Atletico Madrid 1-1 Arsenal: Gyokeres 44; Alvarez 56
When these two sides met in the league phase in October Arsenal thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0, but this Champions League semi-final was always going to be a different ball game.
Two penalties scored, another given and then overturned, some tense moments, speculative shots, and both sides come away with a draw. Watching this game was like spending 90 minutes watching two men arm-wrestling, locked in a tight grip but neither side strong enough to throw the other.
At times it was like watching a row that looks like it could be the beginning of an entertaining street fight, like it could come to blows at any moment, except it never does and both parties just end up talking it out. This is what happens when two teams are desperate not to lose, unwilling to risk too much, to give too many chances away.
It was fitting that both goals in this 1-1 draw came from penalty kicks, and neither of them resulting from particularly dangerous attacks. First Viktor Gyokeres found space in the box after Martin Zubimendi had combined perfunctorily with Martin Odegaard. He dawdled but the possibility of taking a shot was there and David Hancko, desperate to stop him, leaned too much into him from behind and the referee pointed to the spot.
Atletico argued but the chances of overturning it were next to nothing. Gyokeres stepped up and fired left, a hard and powerful shot that sent the ball flying between Jan Oblak’s outstretched arms and into the net. It was advantage Arsenal heading into the break, after a first 45 minutes when they had started with the jitters, their hosts dictating play, before they grew into the game and seized control, creating chances, even if the penalty was their only shot on target.
Poetry in motion 🥹💫 pic.twitter.com/9ndVIJTtnw
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) April 29, 2026
In the second half Atletico had to start with intensity before the game could get away from them and they did. Julian Alvarez’s 25-yard freekick was close, taking a nice dip before nestling into the side netting, the diving David Raya relieved to see it go on the wrong side of the post.
Ademola Lookman next went through on goal but Raya saved expertly, before Antoine Griezmann’s follow-up was deflected away by Gabriel. From the resulting corner kick, Marcos Llorente took a speculative shot, a pathetic, mishit thing going well wide, but it hit Ben White’s outstretched left arm and Atletico demanded a penalty. The referee was sent to the monitor and returned pointing to the spot. Alvarez stepped up and cracked a shot left beyond a statuesque Raya.
There was more to come from the home side as they gained momentum, and by the time Griezmann’s effort had hit the bar and Alvarez’s corner had to be clawed over the bar, Mikel Arteta had seen enough and made a triple substitution, sending on Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard for Noni Madueke, Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli.
Lookman was wasteful when Atletico could have gone ahead and then it was Arsenal who looked like they would edge the tie, after Eberechi Eze appeared to have been fouled by Hancko. Atletico were vociferous in their protests that it was not deserved and the referee consulted the monitor once more. The replay convinced him his original decision was incorrect and he rescinded it. Arteta turned away in disgust.
And so the tight chess match continued. Arsenal had a greater grip on things as time wound down but there was very little to suggest that either side could concede a crushing late blow.
