Ligue des Champions: C1, le carré royal
On Thursday, April 16, 2026, the UEFA Champions League semifinals were officially set, with Paris Saint-Germain facing Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid squaring off against Arsenal in what promises to be two compelling semifinal matchups. The confirmation came during the Radio Foot Internationale broadcast hosted by Annie Gasnier on RFI, which detailed the culmination of the quarterfinal stage and outlined the path forward for Europe’s elite clubs.
The semifinal draw produced two distinct narratives: one featuring a rematch of recent finalists in PSG versus Bayern Munich, and another presenting an unexpected clash between Atlético Madrid, who defied expectations to reach this stage, and Arsenal, seeking to revive their continental ambitions after a domestic setback against Bournemouth in the Premier League.
According to the Radio Foot Internationale program summary for April 16, 2026, the afternoon edition at 16:10 TU would focus on “l’Europe en grand… et en petit,” examining both the high-stakes Champions League semifinals and Strasbourg’s concurrent battle for European survival in the UEFA Conference League quarterfinals against Mainz 05.
The evening broadcast at 21:10 TU was scheduled to provide a detailed debrief of the two latest quarterfinal second legs, including the dramatic encounter between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Vincent Kompany’s Bavarian side secured their place in the final four. The program similarly planned to revisit the London derby between Arsenal and Atlético Madrid, which had previously determined the second semifinal pairing.
Notably, the Radio Foot Internationale team highlighted concerns surrounding player availability, specifically referencing “la grave blessure d’Hugo Ekitike hier (14 avril 2026) à Anfield,” indicating a significant injury to the forward sustained during Liverpool’s match the previous day. The segment also mentioned ongoing discussions about extended absences affecting young players from Barcelona’s La Masia academy.
The April 15, 2026, edition of the podcast had already covered Bayern Munich’s advancement to the semifinals following their quarterfinal victory over Real Madrid, describing it as a “match fou” (crazy match) that required extensive analysis. That same day’s morning episode had confirmed PSG’s progression alongside Atlético Madrid’s qualification for the semifinals after their respective quarterfinal second legs.
Looking back to April 14, 2026, Radio Foot Internationale had provided live coverage of the initial quarterfinal second legs, including the matches where PSG and Barcelona emerged victorious, setting the stage for the subsequent rounds that ultimately defined the current semifinal landscape.
The consistent presentation team across these broadcasts includes Annie Gasnier as host, with journalistic coordination by David Fintzel, contributions from Pierre Guérin, and technical direction by Laurent Salerno. The program airs Monday through Friday at 16:10 TU and 21:10 TU, offering regular deep dives into football beyond mere results.
As the Champions League enters its penultimate stage, the focus now shifts to preparing for the semifinal first legs, with PSG hosting Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes and Atlético Madrid welcoming Arsenal to the Metropolitano Stadium. The outcomes of these ties will determine which two clubs advance to the final, scheduled for late May or early June 2026 at a yet-to-be-confirmed venue.
For ongoing coverage of the Champions League semifinals and related European football developments, listeners can tune into Radio Foot Internationale on RFI or access archived episodes through major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, and TuneIn.
The next confirmed checkpoint in the Champions League timeline is the first leg of the semifinals, with specific dates and kickoff times to be officially announced by UEFA in the coming days.
What are your thoughts on the Champions League semifinal matchups? Share your predictions and analysis in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this article with fellow football fans.
