Atlético Madrid vs Arsenal summary: score, stats, goals & highlights | Champions League 2025/26
Viktor Gyökeres gave Arsenal the lead from the spot in Wednesday’s semifinal first leg, before Julián Álvarez netted a penalty for an Atlético team that dominated after the break.
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Atlético Madrid vs Arsenal: UCL as it happened
Peeep peep peeeeeep! Danny Makkelie ends tonight's proceedings. All to play for in London in six days' time.
It was more or less even-stevens in the first half, but Atlético were very much the better team for most of that second 45. Los Rojiblancos should probably have had more than just the one goal.
Having been second best for much of the second half, Arsenal must surely be very happy indeed with a draw. Not least because they'll have home advantage in next week's decider.
Be sure to join us for that second leg at the Emirates, at 3:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 5.
Thanks for reading!
Given Atleti's superiority for much of this second half, this is an exceedingly decent result for Arsenal.
Time is almost up in Madrid.
Blimey, Nahuel really can hit them. Arriving on the right at speed, he launches a thunderous first-time shot towards goal, but it flies just off target. It was travelling.
When Atleti win it back, Baena almost tees up Lookman inside the box! The substitute's header across goal loops over in the direction of the Nigerian, but he can't quite get his head to it!
A minute or so ago, Rice fizzed a low shot just past Oblak's right-hand post, from about 25 yards out.
Arsenal then proceed to keep the ball inside the Atlético half, with very little urgency about their possession.
There'll be seven minutes of time added on at the Estadio Metropolitano.
It's a completely different game now. Up until the not-a-penalty, Atlético were all over Arsenal. But we haven't heard much from Los Rojiblancos since then.
Nahuel is now on, with Cardoso making way.
Right away, there's a shooting chance for Mosquera. From the edge of the Atleti box, the substitute gets in a firm strike that stings Oblak's palms.
A moment later, the Gunners work it right to Saka, who crosses - but sends his delivery slightly too high.
For Arsenal, Mosquera is on for White. For Atlético, Nahuel Molina is about to come on, but that substitution hasn't quite happened yet.
Arsenal almost get Trossard into space inside the penalty area there. The Belgian can't quite turn and get his shot away, though.
More changes.
Arsenal don't get the penalty, but that long stoppage has stemmed Atlético's momentum. For now, at least.
By the way, Hancko saw yellow for his protests over the original penalty decision. Although the spot-kick was then cancelled, the defender will retain his booking: it wasn't for the challenge itself, but for the excessive lip in the aftermath.
Penalty overturned!
Makkelie has long old watch of the replay, before finally turning round and confirming: no penalty! The right decision, I think.
VAR check
Hmm. The video ref is having a good look at it... and now calls Makkelie over to the monitor.
Hancko sticks his leg out and Eze tumbles. But, truth be told, there's minimal contact.
Penalty to Arsenal!
Oh, wow. Arsenal have been second best in this second half - by a couple of dozen country miles - but they have a golden opportunity to retake the lead.
Hancko is again the offender, appearing to bring Eze down inside the area with a mistimed outstretched leg.
Off comes Álvarez, with Alex Baena on in his stead.
Álvarez, as he should, gets a warm ovation as he leaves the field.
Álvarez can't continue. He's hurt his ankle in a challenge with Eze, and signals to the bench that he has to come off.
Atlético have done more than enough to win this first leg. 1-1 is starting to flatter Arsenal in the extreme.
Oh, my. Atlético cut Arsenal to pieces, and it should be 2-1.
Griezmann slips Álvarez into space inside the Arsenal half, before the Argentine feeds it right to Llorente. Llorente, in turn squares it to the penalty spot to Lookman, who spins away from his man and into space to shoot.
Shoot he does... but it's too close to Raya! The Arsenal keeper brings the ball gratefully into his body.
Back come Atlético. The hosts stroke it from side to side, with Arsenal sitting in front of their penalty box, waiting.
Los Rojiblancos don't get very far on this occasion, it must be said, but Arsenal can't get a sniff of the ball, either.
We'll have to see whether that triple Arsenal substitution snaps the visitors back into life. In the immediate term, Atleti continue where they left off, charging forward at a backpedalling Gunners defense.
Griezmann tries to lift a smart ball from right to left to Lookman - but can't quite find the winger. Arsenal clear, for now.
Juanjo Martín / EFE
Atlético Madrid's players celebrate Julián Álvarez's equalizer at the Estadio Metropolitano.
Here are those Arsenal changes. There are three of them.
Martinelli, Madueke and Gyökeres are off. Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Trossard are on.
One Atleti corner becomes two. Then three. Finally, the ball is played to the back of the box to Lookman, who thrashes a volley towards goal - but just misses the target!
Arsenal really are hanging on right now. It is no surprise that Arteta is preparing to bring on subs.
Arsenal are rocking; Atleti are well on top. It's so, so close to being 2-1 to the hosts.
He's half falling over, but no matter: Griezmann still gets a sweetly dinked shot in from just inside the Arsenal area... and it bounces back off the woodwork!
Just a scare, it seems. Álvarez is back up now, and apparently running freely.
Ah. This is not a good sight for Atlético.
Álvarez is down in a heap, clutching his knee after a collision with Rice.
The Metropolitano is a very noisy place right now.
Arsenal, unless I am suffering from catastrophic short-term memory loss, have done the sum total of zip since the break. It's been all Atleti.
A change for Arsenal: Arteta has reacted to that Atleti equalizer by replacing Odegaard with Eberechi Eze.
Goal! Atlético 1-1 Arsenal - Álvarez levels from the spot!
Two keepers aren't saving that one, as they say. Álvarez utterly hammers it into the corner. Raya barely has time to move, let alone dive.
All square!
Penalty to Atlético!
Well, well, well. The hosts have an even better chance to level now!
Llorente plays the ball into the box, and it hits White's hand. Makkelie doesn't initially give it, but when he trots over to the pitchside monitor to have a second look, he reverses his decision!
Atlético are so close to levelling the tie! It's a double chance.
Which one's better? The first, I guess: Álvarez slips Lookman into space to run into the Arsenal box, before thumping a shot towards Raya's left-hand corner. Raya gets a firm hand to it to beat it out, but the loose ball falls straight to Griezmann.
From 12 yards out, Griezmann fires over!
A rare UCL KO penalty at the Metropolitano
That Gyökeres penalty, incidentally, is only the second ever given against Atlético in a home Champions League knockout tie.
Álvarez hits the free-kick... and just for moment, it seems like it's in! On Spanish TV, commentator Carlos Martínez begins to shout “gol”, only to realize that Álvarez's effort has flown juuust past the post and into the sidenetting.
Atlético win a free-kick, in range for an Álvarez effort.
Cardoso exchanges passes with Griezmann, before advancing towards the Arsenal box. He's promptly bundled over, by Gyökeres, and Makkelie has no hesitation in blowing his whistle.
Peeeep! We're back underway in Madrid.
Robin Le Normand is on for Giuliano Simeone. Le Normand slots into the defense, obviously, with Marcos Llorente pushing forward into the midfield.
Players back out
The teams have emerged from the tunnel for the second half, and Atlético are making a change.
"The referee buys it"
AS's Atlético Madrid expert Sergio Picos is deeply unimpressed with that penalty award.
“In a Champions League semifinal, the teams shouldn’t be separated by an incident like that,” Sergio says. “Gyökeres is very clever, he gets his body in the way and lets himself fall to the ground, and the referee buys it.”
And, in the interests of balance, AS USA's Roddy Cons has prepared this profile of Mikel Arteta's wife, the former Miss Spain Lorena Bernal.
Some half-time reading for you. Meet Diego Simeone's other half, courtesy of this profile by my colleague Andy Hall.
"Rather uneventful"
Well, I enjoyed that first half, at least. Our friends at SofaScore, less so:
Isabel Infantes / REUTERS
Atleti's penalty pain
This was the moment Danny Makkelie awarded Arsenal their penalty, after a rather ill-advised bit of chance-taking from Hancko.
Makkelie fielded the odd complaint or two as the players left the field for their half-time oranges, but 1-0 it is.
A very enjoyable first half, that.
Peeeep peeep peeep! And that's our lot for the first half.
Chants of “one-nil to the Arsenal” can be heard booming out of the away end.
There will be two minutes of time added on in Madrid.
Goal! Atlético 0-1 Arsenal - Gyökeres scores from the spot!
The striker thumps his penalty past Oblak and into the left-hand corner! The keeper might actually have got to it - it's not as if the ball kissed the post on its way in, and it was struck at a nice height. But in it goes, and Arsenal lead!
Penalty to Arsenal!
Martinelli touches the ball to Gyökeres inside the Atleti box, and Hancko leans into the Swede.
Gyökeres tumbles to the turf like the proverbial sack of spuds, and Danny Makkelie points to the spot. Looked a little soft, to be honest, though I've only been able to watch one replay.
And Atleti almost catch Arsenal on the counter. If Álvarez had been able to control the ball on the edge of the Gunners' box, it would have been an excellent shooting chance. He cannot control, though.
Once again, Arsenal hold possession in the Atleti half. The whistles grow louder and louder - as do the shouts of “Atleti, Atleti” - before Lookman does very well to win the ball back.
Madueke tries to dance past the Nigerian and into space to cross, but Lookman muscles his man off the ball.
Again Lookman carries the ball forward. He's a menace.
Griezmann makes a smart little run into space, but Lookman fails to find him. Had he been able to, Griezmann may have been in. The Nigerian instead spreads it right to Koke, who crosses - but has his delivery blocked.
DANI SANCHEZ / DIARIO AS
Cardoso blocks Odegaard's shot at the Estadio Metropolitano.
Oh, that's a shame. It's bright, inventive attacking play by Atleti, but it comes to zilch.
Lookman brings the ball forward, before slipping it right to Griezmann. He, in turn, touches it inside to Giuliano with a first-time layoff.
Giuliano then pings it to Álvarez, just inside the Arsenal box. The flaw in the former's plan, though, is that the latter is offside - and knows it. Álvarez doesn't even try to control the pass, and the chance is lost.
Oh, hello. Madueke absolutely wellies a shot towards goal... and is not far away from bursting Oblak's net.
Odegaard sets up Madueke with a very neat little touch, allowing the England winger to thunder forward into shooting space. His strike could not have been more firmly hit; it could, however, have been more accurately directed.
Having said that Arsenal have started to dominate the ball, Atleti do pick up possession now - and are not far away from creating an opener for Álvarez.
On the left, Ruggeri comes forward and whips an enticing cross into the box, right on the penalty spot. Álvarez jumps to meet it, but sends his header just over the bar!
Scoreless it remains - but as Opta notes, Atleti have been making a habit of goal-tastic games in this season's knockout stages.
It was even-stevens for the first 20 or so. But in the last couple of minutes, Arsenal have started to dominate the ball.
Gyökeres appears fine to continue, and Arsenal will deliver that corner.
Madueke it is who swings it into the area. Maghalaes flops to the turf, then gets up, arms raised, to enquire of the referee whether he might consider pointing to the spot. Mr Makkelie says he'll do no such thing, thank you very much.
Atleti clear.
In the process of winning that corner, Gyökeres has hurt himself. I think it's a slight blow to the head.
The Arsenal medics are on, magic sponge in hand.
Arsenal again set themselves up in the Atleti half, before popping it about for a good minute or two.
It's finally worked left to Martinelli, who touches it inside for Zubimendi to cross.
Zubimendi's cross is aimed in the direction of Gyökeres and Madueke at the far post, but neither can do anything with it. Arsenal are awarded a corner, though.
It's been a fun first quarter of an hour so. Nicely tit-for-tat.
A minute later, Arsenal very nearly set up Odegaard to open the scoring!
Receiving the pullback on the penalty spot, the Norwegian controls and shoots - but Cardoso is there to block! A crucial block, you hardly need me to tell you.
That's the closest we've come to a goal - and it's almost a pearler from Álvarez!
Receiving on the edge of the Arsenal box, he takes one touch to get the ball out of his feet, and a second to send a low, rasping drive towards Raya's bottom corner.
The Arsenal keeper is quickly across his goal to beat it out! Fine play by both attacker and goalkeeper.
Not only do Arsenal clear, but they almost get Gyökeres running in on Oblak.
That the counter is snuffed out is thanks to Llorente, who comes haring back to clear the danger.
Now it's Atleti's turn to push Arsenal back.
First, Griezmann tries a smart, first-time layoff on the edge of the box... but nobody in a red and white shirt is there to snaffle up the potential shooting chance.
A minute later, Llorente pushes forward down the right, before winning a throw-in that he will himself deliver.
Deliver he does, but Arsenal clear.
For the first time tonight, Arsenal hold the ball for a sustained period inside the Atlético half.
The home fans urge their team on with cries of “Atleti, Atleti!” - and Los Colchoneros respond by snuffing out Arsenal's attack. The Gunners swing a ball into the mixer from the right wing, but it's dealt with.
Hincapié swallows his disappointment over that missed chance to show some excellent defending.
When Atleti try to release Giualiano in behind the Arsenal defender, the Ecuadorian is strong enough and alert enough to hold the Argentine off. The ball runs out for an Arsenal goal-kick.
Ah, but when Arsenal do get out and cross the halfway line, they create the best chance of the game so far.
Madueke does ever so well to burst towards the right-hand byline, before dinking a delicious little ball across the six-yard box.
Both Martinelli and Hincapié are arriving at the back stick - and they get in each other's way! The ball trickles behind for an Atleti goal kick, and an excellent chance has been spurned.
The home team, as I guess is to be expected, is carrying the initiative in these opening minutes.
On the right, Lookman tries to slip Llorente into space to cut it back from the byline... but his pass is too long. Arsenal clear.
Should you wish to know more about tonight's referee, by the way, let me point you in the direction of this profile by my colleague Andy Hall.
Right away, Atlético Madrid come pouring forward.
Antoine Griezmann slips it left to Julián Álvarez, who cuts back onto his right foot, some 30 yards out from goal.
Álvarez winds up to shoot, but his effort is blocked.
Peeeep! Our referee, the Dutchman Danny Makkelie, gets us underway!
Final reminder of the teams
Martin Odegaard and Koke, the two captains, are just now tossing. As we wait for them to finish, here's a last look at the teams:
Atlético Madrid:
Oblak, Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri, Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Lookman, Álvarez, Griezmann.
Arsenal:
Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié, Rice, Odegaard, Zubimendi, Madueke, Gyökeres, Martinelli.
Out come the teams!
It is quite loud inside the Estadio Metropolitano.
The teams emerge from the tunnel to deafening noise - and a veritable rainfall of toilet roll hurled down from the stands.
Opta backing Arsenal to oust Atleti
As ever, the statisticians at Opta have been giving their ‘supercomputer’ plenty of work to do ahead of this week's Champions League semifinals. It's been running the simulations - and gives Arsenal a 71.7% chance of making the final at Atlético’s expense.
For the first leg, however, the percentages are much tighter: Atlético are given a 35% likelihood of winning the game, with a victory for Arsenal valued ever so slightly higher, at 37%.
My colleague Roddy Cons has more on Atlético's record against English teams.
Atleti's up-and-down record vs EPL teams
That 2017/18 Europa League matchup is one of three European semifinals that Atlético have played against English clubs - and they've progressed from them all.
However: the record books also show that the Spaniards have only won two of their last 12 games against Premier League teams. So, yeah. Good and bad for Los Colchoneros.
Atleti's semi satisfaction against Arsenal
This is not, though, the first time Arsenal and Atlético Madrid have met in a European semifinal.
In the last four of the Europa League in 2017/18, Atlético came out on top, winning 2-1 on aggregate - on their way to winning the competition.
After despatching the Gunners, Los Rojiblancos swept Marseille aside in the final, triumphing 3-0 in Lyon.
A historic shellacking for Atleti
Per Opta, that league-phase win for Arsenal was Atlético's joint-heaviest Champions League defeat under Diego Simeone.
Level, unless I am mistaken, with a 4-0 boshing by Bayern Munich in 2020.
Have Atleti and Arsenal met before in the UCL?
Yes: As I mentioned earlier, this is not Arsenal and Atlético's first meeting in this season's Champions League.
In October, the teams squared off in the league phase at the Emirates - and the Premier League side romped to a 4-0 win, thanks to a four-goal blitz in 13 second-half minutes.
Gabriel Magalhaes opened the scoring in the 56th minute, before Gabriel Martinelli added a second seven minutes later. Viktor Grökeres then completed a thumping win for the Gunners, netting in the 66th and 69th minutes.
That was the clubs’ first ever clash in the Europe’s top club competition.
What the coaches said: Simeone
Are you owed one in the UCL?
“The Champions League doesn’t owe us anything. You have to fight for things and deserve them, and of course get a helping hand from Lady Luck!”
Dreaming of the final:
“Dreaming is all well and good, but the reality is what happens out on the field.”
At a glance: Atlético's recent form
Los Rojiblancos' last five results:
Apr. 25: Atlético Madrid 3-2 Athletic Club, LaLiga
Apr. 22: Elche 3-2 Atlético Madrid, LaLiga
Apr. 18: Atlético Madrid 2-2 Real Sociedad*, Copa del Rey
Apr. 14: Atlético Madrid 1-2 Barcelona, UCL
Apr. 11: Sevilla 2-1 Atlético Madrid, LaLiga
*Real Sociedad won on penalties
Can Atleti secure club game's biggest prize?
Back in the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2017 - and for the seventh time overall - Atlético know that their only hope of winning silverware this season is in Europe's top club competition.
Beaten in this month's Copa del Rey final, Los Rojiblancos sit a whopping 25 points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona, who are now well out of reach. Atleti are all but certain to finish fourth: with five games to go, they sit five points behind third-placed Villarreal and 10 points ahead of Real Betis in fifth.
What has Atleti's form been like?
Atlético's domestic form is also not without its blemishes of late.
Like Arsenal, Los Colchoneros returned to winning ways in the league at the weekend, beating Athletic Club 3-2.
That win, largely secured thanks to a double from Alexander Sorloth, ended a run of five defeats across LaLiga and the Copa del Rey final. (It should be noted, though, that the cup loss to Real Sociedad was on penalties.)
What the coaches said: Arteta
Privilege:
“It's a massive privilege to be here again, two years in a row at the same part of the Champions League, representing our club. We have an opportunity, we're going to grab it with both hands.
Decisive:
“You're going to see a team that wants to be dominant, that wants to win it, and they want to start to decide the tie tomorrow.”
Locker room locked in
I can confirm that the Atleti kit has been expertly laid out in the Metropolitano locker room.
Gunners on long undefeated UCL streak
It is worth noting, though, that Arsenal are unbeaten in Europe this season.
Mikel Arteta's men are undefeated in 12 Champions League games, a sequence that stretches back to last year’s semifinals. Their last defeat was a 2-1 loss to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of the 2024/25 last four, just under 365 days ago.
At a glance: Arsenal's recent form
The Gunners' last five results:
Apr. 25: Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United, EPL
Apr. 19: Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal, EPL
Apr. 15: Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP, UCL
Apr. 11: Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth, EPL
Apr. 7: Sporting CP 0-1 Arsenal, UCL
David Klein / REUTERS
Arsenal back at top of EPL - for now
However, Arsenal returned to winning ways on the domestic front on Saturday, thanks to a 1-0 win over Newcastle that has taken them back to the top of the Premier League table - for the moment, at least.
Eberechi Eze’s sweet curling shot was the difference at the Emirates Stadium, as Arsenal went three points clear of a Manchester City team that now has a game in hand.
How did Arsenal reach the UCL semis?
Arsenal find themselves in the Champions League semifinals for the fourth time - and for the second year in a row.
The Gunners returned to the last four by squeaking past Sporting CP in the quarterfinals: Kai Havertz's late first-leg strike in Lisbon was the tie's only goal.
That victory in Portugal came amid a four-game winless streak in English soccer - a run that saw Arsenal exit both domestic cups and relinquish top spot in the Premier League.
Isabel Infantes / REUTERS
Rousing Rojiblanco reception
Atlético fans welcome their players to the Estadio Metropolitano, as the team bus pulls in at the arena ahead of today's semifinal.
Saka on the bench for Arsenal
As for Arsenal, there are two changes to the team that began Saturday's Premier League win over Newcastle United. Gabriel Martinelli replaces weekend goalscorer Eberechi Eze, while Viktor Gyökeres is in for the injured Kai Havertz. Eze hurt himself against Newcastle, but is on the bench today.
Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka returned from injury as a late substitute against Newcastle, but doesn't start in Madrid. Noni Madueke continues on the right wing.
In addition to Havertz, who has hurt his knee, Arsenal are without Jurrien Timber (ankle) and Mikel Merino (foot).
Lookman in for the hosts, Hancko back from injury
For Atlético, Jan Oblak starts in goal ahead of Juan Musso, while David Hancko returns from an ankle injury to play for first time since April 8's Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Barcelona.
In attack, Ademola Lookman had been a fitness doubt with a groin twang of some sort, but he’s in Diego Simeone’s XI tonight.
Atlético are without injury victims Pablo Barrios, José María Giménez and Nico González.
Atlético XI also in
And this is what the home team is going to look like: Oblak, Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri, Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Lookman, Álvarez, Griezmann.
Arsenal lineup confirmed
Arteta has named his XI in Madrid. Arsenal line up thusly: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié, Rice, Odegaard, Zubimendi, Madueke, Gyökeres, Martinelli.
Can Atleti, Arsenal break UCL duck?
PSG and Bayern are both previous winners of the European Cup/Champions League: the Parisians lifted their maiden continental title last year, while the Germans have six crowns to their name.
But - as I mentioned in my intro - neither of tonight's semifinalists have ever got their hands on the big-eared trophy.
Atlético have been to the title game three times before in European Cup history, but lost all three in heartbreaking fashion
In 1974, Los Rojiblancos went down to Bayern in a replay, having conceded a last-gasp equalizer in the initial game. Forty years later, Atleti were again denied by a leveller at the death, this time against city rivals Real Madrid.
And two years on, in the 2016 final, Atleti went down to Madrid once more - this time on penalties.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are in pursuit of their second appearance in the Champions League final. Arsenal reached the showpiece event in 2006, but after taking a first-half lead in Paris, the 10-man Gunners were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona.
Budapest awaits...
PSG and Bayern meet in the return leg next Wednesday, May 7 - by which time one of Atlético Madrid or Arsenal will already be awaiting in the 2026 final.
That title decider is to be held on May 31 in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, at the 67,000-capacity Puská Arena.
And it turns out Calum was not the only soccer journalist to react to yesterday's bonanza in the French capital.
My colleagues Pedro Iranzo and Roddy Cons have taken a look at the response of the world's media to PSG 5-4 Bayern.
My colleague Calum Roche was so enthused by what he saw that he wrote it up into what we in the news business call: an article.
In addition to gushing copiously over the festival of football we witnessed at Parc des Princes, Calum also looked back over the Champions League's highest-scoring ties across two legs. Clue: One of them happened at this stage last year.
Ripping up the record books
Never before in the history of European club competition have both teams scored four times in the same last-four game. That's according to Opta, anyway.
Stephanie Lecocq / REUTERS
A UCL night to remember in Paris
Zero pressure on tonight's teams, obviously, as they follow one of the greatest games in Champions League history.
PSG, a team chasing a second straight Champions League title, lead Bayern Munich 5-4 after edging a bonkers semifinal first leg.
Indeed, it was a history-maker of a game...
Atlético Madrid vs Arsenal: welcome
Hello there! Yesterday's Champions League semifinal was - I believe this is the technical term - an absolute ripsnorter. Now: over to Atlético Madrid and Arsenal.
Meeting in the Champions League for the second time this season, Atlético and Arsenal open up their last-four tie in the Spanish capital, as both clubs continue their pursuit of a maiden European title.
Kickoff at the Estadio Metropolitano is at 3:00 p.m. ET/12 noon PT. We’ll bring you team news just as soon as it’s in.
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