Champions League Semifinals

James Gregg is joined by Julien Laurens, Guillem Balague and Rafa Honigstein on this week’s Euro Leagues. The team reflect on all the Champions League quarter-final action, including the seven-goal thriller which saw Bayern knock out Real Madrid. Do Kompany’s Bayern team have any weaknesses and if so, could it be Manual Neuer? And should Alvaro Arbeloa be worried at Real Madrid? Could he survive a trophyless season? Then, the team discuss Atletico Madrid knocking out Barcelona! Is Simeone destined to win his and Atleti’s first Champions League? And how might they cause Arsenal problems in the semi-final? We hear all about the first woman to manage a men’s side in Europe’s Top 5 Leagues – Marie-Louise Eta has taken over at Union Berlin until the end of the season. And finally, Ashley Cole tells BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella all about his start to life at Serie B side Cesena, and why he made the move to Italy for his first head coach role. Timecodes: 02:08 Bayern’s brilliant attackers, & is Neuer a weak point? 12:34 Real Madrid going trophyless, & will Arbeloa survive? 23:12 Barca knocked out by Atletico Madrid to set up Arsenal semi 33:03 Union Berlin appoint first-ever female head coach in Top 5 Leagues 40:10 Ashley Cole speaks about taking over Serie B’s Cesena

France legend Thierry Henry offered help to Antoine Griezmann as he prepares for his next chapter in Major League Soccer with Orlando City. Antoine Griezmann will bring his time at Atletico Madrid to an end this summer and will try his luck in Major League Soccer with Orlando City. Months ahead of that move, France legend Thierry Henry offered his help as the forward looks to adapt to soccer in the United States. In the moments following the match against Barcelona — in which Los Colchoneros secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League semifinals — Griezmann gave an interview to CBS Sports, where Henry works as an analyst. That led to a rare on-air exchange between the two French icons. “Antoine, Antoine, I have something to tell you: thank you for everything you have done for French soccer, the national team, and the game in general. You have given me a lot. I wish you all the best,” Henry began, recognizing the career Griezmann has put together. But the 1998 World Cup champion did not only praise the 35-year-old forward for his past, he also turned his attention to the challenges ahead. “I hope you finish your time at Atletico Madrid well, and good luck in Orlando,” Thierry added. “I know MLS very well — anything you need regarding your time there, I’ll be happy to help.” Thierry Henry played for New York Red Bulls between 2010 and 2014. Henry made his mark in MLS The current state of MLS — with an increasing number of high-profile, world-renowned players — was built on the gradual arrival of stars over the past decades. One of the first major names to move to the United States was Thierry Henry, who joined New York Red Bulls in 2010. At the time, the French forward was 33 years old and arrived directly from Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, giving the New York side a marquee addition. Henry spent five seasons there (with a brief loan spell at Arsenal in between), making 135 appearances, scoring 52 goals, and winning one Supporters’ Shield trophy along with two Eastern Conference titles. Griezmann still has major challenges before MLS move While Orlando City and MLS are surely already on Antoine Griezmann’s mind, he still has significant challenges ahead with Atletico Madrid that could provide a perfect ending to his time at the club. This Saturday, Atletico Madrid will play the Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad, aiming to win a title that has eluded the side since 2013. And as if that were not enough, the Champions League also awaits: Los Colchoneros will face Arsenal in the semifinals.

With a narrow 1-0 win in the first leg against Sporting CP, Arsenal are on the verge of securing the ticket to the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League semifinals. Arsenal host Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium this Wednesday, looking to punch their ticket to the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League semifinals. Coming off a crucial first-leg victory, the Gunners have several paths to the next round as they look to navigate this quarterfinal clash. In a thrilling opening leg at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, David Raya emerged as the hero for Arsenal, with the Spanish goalkeeper forced into a string of high-caliber saves to keep Sporting at bay. In the dying moments of the match, Gabriel Martinelli perfectly picked out Kai Havertz, who slotted home the only goal of the series to give the Gunners the advantage heading into the home leg. Despite the first-leg win, a 2-1 weekend stumble against Bournemouth has dented Arsenal’s momentum, and Mikel Arteta must now navigate several key absences for the return leg. Conversely, Sporting CP head to London buoyed by a 1-0 away win against Estrela Amadora in Liga Portugal, a result that could serve as a confidence booster for this afternoon’s high-stakes tilt. How an Arsenal win affects the UEFA Champions League bracket A victory against Sporting CP would propel Arsenal into the Champions League semifinals, marking the club’s first appearance at that stage since the 2008-09 season, when they were ousted by Manchester United. William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates after the team’s victory over Sporting CP. In the semifinals, Arsenal would move on to face Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, a side they have already dismantled in this year’s competition. During the league phase, the Gunners secured a dominant 4-0 win at the Emirates, a result that stands as a promising omen for their hopes of maintaining an unbeaten run. How an Arsenal draw affects the UEFA Champions League bracket Should Arsenal play to a draw against Sporting CP at the Emirates, the Gunners would still advance to the next round regardless of the scoreline. Thanks to the 1-0 advantage secured in Lisbon, a stalemate would be insufficient for the Leoes to overturn the deficit. How an Arsenal defeat affects the UEFA Champions League bracket If Sporting manage to pull off an upset on Wednesday, the fallout will depend entirely on the margin of victory. A one-goal defeat for the Gunners would send the match into extra time, with a penalty shootout looming if the aggregate score remains deadlocked after 120 minutes. However, if Arsenal are beaten by two or more goals on home soil, Sporting CP would complete the comeback and advance to the semifinals. Such a result would deal the Gunners their first (and final) defeat of the current Champions League campaign.

Despite Barcelona's 2-1 win in the second leg, Ademola Lookman's goal secured Atletico Madrid's ticket to the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League semifinals. Atletico Madrid hosted FC Barcelona on Tuesday in the decisive second leg of their 2025-26 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Despite the Blaugrana claiming a 2-1 victory on the night, Ademola Lookman‘s goal proved to be the decisive blow, sending the Colchoneros through to the semifinals on aggregate. Needing to overturn a two-goal deficit from the start, Barcelona hit the ground running when Ferran Torres pounced on a mistake from Clément Lenglet and laid the ball into the path of Lamine Yamal, who slotted it through Juan Musso’s legs to open the scoring in the fourth minute. Torres then added a second in the 24th minute, bringing down Dani Olmo’s pass with a deft first touch before finishing to give the Blaugrana a 2-0 lead on the night and level the tie on aggregate. With the game heading for extra time, Barcelona‘s hopes were dashed in the 31st minute when Marcos Llorente delivered a cross from the right and Lookman met it first time, restoring Atletico’s aggregate advantage with a sharp finish. The Blaugrana were unable to find another breakthrough in the second half, and their cause was dealt a further blow when Eric Garcia was shown a red card in the 79th minute, leaving Barcelona to exit the competition 3-2 on aggregate. It marks Atletico’s first Champions League semifinal appearance since the 2016-17 season, when they faced Real Madrid at that stage. Diego Simeone’s side will now await the winner of the tie between Arsenal and Sporting CP, with the Gunners holding a 1-0 lead heading into the second leg of their quarterfinal.