Bayern Munich’s dominant season continues Wednesday as they look to secure their place in the Champions League semifinals. Holding a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid after last week’s first leg, the Bundesliga leaders are eyeing a treble of titles this season.
Currently at the top of the domestic table, Die Roten is also in the semifinals next week of the German Cup. If Bayern can close out Real Madrid, they will reach the Champions League final four for the second time in three seasons.
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Last week, the Bernabéu was stunned when Luis Díaz scored in the 41st minute and Harry Kane doubled Bayern Munich’s lead one minute into the second half. Kylian Mbappé’s goal in the 74th minute wasn’t enough to salvage the match for Real Madrid, but it provided a lifeline entering the second leg.
“[Wednesday] is a very difficult game. We’re behind,” said Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham. “It’s important to be present and active. It’s a really important game for our situation. It’s almost like a final for us. We all know what tomorrow’s about. Every defeat in the Champions League feels like a disaster. It’s a final. We need to put everything into this game. It’s all or nothing. We need to be aggressive and do our all to win.”
Arteta wants Arsenal to embrace the pressure
Kai Havertz’s stoppage-time goal last week allowed Arsenal to take a 1-0 lead home to the Emirates against Sporting. The Gunners are hopeful for at least a double with the Champions League and Premier League titles still in focus.
But Sporting is also chasing a domestic and European double and already has shown an ability to come back after erasing a 3-0 deficit to Bodø/Glimt with a 5-0 win in the Round of 16 second leg.
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As Arsenal enters Wednesday’s match losers of three of their past four games in all competitions, and their grasp on the Premier League title is starting to slip, manager Mikel Arteta has told his players to embrace the pressure.
“The players need perspective on where they are in the Champions League and the Premier League,” Arteta said. “We need to embrace that, and the higher you are, the bumpier it gets. I am more demanding, and the line is thinner between being the best and the worst, and you have to cope with that.
“The motivation is to give the people who deserve it what they are looking for. It’s not for the rest. The energy is on these people because they are the ones who deserve it.”
Following along with Yahoo Sports for all of Wednesday’s Champions League action:
Live2 updates
Wed, April 15, 2026 at 11:01 AM PDT
Sean Leahy
Arsenal (4-3-3): David Raya, Gabriel Magalhães, William Saliba, Piero Hincapié, Cristhian Mosquera, Martín Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke
Sporting (4-2-3-1): Rui Silva, Gonçalo Inacio, Ousmane Diomande, Maxi Araújo, Eduardo Quaresma, Francisco Trincão, Hidemasa Morita, Morten Hjulmand, Luis Suárez, Pedro Gonçalves, Geny Catamo
Wed, April 15, 2026 at 11:00 AM PDT
Sean Leahy
Hello and welcome to Yahoo Sports’ live coverage of Champions League quarterfinals second legs. The sprint to the finish line continues and we will see on Wednesday who will join Atlético Madrid and PSG in the semifinals. Follow all the action right here.
Here is today’s schedule:
3 p.m. ET: Arsenal vs. Sporting (Arsenal leads 1-0 on aggregate)
3 p.m. ET: Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid (Bayern Munich leads 2-1 on aggregate)
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
Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid
Champions League semifinals
April 28-29 and May 5-6
Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal/Sporting CP
PSG vs. Bayern Munich/Real Madrid
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All matches will kick off at 3 p.m. ET.
Final: May 30 (Puskás Aréna, Hungary)
Wednesday’s Champions League scores
3 p.m. ET: Arsenal vs. Sporting (Arsenal leads 1-0 on aggregate)
3 p.m. ET: Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid (Bayern Munich leads 2-1 on aggregate)