Champions League semi-finals: Key stats and what to look out for in the second legs
- Uefa Media
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Get the lowdown on both UEFA Champions League semi-final second legs.
Arsenal can set a new club record for games unbeaten in this competition but face Atleti, who can draw on a perfect semi-final record against English teams. Meanwhile, Bayern and Paris have the all-time single-season goalscoring record in their sights alongside a place in the final.
Check out the key statistics from both matches with the two spots in the Budapest showpiece up for grabs.
Both kick-off times are 9pm CET.
Tuesday
Arsenal v Atleti (1-1)
Arsenal have lost only one of their last 15 Uefa home matches against Spanish clubs (W9 D5). They have won their last three without conceding, most recently their 4-0 victory over Atleti on Matchday 3.
The Gunners have won five and lost four of their nine previous Champions League two-legged ties against Spanish opposition. This is their second semi-final in the competition against a La Liga club, having beaten Villarreal 1-0 on aggregate in 2005/06.
Arsenal remain the only unbeaten team in this season's Champions League (W10 D3). This is their joint longest unbeaten run in European Cup/Champions League history, matching the streak they recorded from 9 March 2005 to 25 April 2006.
The London outfit have won six of their nine previous Uefa two-legged ties in which they drew the first leg away from home.
In the first leg, Viktor Gyökeres became the first Swedish player to score in a Champions League semi-final (1992/93-present).
Atleti have won only two of their last 13 Uefa matches against English teams (D3 L8) and have lost their last four Uefa away matches against Premier League opposition.
The Rojiblancos have won 11 of their 15 previous Uefa two-legged ties against English teams.
Atleti have faced English teams in three previous Uefa semi-final ties and won all three: they advanced on away goals v Liverpool in the 2009/10 Europa League, won 3-1 agg vs Chelsea in the 2013/14 Champions League, and beat Arsenal 2-1 overall in the 2017/18 Europa League. They have won six of their last seven Uefa semi-final ties overall.
The Spanish side have won six of their 10 previous Uefa two-legged ties in which they drew the first leg at home.
In the first leg, Julián Álvarez scored his 25th Champions League goal in his 41st appearance in the competition. That is the fastest by any Argentinian player, surpassing Lionel Messi's mark of 25 goals in 42 games.
Gyökeres' first-half penalty was cancelled out by Alvarez, who also converted from the spot after the break, leaving the tie on a knife edge heading to north London. Diego Simeone's side carried the greater attacking threat as the first leg at the Estadio Metropolitano wore on, underlining Atleti's firepower in their most prolific Champions League goalscoring season to date – with a club-record 35 goals, including 10 from Alvarez.
Arsenal remain the only unbeaten team in this season's competition (W10 D3) and boast the meanest defence, keeping eight clean sheets and conceding just six goals, yet Atleti have not drawn a blank in 37 Uefa matches.
Arsenal's 4-0 win against the La Liga side on home soil in the league phase – when Gyökeres struck twice – will boost Mikel Arteta's confidence, while Atleti's recent record against English opposition offers further encouragement, with just two wins in their last 13 Uefa meetings (D3 L8). However, when the teams last met over two legs, in the 2017/18 Europa League semi-finals, Atleti edged the tie 2-1.
Both clubs are chasing a first European crown but first Arsenal aim to reach a first final since 2005/06 and Atleti seek another opportunity to etch their name on the trophy after near misses in 2013/14 and 2015/16.
Arteta, Arsenal manager said: "We are in an incredible position – the semi-final of the Champions League. We have to play in front of our people – it's in our hands."
Gyökeres, Arsenal forward stated: "We know when we play at home, with our fans, it's going to be different, for sure. We just have to do our job, be at our best and it's going to be a good game at home."
Simeone, Atleti coach commented: "Rarely have we seen such enthusiasm (from the fans) as we had at the start (of the first leg). They won't all be there for the second leg but their hearts and souls will be."
Marcos Llorente, Atleti midfielder said: "We need to step up our intensity and look to create more one-on-one situations in the final third – that's what keeps you in the game."
Antoine Griezmann, Atleti forward concluded: "We played better in the second half. We also played with more intensity. That's the way to go and that's what we'll do in the second leg – it'll be a great game."
Wednesday
Bayern v Paris (4-5)
Paris and Bayern are the top scorers in this season's Champions League with 43 and 42 goals respectively. It is the first time in the competition's history that two different clubs have each reached 40+ goals in a single edition. Barcelona hold the single-season record with 45 in 1999/2000.
Bayern have won five of their seven previous Uefa two-legged ties against French opposition and have also won all three of their single-leg knockout meetings with French sides. They are in their fourth European Cup/Champions League semi-final against Ligue 1 opponents, having won each of the previous three ties.
The Bavarian side have won only one of their last six Champions League semi-final ties – the 3-0 single-leg victory over Lyon in 2019/20 – meaning they have lost their last five two-legged semi-finals in the competition.
Bayern are aiming for a 12th European Cup/Champions League final appearance – and their first since 2020 – a milestone that would move them into sole possession of second place on the all-time list ahead of Milan (11), with only Real Madrid (18) ahead of them.
The German outfit have lost only one of their last 29 Champions League home matches (W23 D5) and have won all six at home this season.
Bayern have won only one of their last eight Uefa two-legged ties after losing the first leg by one goal. Their most recent success came in the 2023/24 Round of 16 against Lazio (0-1a, 3-0h). They have lost the first leg of a Uefa two-legged semi-final on 10 previous occasions, with their only successful comeback coming in the 1981/82 European Cup against CSKA Sofia.
Paris have lost their last two Uefa two-legged ties against German opposition, though their overall record in such encounters remains positive at four wins and two defeats.
Luis Enrique's men are aiming to become the first defending champions to reach the Champions League final since Real Madrid did so in 2016/17 and 2017/18 – both seasons in which they went on to win the title.
Paris have won 36 of their 43 Uefa two-legged ties in which they won the first leg and have been successful on 14 of 17 occasions when that first-leg lead was a single goal.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has equalled Zlatan Ibrahimović's club record of ten goals in a single Champions League edition for Paris. Ibrahimović achieved the total in 2013/14.
Ousmane Dembélé has scored twice in each of Paris's last two Champions League matches – no player has ever scored two or more in three consecutive games for the club in the competition.
The first leg was a nine-goal, edge-of-the-seat thriller at Parc des Princes and the highest-scoring semi-final match in the Champions League era. With rapid exchanges and barely a moment to breathe, Paris edged it, emerging with a 5-4 victory to end a five-game losing run against Bayern – including a 2-1 reverse in this season's league phase – to hand the German champions just their second defeat of the campaign.
Seven different scorers delivered as the two most prolific sides in this season's competition lived up to their billing, and in Munich, more goals look guaranteed.
Four more goals are required at Fußball Arena München to set the record for the highest-scoring two-legged Champions League knockout tie, and there is no shortage of incentive as among those chasing current top scorer Kylian Mbappé's 15-goal haul are Harry Kane (13) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (10).
With nine wins to Paris' seven in their 16 meetings in this competition, history offers Bayern encouragement – but with only one goal in it, the second leg may hinge on who blinks first.
Vincent Kompany, Bayern München coach said: "(The second leg) can't come quick enough. We can't ask for more. We're against the best side in Europe, because they're the reigning champions. The result is still in the balance. But we need the stadium to have an impact; it's a legendary place, where this club has achieved so many great things. We can't hope for anything better. We'll take what we have, and we'll work on what we can do better."
Harry Kane, Bayern München striker stated: "It'll be who takes their moments. There were a lot of moments out there (in the first leg), and it's probably going to be the same next week. So, us being at home with the crowd behind us, we hope that can push us over the line."
Luis Enrique, Paris coach commented: "When you face a team with this individual and collective talent, it's so difficult. We conceded four goals (in the first leg); there are things to improve ... I asked my staff how many goals we think we'll have to score and we agreed on three. It’s a stadium that brings us so many happy memories; we won our first Champions League there. Bayern will be there with their supporters – we'll show the same mentality. We'll be going to win."
Marquinhos, Paris captain added: "The game there will be the same game – a crazy game between two teams that want to win and score. We need to go there with the same mentality, the same personality, so we can do an amazing job there."
Ousmane Dembélé, Paris striker concluded: "We're two sides that want to attack. We won't change our philosophy. We want to attack and so do they, so I think a great game is in the offing."
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