Atletico and PSG reach the Champions League semi-finals

Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have both advanced to the Champions League semi-finals after dramatic second-leg ties. Barcelona pushed Atlético all the way at the Metropolitano before finishing with ten men again, while Liverpool gave PSG a proper test at Anfield before Dembélé settled the tie in the final minutes.

Match results

Tie	Second leg	Aggregate	Who advances
Atlético Madrid vs FC Barcelona	1–2	3–2	Atlético Madrid
Liverpool vs PSG	0–2	0–4	PSG

Atlético survive a Barcelona storm to reach the last four

Atlético Madrid are in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in nine years — but they had to suffer for it. A Barcelona side written off by almost everyone produced a thrilling display at the Metropolitano, racing into a 2-0 lead inside 25 minutes before ultimately falling short for the second time in the tie.

The visitors were at it from the first whistle. After just four minutes, former Atlético defender Clément Lenglet made a costly error under pressure, allowing Ferran Torres to feed Lamine Yamal a clear run at goal. The 19-year-old duly finished with his customary composure past Juan Musso. The Metropolitano, so raucous in anticipation, fell into an uneasy silence.

Worse was to come for the hosts. Lenglet, enduring an evening to forget, was turned inside out again by Torres on 22 minutes, who this time finished himself with a powerful drive into the far corner. Barcelona were two up on the night and level on aggregate — and growing in belief.

Atlético's response came from an unlikely source. Substitute Ademola Lookman, introduced to inject pace, latched onto a searing counter-attack to restore the home side's aggregate advantage with a clinical finish. The Metropolitano erupted — and with that goal, the belief visibly returned to Diego Simeone's defenders.

Barcelona kept pressing in the second half. Torres had the ball in the net again, only for the VAR to rule him offside — a decision greeted in Madrid as though it were a winning goal. The drama reached a familiar conclusion when Eric García collected a straight red card on 79 minutes for a foul on Alexander Sørloth, mirroring Cubarsí's dismissal from the first leg at the Camp Nou. Frenkie de Jong came on in the closing stages but there was no serious finale to speak of.

Atlético Madrid advance 3–2 on aggregate and will face the winner of Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon in the semi-finals.

Dembélé silences Anfield to send PSG into the semis

Liverpool gave Paris Saint-Germain a far more uncomfortable evening than the 4–0 aggregate scoreline suggests. For much of a pulsating, rain-soaked night at Anfield, Arne Slot's side had PSG pinned back and had their moments — but Ousmane Dembélé delivered when it mattered most, and the defending champions are out.

Liverpool needed to score first, and they dominated the early exchanges with that objective in mind. Mohamed Salah, absent from the starting line-up in the first leg, was introduced after Hugo Ekitike limped off injured before half-time, and immediately shifted the game's energy. His cross found Virgil van Dijk unmarked in the box, but PSG captain Marquinhos scrambled the ball clear at the crucial moment.

After the break Liverpool continued to press. Cody Gakpo, on as a substitute, tested PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov with a firm effort from a tight angle. A VAR intervention denied Liverpool a penalty when Mac Allister appeared to be brought down in the area. Seventeen-year-old Rio Ngumoha even threatened with a powerful drive that Safonov did well to turn away. Everything Liverpool threw at PSG was repelled.

With 20 minutes remaining, Dembélé ended the contest. Picking up the ball on the edge of the area, he drove low and hard into the bottom corner — Anfield silenced in an instant. In stoppage time, he completed the night's work with a composed finish from a Bradley Barcola assist on the counter. Ryan Gravenberch and Van Dijk played the full 90 minutes for Liverpool; there was no way through.

PSG advance 4–0 on aggregate and will meet either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the semi-finals. Liverpool were knocked out by PSG for the second consecutive season — last year at the round of 16, this time at the last eight.

Semi-final picture takes shape

The Champions League semi-finals are now half-confirmed. Atlético Madrid await either Arsenal or Sporting, while PSG will face Bayern or Real Madrid, who meet in their second leg on Wednesday. With a Champions League final place on the line, both remaining ties promise to be unmissable.