2025–26 Champions League Quarterfinals: Dates, Format, Teams

Only eight teams remain in Europe’s top competition.

The Champions League last eight is within touching distance. | Kristian Skeie UEFA/Getty Images

The Champions League delivered its trademark chaos during this season’s last 16 ties.

Some remarkable storylines emerged, as goalkeeper howlers plagued Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, Federico Valverde’s stunning hat-trick etched itself into Real Madrid folklore, although the Bodø/Glimt fairytale ended in dramatic and agonizing fashion after a historic Sporting CP comeback.

A precious place in the quarterfinals was the reward for those sides who emerged victorious, with attentions soon turning to the next round of Europe’s most famous competition.

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2025–26 Champions League Quarterfinals: Dates

The Champions League quarterfinals are fast approaching. | Juanma/UEFA/Getty Images

There will be a sizeable gap between the Champions League last 16 and the quarterfinals. The March international break will have come and gone by the time the last eight matchups are staged, with both legs taking place in the first half of April.

Here’s when the next round of the competition will take place:

• First Leg: Tuesday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 8
• Second Leg: Tuesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 15

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2025–26 Champions League Quarterfinals: Format

The Champions League trophy is up for grabs. | Kristian Skeie/UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Despite recent format alterations in the Champions League, the knockout phase beyond the playoff round has barely changed.

The quarterfinals will take place across two legs—one played at home and the other away—and the club with the highest aggregate score across those matches will progress to the semifinals. Should the tie finish level after 180 minutes of action, then extra time and penalties decide the contest following the abolition of the away goals rule.

The teams that finished in the top four of the league phase will have home advantage for the second leg should they progress, as will their last 16 opponents should they triumph.

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2025–26 Champions League Quarterfinals: Teams

PSG annihilated Chelsea. | Eddie Keogh/UEFA/Getty Images

Only eight teams remain at the quarterfinal stage, with their identity confirmed after the conclusion of the last 16 second legs.

• Paris Saint-Germain
• Liverpool
• Real Madrid
• Bayern Munich
• Barcelona
• Atlético Madrid
• Sporting CP
• Arsenal

Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid did most of the hard work against Chelsea and Manchester City respectively in leg one, while Arsenal emerged victorious over Bayer Leverkusen.

Liverpool’s defeat at Galatasaray did put them in jeopardy on their return to Anfield but, like Barcelona after their first-leg slump, roared back into life to breeze through to the next round in style.

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