All you need to know about the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal between Arsenal and Atlético de Madrid.
Viktor Gyökeres’ first-half penalty was cancelled out by Julián Alvarez, who also converted from the spot after the break, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of the return leg in north London.
Diego Simeone’s side grew into the first leg at the Estadio Metropolitano and carried the greater attacking threat as the match wore on, underlining Atlético’s firepower in their most prolific Champions League campaign to date. They have scored a club-record 35 goals, with Alvarez contributing ten of those.
Arsenal, meanwhile, remain the only unbeaten team in this season’s competition (W10 D3). They also boast the tournament’s meanest defence, with eight clean sheets and just six goals conceded. However, Atlético have scored in each of their last 37 UEFA matches, highlighting the scale of the task facing Mikel Arteta’s side.
The Gunners will take confidence from their emphatic 4-0 home win over the LaLiga outfit during the league phase, a match in which Gyökeres scored twice. Atlético, however, can draw encouragement from their recent record against English opposition, having lost eight of their last 13 UEFA meetings (W2 D3). Notably, when these teams last met over two legs, in the 2017/18 Europa League semifinals, Atlético edged through 2-1 on aggregate.
Both clubs are chasing their first Champions League title. Arsenal are aiming to reach their first final since 2005/06, while Atlético are seeking another opportunity to go one better after falling short in the 2013/14 and 2015/16 finals.
Possible line-ups
Arsenal:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyökeres, Martinelli
Atlético de Madrid:
Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Le Normand, Ruggeri; Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Lookman; Alvarez, Griezmann
Form guide
Arsenal
Form: WDWLDL (most recent first)
Latest result: Arsenal 3-0 Fulham (2 May, Premier League)
Atlético de Madrid
Form: WDWLDL
Latest result: Valencia 0-2 Atlético (2 May, LaLiga)
Views from the camps
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal coach:
“I can’t wait. I feel the energy among the team and our supporters. These are the moments we want to experience together. It’s taken a lot of work as a club to get back into this position after 20 years, and we are determined to win and reach the final.”
Viktor Gyökeres, Arsenal forward:
“We’re in this position for a reason. We’ve performed very well all season, but now these matches are what it all comes down to. It’s been incredible so far, but we have to finish the job.”
Diego Simeone, Atlético coach:
“I’ll ask my players to perform as they did in the second half of the first leg. We’ll approach the match with the intensity it demands. We have a lot of faith in what we do.”
Antoine Griezmann, Atlético forward:
“It will be a great game to play in. We need to show the right attitude and manage the pressure. We’re one step away from another final, and there’s a lot of confidence in the squad. We must remain tactically disciplined and defensively solid.”
Marcos Llorente, Atlético midfielder:
“We need to raise our intensity and create more one-on-one situations in the final third — that’s what will keep us competitive.”
© UEFA