Who: Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal
What: Champions League semifinal, first leg
The place: Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, Spain
When: Wednesday, April 29 at 9pm (19:00 GMT)
How you can observe: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 16:00 GMT prematurely of our reside textual content commentary stream.
Arsenal’s file as the one unbeaten soccer crew on this season’s Champions League will likely be examined within the intense environment of the Metropolitano Stadium.
Really useful Tales
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The Gunners have conceded simply 5 objectives in 12 video games up to now, the type of file related to Atletico throughout coach Diego Simeone’s lengthy reign of feisty soccer.
However it is a extra expansive Atletico aspect, with a shocking 26 objectives conceded in 14 Champions League video games this season, whereas Julian Alvarez has scored 9 of the 34 scored on the different finish.
The 2 groups have already confronted off this season, however Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Atletico in October within the league stage feels a very long time in the past. A four-goal burst in 15 second-half minutes, together with two from Viktor Gyokeres, confirmed a freedom that Mikel Arteta’s crew has discovered onerous to recapture in a tense second half of the season.
Arsenal have endured a rocky patch just lately – dropping to Man Metropolis within the League Cup remaining, and in a key league sport – however keep a three-point lead on the prime of the desk, though Metropolis have a sport in hand.
The hosts, in the meantime, are fourth in La Liga, and the Champions League represents their final hope of silverware this season after defeat in final weekend’s Copa del Rey remaining.
Atletico’s path to the semifinals has been taking first-leg leads – ambushing Tottenham at residence then successful at Barcelona – earlier than using out extreme strain within the return sport. That will likely be in London on Tuesday subsequent week.
The winners will face both Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain within the remaining in Budapest on Could 30.
What have the managers mentioned?
Atleti coach Diego Simeone mentioned, “We’re heading into the semifinals with all our enthusiasm and all our religion. We all know our strengths and our weaknesses. We’ve got nice confidence in what we do. We’re prepared, and we’re going to go after what we’ve been chasing for a few years.”
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta mentioned, “It’s an enormous second [to reach consecutive semi-finals]. It’s the primary time in our historical past, in 140 years – to be a part of these 4 groups is one thing very particular. You need to earn it. You need to undergo loads of work.”
What have the gamers mentioned?
Atleti ahead Antoine Griezmann mentioned, “It doesn’t matter who we face so long as we’re nonetheless in it. It’s been an awesome and difficult tie [against Barcelona] in opposition to a improbable crew that performs very effectively. It was a battle, however we’re nonetheless in it.”
Arsenal ahead Gabriel Martinelli famous, “We imagine in ourselves, we all know the standard we’ve. We received in opposition to them within the league part, however it’s going to be a totally totally different sport.”
How did Atletico attain the semifinals?
Atletico Madrid despatched 10-man Barcelona crashing out of the Champions League and reached the ultimate 4 with a 3-2 aggregate victory, regardless of a 2-1 quarterfinal second-leg defeat.
Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres fired guests Barca forward inside 24 minutes, however Ademola Lookman’s strike gave Atletico the sting within the gripping all-Spanish tie after their 2-0 win within the first leg.
How did Arsenal attain the semifinals?
Arsenal reached the Champions League semifinals after using their luck in a nervous goalless draw in opposition to Sporting Lisbon that clinched a 1-0 mixture victory.
Mikel Arteta’s crew have been effectively beneath their greatest within the quarterfinal second leg on the Emirates Stadium, however they held onto their slender first-leg benefit as Sporting didn’t make them pay.
Head-to-head
The 2 golf equipment have solely confronted one another on three events, with every successful one sport and one match ending as a draw.
Earlier than assembly this season, the previews encounter ended up being the final European tie for former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
- October 21, 2025: Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid (Champions League, league stage)
- Could 03, 2018: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Europa League semifinal)
- April 26, 2018: Arsenal 1-1 Atletico Madrid (Europa League semifinal)
What occurred once they final performed one another?
Arsenal thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0 again in October due to a devastating second-half broadside on the Emirates Stadium in a Champions League league-stage conflict.
What had been a compelling conflict with little between the edges within the first half turned an Arsenal rout, with objectives by Gabriel, Martinelli and a brace from Gyokeres leaving Simeone’s aspect shell-shocked.
Have both aspect ever received the European Cup/Champions League?
Neither aspect have ever been European champions.
Atletico reached the ultimate in 2014 and 2016, and have been overwhelmed on each events by archrivals Actual Madrid.
Arsenal reached the ultimate in 2006, however have been overwhelmed 2-1 by Barcelona.
Atletico’s crew information
Midfielder Pablo Barrios is about to overlook the sport and will likely be out for a couple of month after sustaining a thigh harm in opposition to Bilbao.
Lookman was not named within the squad for the weekend sport after selecting up a knock within the Copa del Rey remaining defeat by Actual Sociedad, however could return for the Arsenal sport.
Defender David Hancko can also be anticipated to stay unavailable attributable to an harm.
Predicted beginning XI:
Oblak (goalkeeper); Molina, Le Normand, Lenglet, Ruggeri; Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Gonzalez; Griezmann, Alvarez
Arsenal’s crew information
Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze have been each compelled off with muscle tissue points within the win over Newcastle – Eze subsequently mentioned he got here off as a precaution and is “positive”, however Havertz is a doubt.
Midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who was taken off at half-time in opposition to Newcastle, may also face a late evaluation.
Riccardo Calafiori remains to be recovering from a knock and is a significant doubt, whereas Jurrien Timber has been out with a groin difficulty for a couple of month and is probably going nonetheless a way from making a full restoration.
Mikel Merino is unquestionably unavailable as he recovers from surgical procedure on an ankle harm.
Predicted beginning XI:
Raya (goalkeeper); White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
