Arsenal host Atlético Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday night, with the tie locked at 1–1.
The Gunners ultimately left the Spanish capital content with their night‘s work and are the favorites to progress into their first Champions League final since they were beaten 2–1 by Barcelona in Paris 20 years ago.
Arsène Wenger’s side overcame La Liga opposition in the form of Villarreal to reach the competition’s showpiece event in 2006, and supporters will be pleading for a repeat of history midweek. Arsenal have gradually improved their Champions League standing since they broke bread with Europe’s aristocracy again three years ago
They were quarterfinalists in 2023–24, then semifinalists last season. Bypassing Atléti would represent linear progression, and a scintillating opponent will await them in Budapest.
Diego Simeone‘s Rojiblancos cannot be written off, though. After an oddly cautious start on home soil, Atléti burst into life at the start of the second half, and they’ll be confident of hurting the Gunners in north London.
The visitors are aiming to reach the final for the third time since Simeone took over, but it’s been a decade since they were last on club soccer’s grandest stage.
We shouldn’t expect a repeat of the league phase outing, when Arsenal blew Atléti away in the second half to claim an emphatic 4–0 victory.
The Gunners have stuttered their way through the run-in so far, but performed with a rediscovered swagger at the weekend in their 3–0 win over Fulham.
They’ll be tough to slow down if the spirit of Saturday is evoked on what’s bound to be a tense and frantic night against an opponent who believe it may well be their destiny to win this competition for the very first time.
Home advantage: Arsenal have been outstanding at the Emirates in the Champions League this season, winning all but one of their games—the 0–0 draw with Sporting CP in the previous round.
Arsenal’s record vs. Spanish opposition: The Gunners have won seven of their previous eight games against Spanish opposition in this competition, and they’re also unbeaten against Atléti.
Atléti’s road woes: Before they beat 10-man Barcelona at the Camp Nou to help them reach the last, Atléti had won just one of their previous six Champions League away games. They’ve also lost in England three times this season, and been beaten in six of their last seven Champions League encounters against Premier League opposition.
