Atletico Madrid and Arsenal will resume hostilities for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on level terms after an intense first meeting at the Metropolitano finished 1-1.
The opener came courtesy of Viktor Gyokeres, who won and scored a penalty in the closing minutes of the first half to send Arsenal ahead in the tie.
But Julian Alvarez levelled from a spot kick of his own after Ben White was punished for handball. Then Arsenal thought they had been awarded a second penalty when Eberechi Eze went down in the box but the decision was reversed following a lengthy VAR check.
Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, was left fuming after the decision to disallow the penalty supposedly won by Eze and lambasted the incident as ‘against the rules’ before adding that it ‘changes the course of the tie.’ The two teams face each other again on Tuesday next week for the second leg.
Relive the updates with our live blog below:
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Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal LIVE
- REPORT: Mikel Arteta has a clear message to send after incident-filled draw with Atletico Madrid
- Arsenal draw 1-1 with Atletico in VAR-heavy clash in Madrid
- Arteta fumes at penalty decisions that 'changed the course of the tie'
- Pundits slate Diego Simeone actions in build-up to penalty review
- Inside the decisions, penalties and controversies that defined the game
Simeone ready to take chance
05:30 , Alan SmithSimeone: "What we have in front of us, an extraordinary challenge. Arsenal, not lost yet in the Champions League - and we go there with everything."
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) April 29, 2026
Arteta's plan pre-Fulham
05:00 , Alan Smith"Make sure they eat, sleep and get a lot of love to make sure they are in the best position,” he told TNT Sports.
Gyokeres looks ahead to home advantage
04:30 , Alan Smith“We know when we play at home with our fans it will be different for sure and we just have to do our job, be at our best. For sure it's going to be a good game,” the Arsenal goalscorer told TNT Sports.
Atletico must raise level
04:00 , Miguel DelaneyIt feels like the big question in this semi-final is whether Atletico can raise it again, in much more testing circumstances.
Arsenal still actually have a job to do, after an awkward Saturday home match against Fulham. The time is quickly coming for debates to end and everything to become clear.
Arteta must hammer that message home.
Koke reflections
03:30 , Alan Smith"We gave it our best shot,” the Atletico captain told Movistar. “We started off on the back foot. We had chances to win but it will all come down to the second leg. They defend very well and have some very fast players up front."
Llorente wants to focus on second half
03:00 , Alan SmithMarcos Llorente on whether the tie is still wide open, to Movistar: "Absolutely. They dominated the first half, and we dominated the second. We need to build on that second half."
His reaction to how the match unfolded: "We struggled to win the ball back and were rushing things in the final third. That comes back to haunt you because we don't create that many chances, and we failed to capitalise on the ones we had. We improved in the second half, and that's what we'll take away from this."
Griezmann reacts
02:30 , Alan Smith"We played better in the second half,” the player of the match said. “We also played with more intensity. That's the way to go, and that's what we'll do in the second leg – it'll be a great game.
"We want to reach the final. I've prepared a lot for this match and the one in London, and hopefully we can make it to the final."
Will Arsenal feel pressure?
02:00 , Alan Smith“Arsenal have the possibility of winning the Champions League - which they've never done before - and they have the possibility of winning the Premier League,” Chris Sutton told BBC radio.
“The fact that it's 1-1 now and they go back to the Emirates where it'll be raucous before kick off but there will be the same nervousness because of what's at stake.
“It's a huge game and the expectation will be on Arsenal to win because they're playing Atleti at home, a side they've already beaten 4-0 in the Champions League this season. That will bring its own pressures.
“This isn't a free-scoring Arsenal team, and Atleti showed that they are a very capable team in the second half this evening.”
Up next
01:30 , Alan SmithArsenal will look to extend their gap on top of the Premier League when Fulham visit on Saturday at 17:30 before Atletico come to the Emirates next Tuesday.
Simeone’s side visit Valencia at 15:15 on Saturday.
Is this a penalty?
01:00 , Alan Smith
Enthralling in its own way
00:30 , Miguel DelaneyArsenal could be encouraged but frustrated, if also relieved from one or two occasions. Atletico could be proud, and roused. And if this tie was always going to be compared unfavourably to Tuesday, it did ebb and flow in its own absorbing way.
That’s the thing about this stage of the competition. Obviously you would prefer the spectacle of Paris, but the very tension of being so close to the club game’s greatest fixture guarantees every moment is enthralling in its way.
Miguel’s take on an intense encounter.
Keown continues
23:58 , Alan SmithSome more from the ex-defender on TV. He was furious.
"The Arsenal fans going to the second leg have got to make it equally as horrible for the opposition," he said.
"Look at Simeone, the way he's running around there, honestly, you've got to keep your decorum after a game but something was very wrong there tonight."
Simeone slated
23:50 , Alan SmithDiego Simeone has come under criticism for pressuring the referee and fourth official as they made key VAR calls during Atletico Madrid’s draw with Arsenal, with Steve McManaman calling the Argentine’s behaviour “atrocious”.
The Atletico boss has long been known for his explosive touchline demeanour, and he was once again at the centre of things as he put pressure on fourth official Serdar Gozubuyuk and referee Danny Makkelie as the Dutchman reviewed a decision to award Arsenal a penalty.
Makkelie originally awarded the Gunners a penalty as David Hancko appeared to trip Eberechi Eze in the Atletico box, though he was sent to the VAR monitor and eventually overturned the original decision after watching 13 replays of the original incident.
And the Atletico head coach’s antics did not go down well.
Two sides to Atleti
23:40 , Miguel DelaneyThere were shades of the old Atletico there, the knife between the teeth, the strong challenges where they needed to be. There was a new menace about counters, Miguel Delaney writes of Simeone’s side’s second half response.
Simeone spots weakness
23:30 , Alan SmithSimeone: "As the game went on, we noticed their fatigue, and the weight of going for the Premier League, trying to win the Champions League. All of that accumulated, and we picked up."
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) April 29, 2026
Five things we learned
23:28 , Alan SmithHere are the big talking points from tonight’s clash.
Arteta 'fuming'
23:20 , Alan SmithArteta: "What I am fuming with is the decision to overturn Eze's penalty. It's not a clear and obvious error.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) April 29, 2026
"It changes the course of the game.
"We are all fuming with that."
Arteta: "You work for nine months for this, and the rules aren't applied. That can't happen."
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) April 29, 2026
Inside the decisions, penalties and controversies that defined Arsenal’s draw with Atletico
23:15 , Alan SmithThree huge penalty decisions affected the Champions League semi-final clash with VAR the biggest talking point of the post-match reaction.
There were a series of decision and possible controversies that defined the encounter with referee Danny Makkelie called into action on an evening that will be remembered more for the intervention of VAR than the football played.
Michael Jones breaks down the incidents one by one.
Arteta has a clear message to send
23:05 , Miguel DelaneyAfter the frenetic carnival of goals came the slow carousel of penalty decisions. And while one semi-final provoked debate over whether it was the greatest game of all time or the quality of the game took it down, the main arguments here were over refereeing calls.
That maybe says enough.
Except, if Arsenal will feel they really should have won this first leg at the Metropolitano, Atletico Madrid’s throwback defiance nevertheless ensured this semi-final is actually more balanced than the operatic back-and-forth in Paris, at 1-1.
It might have been 1-2.
Read Miguel Delaney’s report from a controversial night at the Metropolitano.
Arteta fumes over VAR overturn
22:45 , Alan Smith“Extremely disappointed and annoyed... very upset. You can’t overturn that decision. It’s completely unacceptable.”
On whether the crowd influenced the decision: “That’s an answer for him but it’s the wrong decision and changes the course of the tie.”
Arteta goes on to say he has no complaints about White’s handball for Atletico’s penalty because we all know the rules are different in Europe.
Player ratings
22:35 , Alan SmithDavid Raya - 8
Ben White - ?
Declan Rice - 7
Martin Odegaard - ?
Here are The Independent’s player ratings for Arsenal’s draw at the Metropolitano.
Keown fumes at penalty decision
22:25 , Alan Smith"I simply don't think it was clear and obvious [decision]," Keown told TNT Sports. "The referee should be allowed to referee the game, and the VAR has got too involved. It's not what we wanted with VAR. It's not part of the protocol, really.
"Simeone's actions on the sideline, the drama he creates and the scenes around it, the referee in the end buckled under the pressure and went to the screen, and didn't stand by his decision. I don't think he should have been made to go to the screen."
Gyokeres on penalty decisions
22:16 , Alan Smith“I didn't see theirs so difficult to say. That's football,” he says on TNT, adding of the Eze reversal: “I don't know why they turn it down, it looks like contact but it's their decision.
“It was not very easy [the game]. Of course they have the crowd here and we always try to play, get back that momentum in first half. Towards the end we got it back a little bit but it was a tough second half.”
Unbeaten run extended
22:11 , Alan Smith22:08 , Alan Smith13 - Arsenal have equalled their longest ever unbeaten run in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, going 13 consecutive games without defeat for the second time – previously between March 2005 and April 2006 (13). Resilience. pic.twitter.com/EoFvc4iSdl
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 29, 2026
Stay tuned for all the reaction from that contest but the initial take from Martin Keown on TNT is one of rage at the penalty decision being overturned, with his attention firmly placed on Diego Simeone’s attempts to convince the referee to reverse his decision.
Let’s just say the former Arsenal defender did not hold back in his reading of the situation.
FULL-TIME! Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:58 , Alan SmithAnd that’s it. They will meet again in north London next Tuesday on level terms.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:57 , Alan Smith90+6’ - This has been rather enjoyable - especially the second half - even if it was nowhere near as dazzling as the other semi-final.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:55 , Alan Smith90+4’ - Or maybe not. Molina shoots and it is a whisker over. He wants a corner, insisting it took a minor deflection, but a goal kick is given, which Arsenal will be grateful for.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:52 , Alan Smith90 +2’ - It’s beginning to look like a truce has been called and both will settle for a draw.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:51 , Alan Smith90’ - There will be seven added minutes.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:50 , Alan Smith89’ - Rice has a go from far out. It’s well wide.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:49 , Alan Smith88’ - That Atletico change is made: Molina on for Cardoso.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:47 , Alan Smith87’ - Mosquera’s first act is to shoot right at Oblak, who parries.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:47 , Alan Smith86’ - Subs for both sides. For Arsenal Mosquera is on for White. Atleti are about to make a change but, actually, play resumes with a throw-in and they’ll need to wait for the next pause.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:46 , Alan Smith85’ - Now Arsenal are beginning to show some reasonable control as we enter the final stages. Already, we look forward to Arteta’s take on the penalty decision being reversed.
PENALTY OVERTURNED! Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:42 , Alan Smith82’ - And they finally reach a decision: no penalty. If it would have stood it would have been soft.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:41 , Alan Smith81’ - Now Makkelie runs to the monitor, which is stationed between the benches. Atletico fans are whistling with fury.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:40 , Alan Smith80’ - VAR continues to check and Simeone wants the ref to check is monitor. Trossard is holding the ball. He hasn’t scored for more than 20 matches. Does he take it if it’s given?
PENALTY ARSENAL! Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:39 , Alan Smith78’ - And Arsenal have another with Eze going down having been tripped by Hancko when receiving a pass inside from Saka. VAR will check again.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:38 , Alan Smith77’ - Alvarez’s evening is over, replaced by Baena, having picked up another bang to the leg.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:35 , Alan Smith74’ - Big, big chance for Lookman! He has to score. The winger does the hard work by spinning White inside the box. But with only Raya to beat, Lookman drills it straight at Raya, who gratefully smothers.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:32 , Alan Smith71’ - Compared to the first period, this second half has flown by but now, for the first time since Atletico levelled, there is a lull that we can only hope is brief.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:29 , Alan Smith68’ - Trossard, Jesus and Saka are on, Martinelli, Gyokeres and Madueke are off. And Arsenal will look to wrest some sense of control back from this game by completely changing their frontline.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:25 , Alan Smith64’ - Griezmann hits the bar before Atletico fire another couple of chances moments later! Receiving a pass from Lookman, the French magician hits the frame with a left-footed lob and Raya looked stranded. Then from the next phase he volleys towards goal. It’s deflected for a corner and that is cleared for another. Alvarez swings that one in and tries to squeeze it past Raya. It’s on target but the goalkeeper palms it over his par. Griezmann takes the third corner and after some ping pong Lookman drills over.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:22 , Alan Smith61’ - Alvarez is down clutching his left leg after being kicked on the shin by Rice in a 50/50.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:20 , Alan Smith59’ - Atletico are now well on top, an unrecognisable force compared to such a meek first half.
Atletico 1-1 Arsenal
21:18 , Alan Smith56’ - Arsenal substitute: Odegaard is off, Eze is on.
GOAL! Atletico 1-1 Arsenal (Alvarez, pen)
21:17 , Alan Smith56’ - ... and Alvarez makes no mistake. Raya doesn’t even move.
PENALTY ATLETICO! Atletico 0-1 Arsenal
21:16 , Alan Smith55’ - Llorente shoots and it comes off White’s left hand via his leg. VAR spends some time checking but in the act of consistency - going off last night’s decision in Paris - that has to be given. The ref comes across to his monitor and, finally, points to the spot. Alvarez has picked the ball up and will take it...
Atletico 0-1 Arsenal
21:14 , Alan Smith53’ - Chance x 2! That’s more like it from Atleti. Lookman shoots straight at Raya and from the rebound Griezmann is denied by Gabriel, who makes a superb block with his right shoulder. His hands are firmly behind his back when he blocks it.
Atletico 0-1 Arsenal
21:10 , Alan Smith49’ - Chance! Gyokeres trips Cardoso a little under 30 yards out and Alvarez strikes the outside of the net. Some in the crowd think it’s in for a moment before realising it was wide. Either way it’s a clearer sign of intent from the home team.
Atletico 0-1 Arsenal
21:09 , Alan Smith48’ - Atletico’s shape has changed a little with Le Normand now on. Pubill has shifted forward a little. Will it make any difference? We’re about to see.
Restarted! Atletico 0-1 Arsenal
21:06 , Alan SmithWe’re back underway, Arsenal get us going again.
21:05 , Alan SmithThe teams are on their way back out. Arsenal will be very, very happy with how things are going so far. But Atletico must surely do something more and there will be a change from Diego Simeone, who hooks his son for Le Normand.
A little bit more on grass gate...
20:54 , Alan SmithArsenal reportedly requested a pitch inspection ahead of kick-off in the their Champions League semi-final first leg tie against Atletico Madrid, with the Gunners’ grounds staff believing that the grass was too long at the Metropolitano Stadium.
Half-time reading: Gerrard on Arsenal's chances
20:52 , Alan SmithBefore the match Steven Gerrard went hard in predicting Arsenal would be too good for Atletico. So far he looks bang on the money.
Steven Gerrard on TNT Sports.I think this Atletico team are there for the taking. I don’t think they’re as good as they were years ago, and I don’t think they’re as strong and as solid and as tactical
HALF-TIME! Atletico 0-1 Arsenal
20:49 , Alan SmithThat has been very good from Arsenal and there are whistles from the home fans directed at the referee - but perhaps it should be their own team for such a limp attacking showing so far.
Atletico 0-1 Arsenal
20:48 , Alan Smith45+1’ - Lookman fires harmlessly wide. Watching the penalty back, Oblak may be disappointed not to get a hand on it. He went the right way but it was so powerful that it flew between his hands.
Atletico 0-1 Arsenal
20:47 , Alan Smith45’ - There will be two added minutes.
GOAL! Atletico 0-1 Arsenal (Gyokeres, pen)
20:46 , Alan Smith44’ - He who wins it, takes it. Gyokeres drives ferociously into the bottom left corner and that goes a little way to repaying the transfer fee.
PENALTY ARSENAL! Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:45 , Alan Smith43’ - VAR is checking but Gyokeres, fed by Zubimendi two yards inside the box, goes down following a clear shove on the back from Hancko.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:44 , Alan Smith42’ - Atleti break swiftly down the right with a move that finally ends with Alvarez looking well placed to shoot inside the box... until Rice recovers brilliantly to intercept.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:42 , Alan Smith40’ - Martinelli, quiet until now, shuffles in from the left and has a low-odds shot blocked.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:41 , Alan Smith39’ - Hincapie has been excellent. Not content with keeping Simeone quiet, he’s now made a solid block to stop Koke’s delivery.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:39 , Alan Smith35’ - Arteta will be delighted with this so far. Alvarez is now beginning to drop a little deeper to get involved a bit more but Arsenal’s back four are moving as a unit and the midfield is working tirelessly in front of them. No one was anticipating thrill a minute and so it has proved but there is something to admire about how methodically Arsenal are going about their business so far.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:32 , Alan Smith30’ - Chance! Rice does well to beat Lookman to the ball. Odegaard then feeds Madueke, who drives forwards and shoots a yard or so wide with Oblak at full stretch.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:31 , Alan Smith29’ - Half-chance. Alvarez creeps in front of Gabriel but cannot direct a cross from the left on target.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:30 , Alan Smith27’ - Very little of note is happening. Atletico have shaded possession in the past few minutes but Arsenal are not giving them an inch, which means a lot of passing in the U-shape that Guardiola supposedly warns his teams against.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:25 , Alan Smith23’ - Arsenal have their first corner. Madeueke swings it in and Griezmann heads comfortably clear.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:24 , Alan Smith20’ - Bit of a lull now and Gyokeres may require some medical attention for a cut to his lip.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:20 , Alan Smith17’ - Hincapie meets another cross from the right but can’t trouble Oblak. This has clearly been pinpointed as an area of weakness by Arsenal’s coaching staff.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:18 , Alan Smith15’ - Chance! Odegaard has a shot blocked by Cardoso after some really, really nice work in the build-up from Gyokeres.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:17 , Alan Smith14’ - Chance! Alvarez gets his first proper sight of goal after turning Gabriel on the edge of the area.. Raya dives to his left and palms it out for a corner. Griezmann delivers it and Raya punches clear.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:15 , Alan Smith13’ - Now it’s Atletico’s turn to pin their opponents back. Llorente tries to get the better of Hincapie but Arsenal’s left back does well.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:13 , Alan Smith10’ - Good spell from the visitors, this. Atletico have dropped deep and compact, meaning no route through but the home fans are getting frustrated and Arteta will be quite pleased with this spell of sustained possession.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:09 , Alan Smith6’ - Chance! Arsenal make a first, patient foray forward. There’s plenty of possession that looks to be going nowhere until, with the blink of an eye, Madueke breaks through on the right and sends a deep cross towards Martinelli. He just misses but Hincapie follows up and directs a first-time effort wide.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:04 , Alan Smith3’ - Rice does well to shield the ball out for a goal kick under pressure from Lookman following a through ball by Koke.
Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:03 , Alan Smith1’ - An early warning shot as Simeone steals the ball from Hincapie but his pass inside see Alvarez take a pot shot that is easily blocked.
We're underway! Atletico 0-0 Arsenal
20:02 , Alan SmithAtletico, in their familiar strip, get us underway, playing from left to right as we watch with Arsenal in their dark blue away top, white shorts and socks.
Almost time
19:58 , Alan SmithTeams are out, the anthem is being loudly whistled and we’re moments away from kick off.
19:56 , Alan SmithAlmost time to go and the Metropolitano is filling up. There have been some reports of trouble outside the ground beforehand with Atletico fans appearing to run away from police who have unleashed tear gas. There is some grainy footage on social media and no suggestion of Arsenal supporters being involved.
Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal LIVE
19:55 , Chris Wilson
Arteta's pre-match assessment
19:45 , Alan SmithArteta: “We can’t wait to play. These are the games you want to be involved in... it doesn’t get much better than this.
On Gyokeres: “He’s fresh ... we have options on the bench and can change the game later.”
What he learnt from last year’s semi-final: “Every game is different... you need magic moments, especially need to generate momentum in the right moments.”
Grass gate
19:43 , Alan SmithAccording to CBS, Arsenal groundstaff demanded that UEFA measure the grass because they felt it was too long. It was measured and, reportedly, below the limit.
Keown's expectations
19:26 , Alan SmithFormer Arsenal defender Martin Keown is working as a pundit for TNT Sports tonight and - unsurprisingly - expects a very different match to last night’s encounter in Paris.
"We saw an amazing game of football last night that we were in awe of but I think it'll be very different tonight. It will be quite tactical, but Arsenal can score goals,” he said.
"Diego Simeone is a special manager, and you can't help but admire him for what he's done here ... You can't stand on ceremony tonight. You have to give a performance, and I expect that from Arsenal."
Surveying the scene
19:20 , Alan Smith
The most wonderful time of the year
19:15 , Alan SmithThis period is footballing Christmas for Martin Odegaard.
Speaking last night, the Arsenal captain said: "It is the best part of the season, everyone is up for it. We know what we play for. Tomorrow is the opportunity to do something special. It is massive, as I said, we're in a great position. We want to take that last step and do something really big."
Arteta on Atletico
19:08 , Alan Smith"[Atleti] are very strong at both ends, otherwise they would not be here,” the Arsenal manager says. “The energy they create in the stadium, how they believe in it. We have prepared the game to win it.
"I think a lot of the work he's [Diego Simeone] carried out, he has transformed the club in 15 years. The way he has done it, I have always had admiration for these kind of people. He is very connected to the club. He is an absolute role model."
More good omens for Arsenal
19:00 , Alan SmithArsenal - you may have heard - are the only team still unbeaten since the start of the Champions League campaign but, as per UEFA, they have also lost only two of their last 22 matches in the competition (W17 D3).
Arteta’s team have lost only one of their last 11 Champions League away matches (W9 D1) and, perhaps most impressively, they have won their past seven Champions League matches against Spanish opposition - the first team in European Cup history to have such a dominant record against La Liga clubs.
Scene set by our man in Madrid
18:57 , Alan SmithGreeting party for Atletico bus pic.twitter.com/3J3tcrlcrR
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) April 29, 2026
'Like a first date with a girl'
18:50 , Alan SmithAtletico captain Koke has a funny feeling inside him, apparently.
"Whenever the day approaches, you get this nervous feeling in your stomach like on the first date with a girl you like,” he said in the pre-match press conference. “There's nervousness in the days before but during the match I'll be calm."
Atletico XI confirmed
18:50 , Alan SmithLookman and Alvarez are back for the hosts.
Atletico: Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Lookman; Griezmann, Alvarez.
Arsenal XI confirmed!
18:46 , Alan SmithNo Saka as Martinelli starts.
Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
🔵 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🔘
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 29, 2026
😤 Saliba and Gabriel holding it down
©️ Odegaard leading the fight
⚡️ Martinelli returns to the XI
Let's make our mark, Gunners ✨
Simeone's record
18:35 , Alan SmithIt’s not bad, is it?
Diego Simeone's Champions League record 🔴⚪#UCL pic.twitter.com/EOhmvGiSP6
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 29, 2026
Will Saka start?
18:25 , Alan SmithTeam news is imminent but Arsenal looked a lot better going forward once Saka returned off the bench in the second half against Newcastle.
Whether he is fit enough to start will not be confirmed until a few minutes time but his mere presence gives Arteta’s team so much more in attack.
Madueke has been good but his fellow England international offers that little bit little more.
Good omen?
18:19 , Alan SmithThis is the 16th European Cup semi-final tie between clubs from England and Spain and the former have won nine of the previous ties.
Atletico's attack
18:12 , Alan SmithAtletico may have kept things tight for an hour at the Emirates back in autumn but they produced they had just one shot on target and produced an xG of just 0.32 xG from open play - in both cases their lowest totals in Europe this season.
Odegaard's view
18:04 , Alan SmithThe Arsenal captain, speaking in his pre-match press conference, was open when discussing the weight of pressure his squad may be feeling as they strive to win a trophy.
“That is always going to be there until we win (a trophy) and we have to live with that and we have to draw on those past experiences and use it in a good way,” he said.
“We are in a great position to make history and that is what we want to do. We want to take that last step and do something big and that is the biggest goal, the biggest dream and that’s what we’re working towards every single day.
“I don’t understand how you can’t enjoy it. We are ready for it.”
Man in the middle
17:57 , Alan SmithA familiar name will be overseeing proceedings tonight - Danny Makkelie, the Dutch police inspector.
His assistants are Hessel Steegstra and Jan de Vries with Dennis Higler in charge of the VAR booth, assisted by Pol van Boekel.
They may all be expecting a busy evening at work.
They've done this before
17:50 , Alan SmithThe teams also met eight years ago in a Europa League semi-final with the first leg in north London ending 1-1 - Alexandre Lacazette’s opener cancelled out by Antoine Griezmann - before Atletico edged the second meeting 1-0 at home thanks to Diego Costa, who was assisted by Griezmann.
Not a single member of that Arsenal team remains at the club but Atletico’s squad still contains Griezmann, Jose Gimenez, Koke and goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
