Arsenal and Liverpool stand as the solitary Premier League representatives advancing to this season’s Champions League quarter-finals.
Arsenal is scheduled to face Sporting Lisbon, with the first leg on April 7th and the return fixture at the Emirates Stadium eight days later on April 15th.
Meanwhile, Liverpool finds themselves on the opposite side of the draw, set to challenge the reigning European champions, Paris Saint-Germain.
Should the Reds overcome PSG, their semi-final opponent would be either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. For Arsenal, success against Sporting would lead to a semi-final clash with either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.
This setup theoretically allows for a potential all-Premier League final between Arsenal and Liverpool, but how realistic is such a scenario?
Full Champions League Quarter-Final Draw and Predictions
Here are the quarter-final matchups:
- Arsenal vs. Sporting Lisbon
- Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid
- Liverpool vs. Paris Saint-Germain
- Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich
Arsenal has demonstrated exceptional form this season and was arguably unlucky to be eliminated by eventual winners PSG in last season’s Champions League semi-finals. Mikel Arteta’s squad are strong favorites to defeat Sporting. Conversely, Liverpool is navigating a challenging season and faces a significantly tougher opponent in PSG, who are widely expected to advance to the semi-finals once more.
Below are our predictions for the Champions League quarter-final outcomes:
Arsenal to Overcome Sporting
Barring complacency or a major injury crisis, this tie represents the most favorable draw for the North London club. They previously secured a dominant 5-1 away victory against Sporting in the league phase of last season’s competition and are anticipated to prove too strong for them again.
Prediction: Arsenal to advance.
| Arsenal CL Record | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
Barcelona Expected to Surpass Atletico
While these encounters can often be closely contested, Barcelona currently appears formidable, particularly after their convincing display against Newcastle. Atletico, despite a good performance in their first-leg win over Spurs, seemed less convincing in the return fixture against a weaker side. Barcelona’s current momentum suggests they should progress.
Prediction: Barcelona to advance.
PSG Too Strong for Liverpool
Liverpool staged a strong comeback against Galatasaray, winning their second leg 4-0 after an unexpected 1-0 defeat away. While Arne Slot’s team might find an extra gear in Europe after a disappointing domestic campaign, the reality is that recent squad changes have seen them fall behind. PSG defeated them last term and possess more than enough quality to do so again.
Prediction: PSG to advance.
Bayern to Narrowly Defeat Real
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich has been outstanding this season, arguably ranking among Europe’s best teams alongside Arsenal. Harry Kane is in phenomenal scoring form, Michael Olise has elevated his game, and the team is well-rounded across all departments. While it’s always risky to bet against Real Madrid in this competition, they haven’t been at their absolute peak this season. Therefore, we anticipate Bayern will just about clinch victory in what promises to be a tight contest.
Prediction: Bayern to advance.
Will a Premier League Club Win the Champions League?
All four other English clubs—Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle—were eliminated from the Champions League this week.
Our current predictions suggest Liverpool will exit at the quarter-final stage, though Arsenal is expected to reach the semi-finals for the second consecutive year.
Beyond that, however, the demanding Premier League schedule and the constant challenge of tough opponents weekly make it increasingly difficult for English sides to maintain peak performance in European competitions. This was clearly demonstrated by Chelsea and Newcastle, both of whom collapsed rapidly in the latter stages of their away fixtures against PSG and Barcelona, respectively.
PSG, in particular, benefits from a significant advantage due to the less competitive nature of Ligue 1. This allows their coach, Luis Enrique, to strategically rest players in domestic games, ensuring they remain in optimal condition for their crucial European matches.
Considering these factors, for an early prediction regarding the final, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Barcelona face either PSG or Bayern.
