Griezmann history offers Atlético roadmap against Arsenal

Griezmann’s Champions League journey with Atlético Madrid didn’t begin on the brightest note. The French forward made his European debut for the red-and-white side against Olympiacos on September 16, 2014. He started on the bench, came on in the second half for Gabi and scored, but his team lost. Twelve years on, the Madrid club is once again leaning on him as they try to eliminate Arsenal and book another Champions League final spot. It won’t be easy, but the forward has already delivered crucial goals in Europe under Diego Simeone.

Arsenal game revives familiar Atlético storyline

Some of those strikes remain etched in Atlético supporters’ collective memory. Take, for instance, his brace against Barcelona in the 2015–16 quarterfinals. On April 13, 2016, Simeone’s side won 2-0 at a packed Vicente Calderón, with both goals coming from Antoine Griezmann – one a header from a Saúl Ñíguez cross, the other from the penalty spot. After a 2-1 result in the first leg, Atlético advanced.

The semifinals brought Bayern Munich. Atlético won the first leg 1-0, again through Saúl, but the return leg was an ordeal. It was one of the most intense defensive displays the team has endured. Still, they held firm, and Griezmann, set up by Fernando Torres, struck decisively in the 54th minute. Atlético lost 2-1 on the night but reached the Milan final.

How many goals has Griezmann scored for Atlético?

In the Champions League, he also scored twice against Liverpool in a group-stage game on October 19, 2021, where he was the standout performer. He netted a brace but was later sent off by German referee Daniel Siebert – the same official set to oversee the upcoming match in London.

Griezmann is Atlético’s all-time leading scorer with 212 goals. In the Champions League, wearing the club’s colors, he has 40 goals and 16 assists in 97 games. But he has also celebrated key moments in the Europa League.

One of those came against Arsenal in the semifinals of the 2017–18 season. In the first leg, Atlético went down to 10 men in the ninth minute after Šime Vrsaljko was sent off, yet the Frenchman made it 1-1 in the 82nd minute – a goal driven by sheer belief. In the return leg, a 1-0 win sealed progression, with Griezmann assisting Diego Costa.

In the Lyon final, Atlético dismantled Marseille, with two goals from Griezmann and another from Gabi, securing the Europa League title. In that competition, he recorded six goals and four assists in just eight games. Now, he is chasing another final.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.