Top 20 revealed 

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The Champions League is reaching the business end of the season as things heat up in Europe’s top club competition. The second legs of the quarter-finals get underway this week. Barcelona have it all to do at Atlético Madrid after losing the first leg 2-0 at the Camp Nou, whilst Liverpool need a special night at Anfield to overcome a 2-0 defeat to holders Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital last week.

Arsenal have a one goal advantage over Sporting ahead of the second leg at the Emirates, whilst 15-time champions Real Madrid need a ‘Remontada’ in Germany to turn around a 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich. With the semi-finals almost upon us, it’s time to rewind the clocks and see which clubs have made the last four of the Champions League the most times since the competition’s re-format in the 1992/93 season. Where do each of this season’s quarter-finalists rank? Teams that are level have been ranked by their most recent semi-final.

Which teams have made the most Champions League semi-finals?

Unsurprisingly, leading the way, are the kings of the Champions League – Real Madrid. They have made the last four 17 times in the last 34 seasons, but will need a big performance to make the semi-finals this season. In second place is Barcelona, who have made the last four 13 times – the most recently last season – but as aforementioned have it all to do this term. In third, also with 13 semi-finals are German giants Bayern Munich; their most recent appearance was in the 2023/24 season, but they have one foot in this term’s semis.

In fourth are the first Premier League team on the list in Chelsea; the Blues have made eight semi-finals – the last being in the 2020/21 season where they went on to lift the trophy. AC Milan take fifth with seven semi-finals – last making it in the 2022/23 campaign where they lost to rivals Inter. Fellow Serie A side Juventus are sixth with seven semi-finals and the most recent being in the 2016/17 season. Manchester United are eighth with seven semi-finals, but last making it in 2010/11. Liverpool (6), PSG (5) and Inter (4) complete the top 10.

Of the remainder of this season’s quarter-finalists, Arsenal feature 15th with three semi-finals, with Atlético Madrid just behind in fourth – also with three semi-finals. Both have good chances to increase that number to four this season. Meanwhile, Sporting have never made the semi-finals of the Champions League.