A late first-half goal and an early second-half tally lifted Bayern Munich over Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday.
The two European giants, who are meeting for the sixth time in the past 14 years in the knockout stages, exchanged chances throughout the opening 45 minutes. It wasn’t until the 41st minute when the deadlock was broken by Luis Díaz.
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Serge Gnabry, who missed a gifted chance minutes earlier in the half, played a lovely through ball for the Colombian winger to give the Bundesliga side the advantage.
Gnabry leads the Champions League with five assists this season.
Before the second half settled in, Bayern Munich doubled its lead. Right from the kickoff the Bundesliga leaders pressed Los Blancos and forced a turnover in midfield. Eventually, Michael Olise found Harry Kane at the top of the box and his shot made it 2-0 after just 21 seconds.
The goal was Kane’s 49th in all competitions this season. Olise, meanwhile, now has 25 assists for Bayern Munich across 2025-26.
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In the 74th minute, Kylian Mbappé gave Real Madrid life heading into the second leg after getting on the end of a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross to cut the lead to 2-1.
The goal was Mbappé’s 14th in the Champions League this season. Only Karim Benzema, Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo (three times) have scored more in the competition over a single season, according to Squawka.
In the other quarterfinal Tuesday, only one goal was needed at the Estádio José Alvalade between Sporting and Arsenal. Kai Havertz left it late — in the 92nd minute — to give the Gunners the 1-0 win and the advantage heading into next week’s second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
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After a goalless hour, there appeared to be a breakthrough in the 62nd minute from Martín Zubimendi, but it was ruled he had come back from an offside position.
In stoppage time, Gabriel Martinelli found a wide-open Havertz, who had slipped behind the Sporting line. From there, it was a quick trap and slotted shot to put home the winner and snap the host’s 17-match undefeated streak.
Here’s how Tuesday’s Champions League action played out live:
Live coverage is over27 updates
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 1:59 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Arsenal 1 (Kai Havertz, 90’+1’)
Sporting CP 0
Bayern Munich 2 (Luis Díaz – 41’, Harry Kane – 46′)
Real Madrid 1 (Kylian Mbappé – 74′)
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 1:53 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
The Gunners look to be heading home with a 1-0 advantage over Sporting. After denying Sporting’s opportunities, Arsenal countered and it was Havertz, wide open in the middle of the Sporting box, finished off a Gabriel Martinelli pass for the game’s only goal.
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 1:37 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 1:34 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
After missing on several opportunity in first hour, Mbappé gives Real Madrid a lifeline as he gets on the end of a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross.
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 1:32 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 1:10 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 1:07 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Real Madrid is in trouble. Just 21 seconds into the second half, Bayern Munich are up 2-0. Right from the kickoff the Bundesliga side went at the hosts and Kane finished off the build up for yet another goal.
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 12:49 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Bayern Munich 1 (Luis Díaz, 41’)
Real Madrid 0
Sporting 0
Arsenal 0
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 12:42 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 12:41 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 12:40 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
The Real Madrid midfielder picked up a caution in the 37th minute with the score still 0-0. It now means Tchouaméni will miss next week’s second leg due to yellow card accumulation.
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 12:31 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 12:23 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 12:17 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 12:13 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Maxi Araújo hits the bar for Sporting and Dayot Upamecano cannot tap home a chance for Bayern has both matches remain level at 0-0.
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 12:01 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are off at the Bernabéu, while Sporting and Arsenal have kicked off at Estádio José Alvalade.
The second legs of these matchups will take place next Wednesday, April 15.
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 11:58 AM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 11:50 AM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 11:45 AM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 11:30 AM PDT
Sean Leahy
November 2024, a 5-1 Gunners win in the League Phase of the competition.
Champions League quarterfinalsFirst legs
April 7
Arsenal 1, Sporting CP 0
Bayern Munich 2, Real Madrid 1
April 8
Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid
PSG vs. Liverpool
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Second legs
April 14
Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona
Liverpool vs PSG
April 15
Arsenal vs. Sporting CP (Arsenal leads 1-0 on aggregate)
Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid (Bayern leads 2-1 on aggregate)
All matches will kick off at 3 p.m. ET.
Semifinals: April 28-29 and May 5-6
Final: May 30 (Puskás Aréna, Hungary)
Tuesday’s Champions League results