The numbers don’t lie: Arsenal’s success vs Spanish teams in the Champions League spells trouble for Simeone
Arsenal will reach their first Champions League final since 2006 if they continue their fine recent form against LaLiga teams when they face Atlético Madrid.
How much can past results predict the future in soccer? Arsenal will be hoping they are very much an indicator of things to come as they gear up to face Atlético Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday.
Spain is comfortably the country whose teams have enjoyed the most success in European competitions, with 67 all-time victories, including 20 in the European Cup and Champions League. England and Italy come next on 50.
However, Arsenal have recently found something close to an antidote when it comes to facing Spanish clubs.
Arsenal’s recent dominance over Spanish sides
Prior to their first-leg draw against Atlético in Madrid, the Gunners had won seven straight games against Spanish clubs in the Champions League. That run included a 4-0 win over Diego Simeone’s side at the Emirates in the league phase, plus both legs of last season’s quarterfinal against Real Madrid.
The last time Arsenal lost to a Spanish team in Europe’s top competition was in the 2015-16 season, when they were beaten home and away by Barcelona in the round of 16.
Since then, the London club have lost to Atlético Madrid and Villarreal, although those defeats came in the Europa League.
Overall record against teams from Spain
All in all, Arsenal have a winning record against LaLiga sides in Europe. In 45 matches, they have won 19, drawn 10 and lost 16, for a win percentage of 42.2%.
That said, their European history against Spanish opposition also includes some of their most painful nights.
Spanish heartbreak in European finals
Arsenal have lost three major European finals to Spanish clubs: Valencia in the 1980 Cup Winners’ Cup, Real Zaragoza in 1995, and Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League.
Will they continue their supremacy against LaLiga opposition, or is another painful chapter about to be added on Tuesday?
Unbeaten streaks do not last forever, and Arsenal will know better than most that history in Europe has a habit of remembering the nights that go wrong more than the ones that go right.
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