Arsenal and Atlético battle for Champions League final in London. The fate of a Champions League final spot is being decided in London. Atlético and Arsenal start after a 1:1 draw. The Spanish club is counting on experience and a strong record in away games.
Today in London, the key Champions League semifinal match between Arsenal and Atlético de Madrid takes place. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Metropolitano, both teams retain equal chances of reaching the tournament final, which will be held on May 30 in Budapest.
The starting lineups for the match have already been announced. Atlético will field Oblak, Pubill, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri, Giuliano, Koke, Llorente, Lookman, Griezmann, and Julián Álvarez. Arsenal will start with Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Eze, Saka, Trossard, and Gyokeres.
Spanish experience away from home
For Atlético, this semifinal is a chance to return to the final of Europe’s main tournament for the first time since 2017. Arsenal has not played in a Champions League final for two decades—since 2006, when they lost to Barcelona. The history of Madrid's away performances after home draws works in their favor: out of ten similar cases in European competitions, they have succeeded six times. Particularly notable are their wins over English clubs—in 2014, Atlético advanced past Chelsea after a 3-1 away victory, and in the 2022–2023 season, they eliminated Manchester United, winning 1-0 at Old Trafford after a home draw.
Statistics and precedents
In recent years, Diego Simeone's team has been successful in overcoming semifinal stages: six wins in their last seven attempts, including a victory over Arsenal in the 2017-2018 Europa League. The only exception was a loss to Real Madrid in the 2016-2017 season. However, they have not always managed to advance after home draws: in the 2008-2009 season, Atlético lost to Porto on the away goals rule.
Arsenal remains unbeaten in the Champions League
Mikel Arteta's team has yet to lose in this Champions League campaign. Moreover, during the group stage at the Emirates, Arsenal already thrashed Atlético 4-0. This adds intrigue and pressure for the visitors, who rely on their experience and discipline in decisive matches.
Context and parallels
Attention to this fixture is also fueled by other crucial matches this season. For example, in La Liga Hypermotion, a similar battle for survival recently unfolded between Cultural Leonesa and Cádiz — details about that match are available here. Such encounters show just how high the stakes are in every moment at the end of the season.
