The match between Madrid’s Atlético and London’s Arsenal ended in a tough defeat for the Spanish side. Despite a confident start and putting up commendable resistance for nearly an hour, the Madrid team failed to maintain their balance and conceded four goals in a short period.
In the first half, Atlético tried to control the game, but their defense struggled against the opponent’s quick attacks. Problems were especially evident when trying to get back into position and organize the offside trap. After one such mistake, Arsenal opened the scoring, as Gabriel capitalized on the chaos in the penalty area.
After conceding the goal, the Madrid side tried to equalize, and Giuliano had a chance to level the score, but his shot went wide. Head coach Diego Simeone made a triple substitution, bringing on new players, but it did not have the desired effect. Just a few minutes later, the Londoners scored three more times, demonstrating great finishing and confidence in their play.
In one episode, the referee showed cards to Giménez and Zubimendi and called a foul on Nico, after which Martinelli scored from a Saka assist, though the play raised questions about a possible offside. In response, Atlético nearly scored when Julian hit the crossbar.
In the closing stages of the match, Griezmann and Almada came on, while Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made several substitutions, allowing the team to maintain a high tempo until the final whistle. The London side appeared more balanced and had greater squad depth compared to the Madrid club.
Special mention goes to Eze, who made his debut after Arsenal paid a significant sum for his transfer—an amount comparable to the fee paid for Juliano by Atlético. Simeone again relied on Sørloth in the starting lineup, just as he had in previous key matches.
From the very start, the right flank of Madrid’s defense faced serious difficulties under pressure from Timber and Saka. Hanko struggled to keep up, and one of Giménez’s mistakes nearly resulted in a goal after Eze’s shot hit the crossbar. Another dangerous moment was created by Lewis-Skelly, but his effort went wide.
The visitors’ best chance came after a battle by Giuliano, who forced a mistake from the opponent and set up an opportunity for Juliano, but he failed to take advantage.
As a result, Atlético suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat, losing to a team that showcased its superiority in all aspects and demonstrated its squad depth.
