Atletico Madrid 1-1 Arsenal: Highlights, man of the match, stats as a tale of three penalties sees Champions League semi-final first leg finish all square

Atletico Madrid came from down to gully 1-1 with Arsenal successful the archetypal limb of their Champions League semi-final successful the Spanish superior connected Wednesday night.

Arsenal took the pb done Viktor Gyokeres precocious successful the archetypal period, with the Sweden planetary scoring from the punishment spot aft David Hancko had fouled the Gunners striker wrong the box.

Atletico past had a punishment of their ain aboriginal successful the 2nd half, which Julian Alvarez dispatched, and that proved to beryllium the extremity of the scoring at Metropolitano Stadium.

Arsenal were awarded a 2nd punishment precocious connected erstwhile Eberechi Eze went down wrong the container nether a situation from Hancko, but it was overturned pursuing proposal from VAR.

SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT

It is simply a lawsuit of arsenic you were betwixt Atletico and Arsenal, and the semi-final is truthful delicately poised up of the instrumentality fixture successful the English superior adjacent week.

Arsenal were the amended squad successful the archetypal half, portion Atletico were the stronger successful the second, truthful a gully was astir right, though the Gunners volition constituent to the precocious punishment that was controversially overturned.

Atletico caput manager Diego Simeone would person been furious with his team's show successful the archetypal half, with Arsenal allowed to navigate the opening 45 minutes without large incident.

However, that each changed successful the 2nd half, and the Red and Whites volition consciousness that they should person scored a 2nd during a play of domination aft making it 1-1.

Arsenal volition beryllium the favourites considering that the 2nd limb is astatine the Emirates Stadium and it is level successful the tie, but the Spanish outfit are surely bully capable to navigate their mode into the final.

ATLETICO MADRID VS. ARSENAL HIGHLIGHTS

Viktor Gyokeres extremity vs. Atletico Madrid (44th min, Atletico Madrid 0-1 Arsenal)

Arsenal instrumentality the pb from the punishment spot soon earlier the half-time break, arsenic Gyokeres smashes the shot into the backmost of the nett aft the Gunners striker had been fouled by Hancko.

Julian Alvarez extremity vs. Arsenal (56th min, Atletico Madrid 1-1 Arsenal)

Atletico person a punishment of their ain erstwhile Ben White is penalised for a handball pursuing a VAR check, and Alvarez steps up to occurrence the shot into the backmost of the nett for 1-1.

MAN OF THE MATCH - ANTOINE GRIEZMANN

Griezmann is leaving Atletico astatine the extremity of June, with the Frenchman heading to Orlando City, and his beingness volition beryllium missed desperately by the Red and Whites.

The 35-year-old rolled backmost the years with a Grade A show connected Wednesday night, and helium deserved to beryllium connected the winning broadside specified was the level of his wide show successful the Spanish capital.

ATLETICO MADRID VS. ARSENAL MATCH STATS

Possession: Atletico Madrid 52%-48% Arsenal

Shots: Atletico Madrid 18-11 Arsenal

Shots connected target: Atletico Madrid 4-2 Arsenal

Corners: Atletico Madrid 6-1 Arsenal

Fouls: Atletico Madrid 7-11 Arsenal

BEST STATS

Including tonight's game, Arsenal (57) and Atlético Madrid (55) are the 2 teams from Europe's big-five leagues who person played the astir matches crossed each competitions successful 2025/26. ? https://t.co/bF36L99sSS

Since the commencement of December 2025, Martín Zubimendi has made much starts than immoderate different midfielder for a big-five European league nine crossed each competitions (31st tonight). ? pic.twitter.com/XKneuPHVSR

WHAT NEXT?

Arsenal's attraction volition present power backmost to the Premier League; the Gunners volition spell six points wide of second-placed Manchester City astatine the acme if they bushed Fulham connected Saturday evening.

Atletico, meanwhile, volition beryllium aiming to marque it back-to-back wins successful Spain's apical formation erstwhile they resume their home run distant to Valencia connected Saturday afternoon.