Despite placing two teams in the Champions League quarter-finals, England has failed to see a single representative advance to the semi-final stage of the competition.
Arsenal was eliminated by Bayern Munich with an aggregate score of 3-2. The first leg ended in a 2-2 draw, but the German side secured a 1-0 victory in the return match.
Defending champions Manchester City were knocked out by Real Madrid in a dramatic penalty shootout, losing 4-3 after an aggregate draw of 4-4. Both matches finished in draws – 3-3 in Spain and 1-1 in England – forcing the decision to penalties.
As a result, the semi-finals will see Bayern Munich face Real Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund battle PSG. The first legs will be played on April 30th, with return matches on May 7th.
The elimination of Arsenal and Manchester City leaves England without a semi-finalist in the Champions League for the first time since 2021. This is a blow to English football, which has enjoyed dominance in the competition in recent years.
Analysis
Several factors contributed to the exits of Arsenal and Manchester City. Arsenal may have lacked the top-level experience against a team like Bayern Munich, while Manchester City had some misfortune in the second leg against Real Madrid.
However, the failure of both teams highlights a potential widening gap between English clubs and those from mainland Europe. The German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga have been producing the Champions League’s strongest teams in recent years, and this seems to be impacting English sides.
English football fans will nonetheless anticipate the semi-final fixtures, which promise to be thrilling encounters. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are powerhouses, while PSG and Borussia Dortmund are more than capable of causing upsets.
