Advertisement
Simeone reacts after Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal UEFA Champions League stalemate
30th April, 2026 11:02 AM
Clinical penalties from Viktor Gyökeres and Julián Alvarez ensured the first leg of Atlético de Madrid and Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League semi-final finished 1-1 level on Wednesday night, April 29, 2026.
Piero Hincapié, Martin Ødegaard and Noni Madueke had come close for the Gunners while Atleti’s Julián Alvarez stung the palms of David Raya after some artful footwork in the 14th minute and later headed over from Matteo Ruggeri’s delivery.
A first-half breakthrough seemed unlikely as those chances came and went but Gyökeres had other ideas, the Swedish forward dispatching powerfully from the spot on 44 minutes having been brought down by Dávid Hancko.
Atleti were level within 11 minutes of the restart, Alvarez, Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann threatening as part of an electric start before the Argentinian forward ripped a perfect penalty into the top-left corner following a Ben White handball.
Diego Simeone’s charges remained on top, Griezmann striking the crossbar and Lookman testing Raya in the ensuing 20 minutes, and enjoyed the best opportunity of the closing stages too – Nahuel Molina firing over in stoppage time.
Starting line-ups
Atleti: Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone (Le Normand 46), Koke, Cardoso (Molina 88), Lookman; Griezmann, Alvarez (Álex Baena 77)
Arsenal: Raya; White (Mosquera 86), Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Ødegaard (Eze 57), Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke (Saka 68), Gyökeres (Jesus 68), Martinelli (Trossard 68)
Key stats
Julián Álvarez scored his 25th Champions League goal in his 41st appearance in the competition. He is the fastest Argentinian to that total, surpassing Lionel Messi’s mark of 25 goals in 42 games.
Alvarez is the first Atleti player to score 10 goals in a single Champions League campaign.
Viktor Gyökeres is the first Swedish player to score in a Champions League semi-final.
The Arsenal No14 struck his first goal in the Champions League knockout phase.
Atleti have lost only two of their last 19 European matches (W9 D8) against English opposition in Madrid.
Arsenal remain the only unbeaten team in this Champions League season with ten wins and three draws in their 13 matches.
Managers’ reaction
Diego Simeone, Atleti coach: “The first half was evenly matched. Maybe they had more possession, but they didn’t create many chances. They have a very strong squad – when the substitutes came on, they were better than the starters. Even so, we were better than them in the second half.”
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal coach, speaking to TNT Sports: “We had a lot of positives, a lot of very good things that we did. This team [Atleti] – the history and the record that they have at home is incredible. So we knew we were going to have to navigate that.
