The absence of Real Madrid and Barcelona from the Champions League final rounds is no longer as surprising as it was before. What was considered a major shock a decade ago has become a common sight in recent years. It is enough to review the history of the tournament to find that the two Spanish teams left the competition in the quarter-finals or before in four of the last six editions for Barcelona, and in three of the last five editions for Real Madrid. The facts are clear: the time of total control is over, and in its place has been the time of intense competition, where no one is afraid of confronting the big boys anymore.
But what happened in the quarter-finals of the current edition had a special taste. This time, the elimination did not come from an unexpected team or through penalty kicks, but rather was the result of a clear technical performance. Bayern Munich defeated Real Madrid in an exciting match that ended with six goals against the historic title holder, and Atletico Madrid gave Barcelona the taste of going out in their usual way, with solidity, discipline, and ending the match in the decisive moments. Clubs that were waiting for their opportunity are now asserting their presence strongly.
The four qualifying teams are Bayern Munich of Germany, Paris Saint-Germain of France, the defending champion (2024-2025), Arsenal of England, and Atletico Madrid of Spain. Four teams, each with its own story in this tournament, and each with reasons to prove that it did not reach this round by chance.
What awaits us in these two powerful confrontations?
Bayern vs. Paris Saint-Germain confrontation
In the first semi-final, Bayern Munich meets Paris Saint-Germain in a match that can be considered an “early final”. The Bavarian team, coming off a difficult victory over Real Madrid by six to four goals, knows that its mission is not finished yet. What Bayern showed in that match, especially in the last ten minutes, revealed the strength of the team’s character. Conceding three goals would have been enough to defeat any other team, but Vincent Kompany’s men came back every time, dominating the game when Real Madrid thought they would win. When Camavinga was sent off in the 86th minute, the Allianz Arena turned into an arena of organized football anger, as Luis Diaz and Michel Olise scored two decisive goals that turned the score around and silenced everyone who bet on the usual royal “remontada.”
On the other hand, stands Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champion who qualified for the tournament from the playoffs, and then surprised everyone. The Parisian team eliminated Liverpool by four clean goals in the aggregate of the two matches, which indicates the tactical development that the team has reached under the leadership of Luis Enrique. PSG no longer relies solely on the skills of its stars, it knows when to press and when to retreat, and most importantly, it has in Ousmane Dembélé a player who has turned into a real “joker” who decides major matches. But, what can we expect from this match?
We are expected to witness a “battle in depth.” Bayern will rely on the strength of Harry Kane, who has scored in three consecutive European matches, but the Bavarian defense, which was shaken three times against Real Madrid, will face a more difficult test in the face of the speed of Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia and Douet. It is a confrontation between great offensive power and tactical solidity that is beginning to appear in the French capital.
Will Arsenal eliminate Spain completely?
In the second semi-final, the situation is completely different. Arsenal faces Atletico Madrid in a confrontation between “discipline” and “ferocity.” The Gunners arrived here as the only team that has not lost a single match in the tournament so far, with ten wins and two draws, but that did not come easily.
The team has looked tired in recent weeks, exiting the FA Cup at the hands of Southampton, and drawing 0-0 with Sporting Lisbon in a match that could have ended differently had it not been for some “trivial” mistakes. What worries Mikel Arteta is not the defense, but rather the attack, which scored 23 goals in the group stage and then began to suffer from a clear scoring weakness in the playoffs.
Atletico Madrid, a specialist in difficult matches, returned to the semi-finals for the first time since 2017 after knocking out Barcelona in a match that was the essence of Diego Simeone’s thoughts. The team that conceded 15 goals in the group stage and seven goals in the playoffs, its defense seemed less strong than before, but it possessed something priceless: faith in the coach’s idea…
The biggest question here: Can Atletico’s shaky defense withstand Arsenal’s organized attack? Or will the Gunners pay the price for their domestic fatigue against a team that does not know the meaning of surrender? The answer will depend on the details, on the balls in the middle of the field, on who scores first, and on who can withstand the pressure of the Emirates and Metropolitano fans on two nights that will be among the most difficult nights of the season.
In conclusion, it can be said that the exclusion of Real Madrid and Barcelona did not weaken the tournament, but rather opened the door to four completely different football projects. There are those who want to restore their past glories, such as Bayern, and those who want to prove that last season’s title was not a coincidence, namely Paris Saint-Germain, and those who want to write history for the first time, such as Arsenal, and those who want to crown the career of a coach who has been close to glory for years, namely Atletico Madrid.
In any case, the arrival of the cup to Budapest on May 30 will be the culmination of a team that seized its right into its own hands, neither by history nor by names. This is the real joy of football.
