Champions League Finalists Set to Be Revealed in Thrilling Semifinal Showdowns

The Parisian spectacle alone would have been enough to make up for an entire season of forgettable football, but those who anticipated the worst in the Spanish capital were proven wrong.

The grinding battle many expected between Atlético Madrid and Arsenal never materialized, and remarkably, the two sides combined for more shots than the previous night's extraordinary encounter.

Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich's nine-goal classic stands among the greatest matches the sport has ever produced, and there's little reason to believe, even with the heightened stakes, that anything less spectacular will unfold in Bavaria this week.

The Champions League semifinal first legs took contrasting routes between kickoff and the final whistle, yet we're ultimately left with two completely open ties at the halfway stage. The anticipation is electric, with any of the four possible final combinations still very much in play.

Here's how Sports Illustrated predicts the upcoming second legs to unfold.

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Arsenal vs. Atlético Madrid

The second first leg was never going to reach the dizzying heights football scaled at Parc des Princes, but there was still plenty of drama at the Metropolitano.

It was a match steeped in refereeing controversy. Three penalties were given on the night, and Mikel Arteta felt hardest done by the one that was ultimately overturned. On-field referee Danny Makkelie reversed his decision following VAR intervention over Dávid Hancko's challenge on Eberechi Eze, leaving the sides level in the Spanish capital.

Atléti crucially have Julian Álvarez fit for the return fixture after he emphatically drew the tie level from the penalty spot in the second half last Wednesday. Their momentum visibly faded when he departed through injury, and the Argentine will be pivotal in driving Diego Simeone's side toward their third Champions League final since 2014.

Arsenal, like their opponents, have never lifted this trophy, and they've shied away from the biggest occasions over the past two decades. The Gunners have repeatedly failed to grasp decisive moments in 2026, but can Mikel Arteta's men overcome the dark arts this time?

They dismantled Atléti 4–0 at home during the league phase, and are facing a side with a miserable Champions League record on English soil.

Prediction: Arsenal 2–1 Atlético Madrid

Bayern Munich vs. Paris Saint-Germain

How could they possibly top that, we hear you ask?

Well, if anything, it would be a genuine shock if the Allianz Arena isn't thunderously ringing out its iconic anthem after a Bayern Munich goal on Wednesday night. Another goal-fest in Bavaria seems inevitable, even if the first leg was something truly one of a kind.

You can criticize the defending as much as you like, but that wasn't the real narrative in Paris. It was a showcase of attacking brilliance and a celebration of the game's most gifted performers. Instinctive chemistry and individual flair in the face of tight man-marking carved out vast amounts of space for two exceptional attacking lines to thrive, and neither Vincent Kompany nor Luis Enrique will be softening their philosophies this week.

PSG hold a narrow advantage, but Bayern will feel confident of mounting a comeback after netting the final two goals of the first leg to cut their deficit from three to one.

The holders' clinical edge in front of goal makes them a constant threat, though injury worries at fullback could marginally limit their attacking output in Germany.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 4–2 PSG

Champions League Semifinal First Leg Predictions