Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal, UEFA Champions League 2025/26, Semi-finals, 1st Leg LIVE: Gyokeres scores from the penalty spot; ATM 0-1 ARS at half-time

Viktor Gyokeres in his debut season for Arsenal:

Premier League: 12 G/A in 32 games
Champions League: 6 G/A in 11 games
FA Cup: 1 G/A in 2 games
Carabao Cup: 2 G/A in 4 games pic.twitter.com/7UvkSXy7S5

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 29, 2026

Well, this was not the same first half we saw yesterday in Paris, but yes, it had some great entertainment as well. 

Atletico enjoyed most of the position and had better chances. However, Arsenal's defence was good enough to make the block.

Raya saved an on-target shot from Alvarez while Cardoso blocked a shot from Odegaard before Hancko's foul on Gyokeres handed Arsenal the penalty at the stroke of the first half. The Swedish star then powered through Oblak's hand to hit the back of the net from the penalty spot to give Arsenal an important lead. 

We all know this will be a game which can be decided with one goal.

Now with Atletico Madrid eager to respond, it will be interesting to see whether Arsenal looks to go for another goal or they sit deep to focus on their defence. 

Oops! This was close. Oblak dived to the accurate side to his right.

However, it is the power of Gyokeres that beat him as the shot went through his hands.

It is Arsenal who take the lead in the first leg of the semi-final.

How important will this penalty be? We will only get to know in the coming 45 and the second leg in the coming week. 

Hancko fouls Gyokeres from behind on the wrong side inside the penalty box, and it is a penalty for the visitors. 

Martin Odegaard played a small volley to Zubimendi, whose pass initiated the run from Gyokeres, and he was clever enough to win that foul. 

Another chance for Atletico Madrid as they entered the final third via a counter-attack, and after Griezmann's attempt was blocked, the rebound ball fell on the feet of Julian Alvarez.

However, it was Declan Rice who somehow won the ball back from the Argentine to clear the ball out of danger. 

We are now nearly five minutes away from the first-half whistle, and Arsenal are yet to register a single shot on target. 

Atletico Madrid pressed and attacked the ball so hard that they forced an error from Martin Odegaard that allowed Julian Alvarez to go for the goal from the edge of the D.

However, Gabriel was there to make an important block to again nullify the attack. Diego Simeone on the touchline liked the movement and the hunger from his players.

Arsenal needs to be careful as they have given away the ball twice in the last few minutes. 

Saliva gave away the ball in the middle, and Koke found Lookman, who made a run through the middle.

Lookman then played it out wide to Griezmann, who then found Simeone in the middle. However, it was Simeone's pass which found Julian Alvarez wrong-footed as Atletico Madrid wasted the chance. 

Wow, Madueke nearly broke the deadlock.

He has been nice and positive and took the big strides to make a quick cut back from the right to the centre of the box and then went for a left-footed curling shot, which missed the far post by a whisker. 

If that was on target, even a fully stretched Oblak wouldn't have been able to save it. 

Ruggeri sent a good cross from the left with his left foot.

However, from inside the box, from a close range, Alvarez could not time his header well to be on target.

There is urgency within the Arsenal team as they look to transition from one end to another. However, it is Atletico Madrid's low defence that has been successful in keeping them from entering the final third.

Arsenal also have been able to win the ball back by making swift movement in between the spaces and covering ground quickly. 

Poetry in motion 🥹💫 pic.twitter.com/9ndVIJTtnw

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) April 29, 2026

After a tussle during the header, Gyokeres is down with an injury on his face. He is getting medical attention. Madueke's elbow caught him during the attempted header.

This was probably Arsenal's best chance to score after a save and a corner.

Arsenal found themselves in an attacking zone via a counter-attack as Gyokeres found Martin Odegaard on the right.

Cardoso dived in front of him and used his body to make the block. 

Huge save from David Raya as Alvarez received a swift cross from the left. After an imperfect first touch, he made a quick turn and hit the target with a right-footed shot. Raya, though, saved it with a fully extended dive on the left. 

For the third time in the match so far, Gabriel has given away the ball as Atlético Madrid looks to attack with Alvarez and Griezmann linking up inside the box.

However, the Arsenal defence as a whole has been great as they have not allowed or given too much space to Atletico Madrid's strikers to work.

For the first time, Arsenal entered the final third of the Atlético Madrid half.

Madueke made a quick run on the right and swiftly sent a locked cross from the edge of the box for Hincapie to go for a volley.

However, Martinelli came ahead of him, and his attempted header somehow distracted Hincapie as the ball went for a goal kick. 

Alvarez's shot from the edge of the box is blocked by Declan Rice.

Atletico Madrid get us started. 

Locked in 🫡 pic.twitter.com/biJc2ymD1h

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) April 29, 2026

Almost go-time. pic.twitter.com/mBtFktmtrK

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 29, 2026

The Metropolitano in our sights 📍 pic.twitter.com/tel5Pv2zEl

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 29, 2026

Ready for tonight ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/QoMPoyMlFg

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) April 29, 2026

XI: David Raya, Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hincapie, Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli.

Subs: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Tommy Setford, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Marli Salmon, Eberechi Eze, Christian Norgaard, Max Dowman, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard

XI: Jan Oblak, Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, David Hancko, Matteo Ruggeri, Giovanni Simeone, Koke, Johnny Cardoso, Ademola Lookman, Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez.

Subs: Juan Musso, Salvi Esquivel, Clement Lenglet, Nahuel Molina, Robin Le Normand, Javier Bonar, Julio Diaz, Rodrigo Mendoza, Alex Baena, Thiago Almada, Obed Vargas, Alexander Sorloth

Overall, Atletico Madrid and Arsenal have faced each other in three games so far, with the winning percentage being equally shared between the teams, while one match ended in a draw. 

In the Champions League, Atletico Madrid have faced Arsenal only once, and they have faced a heavy 0-4 defeat at the hands of the English team.

Football fans in India can watch the match LIVE on Sony Sports Network TV channels. Moreover, they can stream the match LIVE on SonyLIV app and website with a paid subscription.

Match: Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal, UEFA Champions League 2025/26, Semi-finals, 1st Leg.

Date: 30 April, 2026

Time: 12.30 am IST

Venue: Estadio Metropolitano