[EPN NPNow's Yoon Dong-geun] Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw with Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal on April 29 at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
The result leaves Arsenal in a favorable position heading into the second leg at home. Analytics provider Opta put Arsenal’s probability of reaching the final at 76.14%.
Arsenal deployed a 4-3-3. Manager Mikel Arteta started David Raya in goal with a back four of Incapae, Gabriel Magalhães, William Saliba and Ben White. Declan Rice, Suvimendi and Martin Ødegaard occupied midfield, while Martinelli, Yokeres and Noni Madueke led the attack.
Diego Simeone set Atlético up in a 4-4-2. Jan Oblak was in goal, with Rugeri, Hantsko, Pubil and Llorente across the back line. The midfield trio featured Lukman, Cardoso, Koke and Juliano Simeone, and the front two were Álvarez and Griezmann.
Arsenal began on the front foot, with Madueke particularly lively and driving much of their early pressure. Atlético absorbed the pressure and defended in numbers.
In the 42nd minute, Arsenal won the ball high upfield and launched a quick break. Inside the box, Yokeres was fouled by Hantsko, and the referee awarded a penalty.
Two minutes later, Yokeres calmly converted the spot kick to give Arsenal the lead on the road.
Atlético responded after the break. In the seventh minute of the second half, Lukman tested Raya with a shot that the goalkeeper saved. From the resulting corner, White was judged to have handled the ball in the box; after a VAR review, the penalty decision stood.
Álvarez stepped up in the 11th minute of the second half and converted to level the tie.
Atlético pressed for a winner and had chances—Griezmann rattled the post—but could not find a second goal. Arsenal looked to have earned a penalty in the 35th minute of the second half when Eze went down, but VAR overturned the call.
The two teams left the Metropolitano deadlocked at 1-1 after a tightly contested first leg.
Photo: Yonhap News
