Great Champions League one-nation knockout ties

For the second season running, the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs featured an all-French affair. Paris were involved in both ties, but Monaco pushed them close on this occasion after they had eased through their tie with Brest at the same stage in 2024/25.

Last season was the first time in the Champions League era that clubs from the same nation could have met in the knockout phase play-offs or round of 16. Previously, clubs were kept apart from domestic rivals in the round of 16 prior to the new format, which involved the inaugural knockout phase play-offs.

We look back through the archives and ask the question – were these the most entertaining one-nation encounters in the knockout phase?

Liverpool 1-3 Chelsea
Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool (Chelsea win 7-5 on aggregate)
2008/09 quarter-finals

"I have been involved in some dramatic games but this was one of those where everyone has made a lot of errors and that's why it was so attractive," said Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink. Chelsea were in control after a 3-1 win at Anfield, but quickfire first-half goals from Liverpool's Fábio Aurélio and Xabi Alonso at Stamford Bridge gave Rafael Benítez's side hope. Didier Drogba and Alex struck back early in the second period before a manic spell at the end of the match where both teams scored two goals each within 14 minutes, with Chelsea eventually progressing. They lost on away goals to Barcelona in the semis.

Lyon 3-1 Bordeaux
Bordeaux 1-0 Lyon (Lyon win 3-2 on aggregate)
2009/10 quarter-finals

Lyon after completing their quarter-final victory against BordeauxAFP via Getty Images

The first time two French teams met in the knockout phase ended with Lyon edging an entertaining quarter-final. Les Gones took a two-goal advantage into the second leg after a 3-1 win at home, but Bordeaux reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time through Marouane Chamakh. The home team piled the pressure on, but Lyon doggedly held on to reach the semi-finals for the first time in their history. "It was very hard," Lyon defender Jean-Alain Boumsong told UEFA. "We needed to show all of our character." His side lost 4-0 on aggregate to Bayern in the next round.

Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona
Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid (Barcelona win 3-1 on aggregate)
2010/11 semi-finals

This tie is remembered for Lionel Messi scoring one of the great Champions League goals in the first leg. Having put his side 1-0 up with a close-range finish, the Argentinian then waltzed past four Real Madrid players before finishing from a tight angle. Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said afterwards: "We are lucky to have Messi; at the age of 23, he's the third top scorer in our club's history and that's impressive. It's the beauty of our attacking style." The Catalan side earned a 1-1 draw in the return at the Camp Nou to book a place in the final, where they beat Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley Stadium.

Barcelona 2-1 Atleti
Atleti 2-0 Barcelona (Atleti win 3-2 on aggregate)
2015/16 quarter-finals

In a tie that swung back and forth, Barcelona came from behind to win the first leg 2-1 courtesy of two goals from Luis Suárez. However, Atleti put in a brilliant performance in the return at the Vicente Calderón, Antoine Griezmann opening the scoring to bring the scores level on aggregate before converting a late penalty to win the tie. "I'm so proud of the team," Griezmann said. "We were up against one of the best sides in the world." Atleti went on to beat Bayern in the semis before agonisingly losing to cross-city rivals Real Madrid in the final.

Tottenham 1-0 Man City
Man City 4-3 Tottenham (agg: 4-4, Tottenham win on away goals)
2018/19 quarter-finals

Heung-Min Son gave Tottenham the advantage in a cagey first leg but the return proved a very different affair. Raheem Sterling's opener got City level early in the return leg only for Son to strike twice before Bernardo Silva equalised on the night and Sterling got his second, all in a breathless opening 21 minutes. Sergio Agüero edged City in front on aggregate but Fernando Llorente had the final say to send Spurs through. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said: "This is why we love football. We showed great character and great personality. It was an unbelievable game." His team beat Ajax in the semis before losing to Liverpool in the final in Madrid.

Milan 0-2 Inter
Inter 1-0 Milan (Inter win 3-0 on aggregate)
2022/23 semi-finals

Milan had won both previous Champions League ties between these city rivals but Simone Inzaghi's men were quick out of the blocks to deny them a hat-trick. Edin Džeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan struck in the first 11 minutes in the first leg at San Siro and Stefano Pioli's men never recovered, their fate sealed by Lautaro Martínez's 74th-minute effort in the return. "In the next few days we will realise what we have achieved," said Inzaghi. "For us it was a dream but we have always believed in it. It was an extraordinary path. Winning a derby in the semi-final like this brings great satisfaction."

Real Madrid 2-1 Atleti
Atleti 1-0 Real Madrid (agg: 2-2, Real Madrid win 4-2 on penalties)
2024/25 round of 16

Real Madrid continued to have the advantage over their city rivals, adding a round of 16 triumph against them to their quarter-final, semi-final and two final successes in the Champions League era. Goals from Rodrygo and Brahim Díaz edged Madrid ahead in the opener after Julián Alvarez had equalised but Conor Gallagher's strike after 28 seconds of the return sent the tie to penalties, where Alvarez and Marcos Llorente could not convert for Diego Simeone's men. "All that counted tonight was going through," said Madrid's Lucas Vázquez. "We were the superior team."

Monaco 2-3 Paris
Paris 2-2 Monaco (Paris win 5-4 on aggregate)
2025/26 knockout phase play-offs

For the second season running, Paris overcame domestic rivals in the knockout phase play-offs. However, unlike their 10-0 aggregate win over Brest in 2024/25, the holders endured nervy moments in a high-scoring and entertaining tie against Monaco. Désiré Doué was the star of a first leg which Monaco led 2-0 after 18 minutes through Folarin Balogun, scoring twice and assisting once to inspire a turnaround following his introduction as a 27th-minute substitute. Doué again took Player of the Match honours in the return as second-half goals from Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia took Paris over the line.

How many one-nation Champions League knockout ties have there been?

The 2025/26 knockout phase play-off encounters between Monaco and Paris were the 28th knockout tie in the Champions League era involving teams from the same country, in addition to the eight occasions when sides from the same nation met in the final itself.

10 all-English
8 all-Spanish
4 all-Italian
3 all-German
3 all-French

How many city derbies have there been in the Champions League knockout phase?

The 2024/25 round of 16 tie between Real Madrid and Atleti was the seventh Champions League knockout phase tie to feature teams from the same city.

3 Milan (Milan vs Inter: 2002/03 semi-final, 2004/05 quarter-final, 2022/23 semi-final)
3 Madrid (Madrid vs Atleti: 2014/15 quarter-final, 2016/17 semi-final, 2024/25 round of 16)
1 London (Chelsea vs Arsenal: 2003/04 quarter-final)

All the one-nation Champions League knockout ties

Bayern 0-1agg Dortmund (1997/98 quarter-finals)  
Bayern 6-0agg Kaiserslauten (1998/99 quarter-finals)
Valencia 5-3agg Barcelona (1999/2000 semi-finals)   
Barcelona 1-3agg Real Madrid (2001/02 semi-finals)  
Milan 1-1agg Inter (2002/03 semi-finals, Milan won on away goals) 
Chelsea 3-2agg Arsenal (2003/04 quarter-finals)  
Milan 5-0agg Inter (2004/05 quarter-finals) 
Chelsea 0-1agg Liverpool (2004/05 quarter-finals) 
Chelsea 1-1agg Liverpool (2006/07 semi-finals, Liverpool won 4-1 on penalties) 
Arsenal 3-5agg Liverpool (2007/08 quarter-finals) 
Liverpool 3-4agg Chelsea (2007/08 semi-finals) 
Liverpool 5-7agg Chelsea (2008/09 quarter-finals) 
Man United 4-1agg Arsenal (2008/09 semi-finals) 
Lyon 3-2agg Bordeaux (2009/10 quarter-finals) 
Chelsea 1-3agg Man United (2010/11 quarter-finals) 
Real Madrid 1-3agg Barcelona (2010/11 semi-finals)  
Barcelona 1-2agg Atleti (2013/14 quarter-finals) 
Atleti 0-1agg Real Madrid (2014/15 quarter-finals) 
Barcelona 2-3agg Atleti (2015/16 quarter-finals) 
Real Madrid 4-2agg Atleti (2016/17 semi-finals) 
Liverpool 5-1agg Man City (2017/18 quarter-finals) 
Spurs 4-4agg Man City (2018/19 quarter-finals, Spurs won on away goals) 
Milan 2-1agg Napoli (2022/23 quarter-finals) 
Milan 0-3agg Inter (2022/23 semi-finals) 
Brest 0-10agg Paris (2024/25 knockout phase play-offs) 
Real Madrid 2-2agg Atleti (2024/25 round of 16, Real Madrid won 4-2 on penalties) 
Bayern 5-0agg Leverkusen (2024/25 round of 16)
Monaco 4-5agg Paris (2025/26 knockout phase play-offs)