Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal, UEFA Champions League 2025/26, Semi-finals, 1st Leg Highlights: Atletico plays out a 1-1 draw at home in a game of chances and penalties

Although it was not at the level of yesterday's game, it was very, very intense and tight as both teams did not want to give the opponent a chance to beat them.

I'm not sure which team would be the happier one, with the scoreline being 1-1, but the way Atletico Madrid created chances in the second half and went for the goal, I do feel Mikel Arteta would be the happier man heading to London for next week's clash. 

Atletico Madrid in the second half looked like a different team after the substitution from Simeone during the break. Griezmann hit the crossbar, Lookman missed a closed one, and Raya made some great saves to keep the scoreline level. 

It ends level ⏱️

All to play for next week ⚖️#UCL pic.twitter.com/MjG5xlwKf2

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 29, 2026

As I have already told you, Molina will go for the goals. Hancko found him at the edge of the box, and his right-footed rocket shot just missed the top of the crossbar by a few inches.

Raya, who had jumped high enough in the air, might have been beaten by the speed if the shot was on target. 

A lovely flighted deep ball from Baena towards Lookman, whose header nearly went into the goal. 

Seven long minutes have been added for all the wear checks we had throughout the second half. 

From the age of the D, Declan Rice could not get the power and direction on the ball, as his shot missed the target by a fair margin. 

Molina replaces Cardoso, and we will definitely see the Argentine making some moves down from the back to the other end on the flank. 

Mosquera, with his first touch of the game, nearly provided the winner for Arsenal.

The rebound ball went to Saka as well, but he couldn't make use of it. Good save from Oblak as it was first from Mosquera. 

Mosquera replaces Ben White for Arsenal, while Molina is getting ready to come in for Atletico Madrid.

Great block by Pubill as Tossard's quick shot after the turn was heading towards the goal.

Arsenal are now looking to speed up the game with Eze and Saka making the move. Tossard is trying to link up between them and create some magic on the pitch. 

We have seen it multiple times: Alexander Sorloth coming late in the game and scoring a winner for Atletico Madrid. We are in that zone.

But will Simeone risk it by sacrificing a defender, or will he replace him with Griezmann?

After a long delay and multiple replays, the referee has decided to go against his decision and decline the penalty.

There was a small tap on the foot, but it did not look strong enough to rule it a penalty.

A VAR check is going on for the potential penalty, as we see in the replay that Hancko did have a slight tap on Eze's foot. But is it good enough for the penalty? 

Big call from the referee as Eze was brought down inside the box by Hancko. He recieved the yellow card for the dissent as well. 

Alex Baena replaces goal scorer Julian Alvarez. The Argentine went to the ground with some muscle injury or a cramp. 

Griezmann found Alvarez again, whose cross pass to Llorente handed Lookman the chance to enter the final third.

Lookman then went for a side-footed shot from close range. 

However, Raya was up to the task and made the save. 

𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑-𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃 🤔

𝙇𝘼 𝘼𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘼 𝙁𝙍𝙊𝙈 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙏 🕸️🤟

Alvarez becomes the first-ever Atlético player to score 10 UCL goals in a single season 😲 pic.twitter.com/Ok4d8fPqlC

— 433 (@433) April 29, 2026

Mikel Arteta feels the game is going away from his hand, and he makes his move. 

Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard replaced Gyokeres, Madueke, and Martinelli.

Alvarez quickest Argentinian to 25 goals 🇦🇷#UCL pic.twitter.com/zHOI78GtRo

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 29, 2026

Atletico Madrid have now won three back-to-back corners. Lookman's left-footed volley from close range went wide. Finally, Arsenal will have the time to breathe. 

The momentum is with the home team as they keep pressing the accelerator at their home.

Griezmann, even while falling, hits the crossbar with a curling effort from close range and then on another corner to keep the pressure on.

After a painful kick on the shin and knee from Declan Rice, Julian Alvarez is down and is getting medical attention. 

Right after the goal, we see a change from Arsenal as Martin Odegaard has been replaced by Eze. 

It is all square in the first leg now. 

Great strike from Alvarez as Raya did not even have a chance to make a dive.

It's fast, it's in the side corner, and it was just perfect from the Argentine to level the score at the Metropolitano. Alvarez has now scored 10 goals in the Champions League this season. 

Penalty has been given as Ben White's hand was away from his body. Although it might have touched his shin, it is a penalty for Atletico Madrid. 

A VAR check is going on for a potential penalty as Llorente's shot hit Ben White after brushing his feet. 

Double save from David Raya as Griezmann found Alvarez with a clever header in the middle, and then Argentine found Lookman on the edge of the box.

Lookman's left-footed shot went straight to Raya, who made a good save, but the rebound ball went straight to Griezmann, whose shot was again saved by a diving Raya. 

Julian Alvarez, who showcased his free-kick skill against Barcelona in the first leg of the quarter-final, nearly replicated the same as his curling effort from a dead ball kissed the side net and went for a goal kick. 

Free kick from 24 yards away from the goal, as Gyokeres fouled Cardoso. 

We have seen in the first half that both teams looked to sit back and accelerate from the middle.

In the second half, we might see Atletico Madrid transition from their own half and not only rely on the counter-attack but on the transition to make things happen for them. 

So Diego Simeone is the first one to change his tactics as we see Le Normand replace Giovanni Simeone. 

Welcome back from the break. The teams are coming out of the tunnel and will have the second half started very soon. 

The penalty foul on Gyokeres and the normal challenge on Dani Olmopic.twitter.com/N3Cb48O4ew https://t.co/8dsDqNCWqd

— ArgentineCuler (@FCB_Argentine) April 29, 2026

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