Champions League Quarter-Final Fixtures & Dates: Arsenal Faces Real Madrid

The Champions League quarterfinals bracket was announced on Wednesday, and it positions Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain against several English teams as they aim for the title.

On Wednesday, Madrid triumphed over their city rivals, Atlético Madrid, in a penalty shootout during the round of 16. After Atlético’s 1-0 victory leveled the aggregate score at 2-2, Madrid had previously eliminated Manchester City in the new knockout playoffs round last month.

Defending champion Madrid now faces Arsenal, which beat PSV Eindhoven in the first leg in London on April 8 or 9. The return game is on April 15 or 16.

PSG’s reward for eliminating top-seeded Liverpool on Tuesday is a matchup against Aston Villa, with the first leg taking place in Paris.

The winner over the two legs will face either Arsenal or Madrid in the semifinals, potentially setting up a duel between Kylian Mbappé’s past and present clubs.

Borussia Dortmund rallied to beat Lille on Wednesday and will reunite with former star forward Robert Lewandowski and Barcelona in the quarterfinals, starting in Spain.

Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, both of whom advanced on Tuesday, will face off in the quarterfinals for a rematch of the 2010 final, which was won by the Italian champion.

The first leg on April 8 or 9 is at Bayern’s stadium, which stages the final on May 31.

The expected exits for Brugge and PSV after Benfica and Feyenoord were eliminated Tuesday leave only the five wealthiest leagues in Europe are now represented.

Since Porto, coached by José Mourinho, won the Champions League in 2004, no team from outside England, Spain, Germany, Italy, or France has reached the final.

UEFA will share almost €22.5 billion euros$2.7 billion) total prize money among the 36 Champions League teams this season and the 20% higher payouts this season figure to widen the wealth gap in European soccer.

England and Spain also are in line for bonus fifth places in the Champions League next season, sending tens of millions more in prize money there.

Each quarterfinalist will get 12.5 million euros ($13.6 million). A place in the semifinals pays an extra 15 million euros ($16.3 million).

Quarterfinals draw:

Arsenal vs Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Aston Villa

Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund

Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan.

First-leg games are on April 8 or 9 and return games are one week later.