UCL 2025/26: Quarter-finals second leg previews and predictions

Here, we present our previews and predictions for each second-leg encounter of the quarter-final stage of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League.

Liverpool (0) vs Paris Saint-Germain (2)  

Liverpool have it all to do in the second leg at Anfield after being dominated by PSG in the first leg in Paris. The Reds were lucky too, as the Parisians weren’t very clinical and their goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, made some incredible saves. Arne Slot went against the usual tactics and played a back five to strengthen the defence, but it didn’t work as planned, as PSG dominated possession with their attacking play and scored two goals, though they would’ve been disappointed given they didn’t finish the tie at home.

Coming to the second leg, playing at Anfield under the lights could be a game-changer. If Liverpool want to make a comeback, they’ll need to set the tempo early and find at least one goal in the first half. The Merseysiders would have found some confidence after a comprehensive 2–0 win against Fulham at the weekend. However, PSG will have the advantage of having a fully rested squad at their disposal, having not played in Ligue 1 last weekend.

In terms of injuries, Liverpool will miss Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, Giovanni Leoni, and Stefan Bajcetic, while Curtis Jones is doubtful due to a groin injury. PSG, meanwhile, will be without Fabián Ruiz, Bradley Barcola, and Quentin Ndjantou for this fixture.

Considering their form, quality, and squad depth, PSG remain our favourites to proceed to the semi-finals. Liverpool’s recent form doesn’t inspire much confidence, though we do believe they could score at home. Since they have to overcome a two-goal deficit, the game will be more open and could give their opponents opportunities to score as well. We feel this game may end in a draw, which will be enough to send the defending champions through.

Score Prediction: Liverpool 1–1 PSG (PSG win 3–1 on aggregate) 

Bayern Munich (2) vs Real Madrid (1) 

Real Madrid lost to Bayern Munich at the Bernabéu last week in an entertaining end-to-end encounter. Los Blancos came up against an inspired Manuel Neuer, who stood like an absolute wall between his opponents and the goal. Despite several attempts, Real Madrid couldn’t breach the Bayern defence and ended up succumbing to a 1–2 home defeat. 

They now travel to the Allianz Arena in the hope of turning around the tie. However, going to the Allianz and beating Bayern is a tall order, as the Bavarians have been imperious on home turf. Their dangerous front line, comprising Luis Díaz, Harry Kane, and Michael Olise, has been virtually unstoppable. They have lost only one home game all season, having also scored an incredible 16 goals in five Champions League games at home this season.

To add insult to injury, Real Madrid drew their recent LaLiga game against Girona, giving rivals Barcelona a nine-point lead in the title race. As for Bayern, they thrashed St. Pauli 5–0 away from home and are almost certain of retaining the Bundesliga crown, leading the table by a 12-point gap to second-placed Borussia Dortmund. 

In terms of player availability, Bayern will have a fair few out in Sven Ulreich, Cassiano Kiala, David Santos, Lennart Karl, and Wisdom Mike, while Real Madrid will be without Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo for this all-important fixture. 

Even though Bayern are very much unbeatable at home, on the other side of the equation we have the 15-times European champions. When it comes to Real Madrid, you can never be sure, as they always manage to rely on their pedigree and mentality to turn up in a Champions League knockout fixture. 

Having said that, Álvaro Arbeloa’s defence remains questionable as far as its solidity is concerned. Their defenders did look vulnerable against Bayern, regardless of how good their forwards and midfielders performed. Beating an in-form Bayern away from home may prove to be a mountain too high to climb for Real Madrid. We believe Bayern will win this game and progress to the semis. 

Score Prediction: Bayern 3–1 Real Madrid (Bayern win 4–2 on aggregate)

Atlético Madrid (2) vs Barcelona (0)   

The favourites tag perhaps weighed too heavily on Barcelona’s shoulders in last Wednesday’s first leg, although Hansi Flick’s formerly free-scoring side were not aided by inexperienced defender Pau Cubarsi taking the walk of shame for a last-man foul in the 44th minute.

Atlético immediately capitalised through a sublime Julián Alvarez free kick, before Alexander Sørloth struck his sixth Champions League goal of the campaign to silence a raucous Camp Nou crowd.

With their league position already very much secured, Atleti fans will be more forgiving of the team if they can guarantee progression to the next round, given they registered their fourth loss in five at the weekend when they lost 2–1 to Sevilla. That said, few will take that loss at face value, as Diego Simeone made no fewer than ten changes with the second leg in mind; only goalkeeper Juan Musso held his spot.

As for their opponents, Cubarsi’s first-half red card has left Barça with a mountain to climb at Camp Nou, and Flick’s charges are now facing an even bigger uphill struggle to keep their Champions League dream alive, even if the form book is on their side.

The Blaugrana moved on from their first-leg defeat with a 4–1 battering of city rivals Espanyol on Saturday. They now have one hand firmly on the LaLiga trophy thanks to their nine-point lead at the top, allowing them to turn all their focus to Tuesday’s fixture. 

While Barça did beat Atletico 2–1 in Madrid earlier this month, February’s 4–0 drubbing in the Copa del Rey may still be lingering in the minds of Flick’s travellers, whose attack must be as ruthless as ever if a colossal comeback is to unfold.

In terms of team news and injuries, for the hosts, Johnny Cardoso, Pablo Barrios, and Jan Oblak will all be in contention for selection, though David Hancko remains a major doubt alongside José María Giménez, while Marc Pubill picked up a suspension-inducing second yellow card in the first leg. 

As for the visitors, Gerard Martín and Marc Bernal make the travelling squad, with Cubarsi, Raphinha, and Andreas Christensen ruled out for this contest definitively. 

Looking ahead to this contest, the Atleti defensive masterclasses of yesteryear do not make frequent appearances anymore, but this Simeone side are more adept at fighting fire with fire, especially with a team of well-rested regulars. Barcelona will find the back of the net if they can keep the second leg an 11 v 11 affair, but Atleti can bite back just as hard on home territory, and we expect to book a long-awaited semi-final ticket.

Score Prediction: Atleti 2–2 Barça (Atleti win 4–2 on aggregate) 

Arsenal (1) vs Sporting (0)

Playing away at the José Alvalade, where Sporting have been magnificent this season, Arsenal would likely have settled even for a goalless draw in the first leg, as the hosts found no way past the impenetrable wall that was David Raya.

However, super subs Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz combined for a last-gasp winner on Portuguese turf, meaning that it is firmly advantage Arsenal as they endeavour to set up a semi-final tie with Atlético Madrid or Barcelona — most likely the former.

Should they avoid defeat against their Primeira Liga foes in midweek, Arsenal will have made the Champions League semis in successive seasons for the first time in their illustrious history. That said, the Emirates walls came crumbling down at the weekend when Bournemouth’s 2–1 Premier League victory allowed Manchester City to cut the gap at the top down to six points with a game in hand, and in the eyes of many, the outcome of this weekend’s Etihad extravaganza could determine the fate of the title.

Suffering as many defeats in their last four games as they had in their first 49 matches of the season (three), the famed Arsenal “bottle” is showing signs of rearing its ugly head again, but progression to the Champions League semi-finals, however ugly it may be, can bring untold psychological benefits before Sunday’s season-defining showdown.

While Arsenal are the Porto of the Premier League at the time of writing, Sporting are the Man City of the Primeira Liga, as Rui Borges’s men kept the Dragões honest with their third straight league victory at the weekend.

Daniel Bragança’s fifth league goal of the season was enough to propel Sporting to a 1–0 triumph over Estrela Amadora, keeping the Leões five points adrift of Porto, who have played a game more, in the Primeira Liga standings.

In terms of team news and injuries, Piero Hincapié and Eberechi Eze are back up and running sooner than expected, but Arsenal’s cause in recent weeks has not been helped by the absences of Martin Ødegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Bukayo Saka, and Jurriën Timber, all of whom are touch-and-go for the second leg. Spaniard Mikel Merino is Arsenal’s only guaranteed absentee at present. As for the visitors, Borges will welcome a key figure in Morten Hjulmand back from his suspension, while Fotis Ioannidis and Luis Guiherme are both ruled out of this fixture. 

Looking ahead to this fixture, Arsenal and creativity have not gone hand-in-hand in recent weeks, while the Gunners’ defensive steel has also abandoned them, thanks in no small part to their fitness concerns at the fullback positions. However, with Sporting needing to go for broke to keep the tie alive, space will open up for the hosts to exploit, and they may just need one scrappy goal to seal their semi-final spot.

Score Prediction: Arsenal 1–1 Sporting (Arsenal win 2–1 on aggregate)