs Inter Milan

Inter's Journey

Group Stage1st Place
Round of 16vs Feyenoord (5-2)
Quarter-Finalvs Atlético (2-1)
Semi-Finalvs Arsenal

Barcelona's Journey

Group Stage1st Place
Round of 16vs Benfica (6-3)
Quarter-Finalvs Dortmund (4-2)
Semi-Finalvs Bayern Munich

Bayern's Journey

Group Stage1st Place
Round of 16vs Porto (4-0)
Quarter-Finalvs PSG (3-1)
Semi-Finalvs Barcelona

Legendary UCL Semi-Finals

History's greatest two-legged battles

2018-19

Liverpool vs Barcelona

Down 0-3 from the first leg, Liverpool produced the greatest comeback in Champions League history — Origi, Shaqiri and the Corner Kick heard around the world. Final score: 4-0 at Anfield.

2012-13

Dortmund vs Real Madrid

Lewandowski scored four in the first leg as Dortmund obliterated Real 4-1 at Signal Iduna Park. One of the most dominant UCL semi-final performances ever witnessed.

2021-22

Manchester City vs Real Madrid

City led 5-3 on aggregate heading into the final minutes at the Bernabéu. Rodrygo scored twice in two minutes to force extra time, then Benzema completed the miracle with a penalty.