2025/26 UEFA European Football Roundup: Semi-Finals, Leg 2

UEFA Champions League:

Bayern Munich 1-1 PSG (5-6 on Aggregate)

A brilliant defensive performance kept Bayern Munich out enough for Paris Saint-Germain to return straight back to the UEFA Champions League Final! After less than 3 minutes, PSG already found themselves in front on the night as Ousmane Dembele finished perfectly! Nuno Mendes then pulled off a great block to stop Michael Olise from potentially equalising, before Mendes was slightly lucky not to receive a second yellow card! The ball then struck the arm of Joao Neves in the penalty area, and I’m honestly glad that this wasn’t given as a penalty, as otherwise, you may as well get rid of your arms for good! Manuel Neuer then made a great save to keep Neves’ headed effort out, before Matvey Safonov made an important save to deny Jamal Musiala just minutes before halftime! In the second half, Neuer made another save, this time to deny Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, before the Bayern Goalie made another brilliant save, stopping Desire Doue from killing the tie off! In the 94th minute, Bayern Munich would finally get their goal through Harry Kane, but it was ultimately too late for them to turn things around! In the end, it just wasn’t meant to be for Bayern Munich! Bayern head to Wolfsburg tomorrow as they look to end the season with a domestic treble (Bundesliga/DFB Pokal/Super Cup)! As for Paris Saint-Germain, they’re just one win away from going back-to-back! PSG will host Brest next time out as they’re just 4 points away from sealing another Ligue 1 Title!

Arsenal 1-0 Atletico Madrid (2-1 on Aggregate)

1 goal was all that was needed for Arsenal to edge out Atletico Madrid to book their ticket to Budapest! After barely anything happened in the first half, Arsenal found themselves in front heading into the break as Bukayo Saka was there to tap home on the rebound! In the second half, Giuliano Simeone made a mess of a golden opportunity to get Atletico Madrid back on level terms, before Arsenal barely got away with not conceding a penalty! On another day, this could’ve easily been given! Viktor Gyokeres then missed a great chance to make it 2-0 following a fantastic cross by Piero Hincapie, but it ultimately wouldn’t matter! Overall, Arsenal are now just one win away from their first-ever Champions League triumph! The Gunners head to West Ham this Sunday as they look to close out the season with a Premier League/Champions League double! As for Atletico Madrid, they just weren’t good enough! Atletico host Celta Vigo next time out, with them looking set for a 4th place finish!

UEFA Europa League:

Aston Villa 4-0 Nottingham Forest (4-1 on Aggregate)

A Second-Leg thumping of Nottingham Forest booked Aston Villa’s ticket to Istanbul! After 36 minutes, Aston Villa found themselves in front on the night as Ollie Watkins finished off a brilliant solo move by Emiliano Buendia! In the second half, Villa were awarded a penalty after Nikola Milenkovic fouled Pau Torres, leading to Emi Buendia stepping up and scoring to give Aston Villa the aggregate lead! Ollie Watkins then scored again, albeit he was clearly in an offside position, before Emiliano Martinez made a crucial save to deny Chris Wood! In the 77th minute, Aston Villa had a third through John McGinn, before McGinn made it 4-0 just 3 minutes later! Overall, this is far more like it from Aston Villa! Villa head to Burnley next time out as they now have multiple chances to earn themselves a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League! As for Nottingham Forest, it just wasn’t meant to be for them! Forest’s next game is at home against Newcastle as they look to secure their Premier League safety!

Freiburg 3-1 Braga (4-3 on Aggregate)

SC Freiburg are heading to their first-ever European Final after a Second Leg comeback over SC Braga! After just 7 minutes, Braga already found themselves down to 10-men as Mario Dorgeles was shown a straight red card due to being the last man! Dorgeles really shouldn’t have made this challenge! In the 19th minute, Freiburg found themselves in front on the night thanks to a rather lucky goal by Lukas Kubler, before Freiburg were then ahead on aggregate in the 41st minute courtesy of a brilliant finish by Johan Manzambi! The difference between these two goals is crazy! Victor Gomez then had a great chance to get Braga back on level terms (on aggregate), but he could only smash the post, before Kubler made it 3-0 to Freiburg after 72 minutes! Just 7 minutes later, Braga were back in the tie thanks to a close-range header by Pau Victor, before Noah Atubolu made a big save in the 94th minute to stop Gabri Martinez from sending the game to Extra Time! Overall, it’s history for SC Freiburg! Freiburg head to Hamburger SV this Sunday, but their main focus will definitely be on the Europa League Final on the 20th of May! As for SC Braga, this one will hurt for a while! Braga head to Benfica next time out, with them needing just a point to guarantee their spot in Europe again next season!

UEFA Conference League:

Crystal Palace 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk (5-2 on Aggregate)

Crystal Palace are heading to Leipzig following a comfortable aggregate victory over Shakhtar Donetsk! Crystal Palace thought they’d taken the lead inside 10 minutes through Yeremy Pino, but his goal was in fact ruled out for offside! It’s a kind of a shame, because this was a great goal! However, in the 25th minute, Palace would find themselves in front thanks to a fortunate Pedro Henrique own goal! In the 34th minute, Shakhtar Donetsk were back on level terms on the night as Eguinaldo finished brilliantly! Jean-Philippe Mateta was then super unlucky as his overhead kick attempt came back out off the post, before Palace’s lead would be restored courtesy of Ismaila Sarr! Overall, history beckons for Crystal Palace! The Eagles host Everton next time out as they still have 5 games to go before their season ends! As for Shakhtar Donetsk, the First Leg defeat all but ended their chances to begin with! Shakhtar’s next game is away at SC Poltava, as they’re just a win away from winning the Ukrainian Premier League!

Strasbourg 0-1 Rayo Vallecano (0-2 on Aggregate)

Another brilliant performance over RC Strasbourg was enough for Rayo Vallecano to earn their way into their first-ever European Final! Mike Penders made a good save to keep Rayo Vallecano out early on, before Penders made another good save, only for Alemao to finish on the rebound to double Rayo Vallecano’s aggregate advantage! In the second half, Jorge de Frutos made a mess of a great chance to kill the game off, before Mike Penders made yet another great save! Pep Chavarria then pulled off a massive block to stop Valentin Barco from getting Strasbourg back into the game, before the hosts were awarded a penalty after a handball against Oscar Valentin! However, Julio Enciso then stepped up and saw his penalty saved by Augusto Batalla, pretty much summing up these two legs! In the end, RC Strasbourg just weren’t good enough across this tie! Strasbourg’s next game is away at Angers, but their chances of qualifying for Europe is all but over! As for Rayo Vallecano, whilst they missed a bucket load of chances, they fully merit making their first-ever European Final! Vallecano will host Girona next time out, with them very much fighting in both competitions!