Atlético Madrid is back in the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time since 2017 after holding off Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate in Tuesday’s quarterfinal second leg.
Barça had the advantage in the first half following Lamine Yamal’s opening goal after four minutes and Ferran Torres’ equalizer in the 24th minute. Atleti didn’t panic and answered quickly with Ademola Lookman’s goal seven minutes later to retake the lead.
The Metropolitano was anxious, understanding that an hour remained in the match with Barcelona desperate for a tying goal.
Advertisement
But in the 79th minute, it happened again. Six days after Pau Cubarsí was shown a red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, Eric García was sent off for a similar foul.
Barcelona had one last chance in the seventh minute of stoppage time as Roony Bardghji’s cross found a wide-open Ronald Araujo, but his header flew over the Atleti net, ending any hopes of tying the match.
PSG dominates Liverpool to advance
Paris Saint-Germain held Liverpool goalless for the second straight match to knock the reigning Premier League champions out of the competition in consecutive seasons.
A year after eliminating the Reds via penalty kicks in the Round of 16, the Ligue 1 leaders kept Liverpool and Anfield quiet with Ousmane Dembélé netting a brace to put PSG through 4-0 on aggregate. It will face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid, who meet in Wednesday’s second leg with the Bundesliga side up 1-0.
Advertisement
The news could potentially get worse for Liverpool after Hugo Ekitiké was stretchered off in the 31st minute following a non-contact injury.
Here’s how Tuesday’s Champions League action played out live:
Live coverage is over29 updatesTue, April 14, 2026 at 12:07 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 2:13 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
https://x.com/OneFootball/status/2044159719237980384
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 2:01 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 1:57 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
In the second minute of stoppage time, Dembélé nets his second of the match for PSG to make it 4-0 on aggregate.
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 1:43 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Down 3-2 on aggregate, Barcelona are now down to 10 men after Eric García was given a red card following VAR review for fouling Alexander Sørloth. The Atleti forward was in on goal when García made the tackle.
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 1:41 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 1:39 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Barring a miracle like the one they pulled off against Barcelona in 2019, that’s likely it for Liverpool in the Champions League this season.
It will mark the second straight year PSG will knock Liverpool out of the competition.
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 1:21 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
What would have been Torres’ second of the match would have leveled the tie for Barcelona in the 55th minute. VAR intervened and it remains 3-2 Atleti on aggregate.
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 1:16 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Moments after the PSG midfielder collided with the ball boy and a sideline microphone, he is subbed off favoring his leg.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 14: Desire Doue of Paris Saint-Germain reacts after colliding with an LED board after being challenged by Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool (not pictured) during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield on April 14, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
(Carl Recine via Getty Images)Tue, April 14, 2026 at 1:10 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
No changes for Atlético Madrid or Barcelona.
Joe Gomez and Cody Gakpo come in for Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak for Liverpool.
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 12:55 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 12:53 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 12:33 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
We’ve now seen three goals in the opening 30 minutes of this match. Moments after the match restarted following an injury to Fermín López, Atleti countered and Ademola Lookman finished off a beautiful ball across from Marcos Llorente.
Atleti are now up 3-2 on aggregate over Barcelona.
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 12:39 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 12:35 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
A worrying sign for the France international.
Mohamed Salah is on for Liverpool in the 31st minute.
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 12:29 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
López had a glorious opportunity moments after Torres’ goal, but his chance was denied. The follow-through on his header, however, saw his face contact the boot of goalkeeper Juan Musso, causing a bloody scene.
Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder #16 Fermin Lopez (L) collides with Atletico Madrid’s Argentine goalkeeper #01 Juan Musso during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on April 14, 2026. (Photo by Javier SORIANO / AFP via Getty Images)
(JAVIER SORIANO via Getty Images)Tue, April 14, 2026 at 12:25 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Down 2-0, the Metropolitano is stunned. Goals from Torres and Lamine Yamal have reset this tie after 24 minutes.
It’s now 2-2 and Atlético Madrid have to find a way to recover.
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 12:23 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
It’s not been a PSG possession show like it was in the first leg, but Liverpool have yet to score and remain down 2-0.
Alexander Isak has the Reds’ only shot on goal through 20 minutes. Anfield was hyped pre-game, but nerves are settling in as the clock ticks towards 90:00.
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 12:09 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Tue, April 14, 2026 at 12:06 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Atleti with a mix up at the back and Yamal cuts the deficit to 2-1 with a fourth-minute goal.
Champions League quarterfinals
Atlético Madrid advances 3-2 on aggregate over Barcelona
PSG advances 4-0 on aggregate over Liverpool
Wednesday, April 15
Arsenal vs. Sporting CP (Arsenal leads 1-0 on aggregate)
Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid (Bayern leads 2-1 on aggregate)
Champions League semifinals
April 28-29 and May 5-6
Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal/Sporting CP
PSG vs. Bayern Munich/Real Madrid
All matches will kick off at 3 p.m. ET.
Advertisement
Final: May 30 (Puskás Aréna, Hungary)
Tuesday’s Champions League scores
FT: Atlético Madrid 1-2 Barcelona (Atlético Madrid advances 3-2 on aggregate)
FT: Liverpool 0-2 PSG (PSG advances 4-0 on aggregate)