Atlético de Madrid and Arsenal tied 1-1 at the Metropolitano in the first leg of the semifinals of the Champions Leaguein a changing match that left the series open for the revenge in England. The team of Diego Simeone reacted in the second half after starting at a disadvantage, thanks to a penalty goal from Julian Alvarezand had passages of clear dominance, although he was unable to translate them into an advantage.
The first half was tense and with few situations, in a development that was more frictional than played. Atlético hinted at something else with the world champion forward as a starter, along with the other Argentine, Giuliano Simeone. But he lacked precision in the final meters. Arsenal, more patient, found their moment at the end of the initial stage, when Viktor Gyökeres He won in the area and forced a penalty demanded by all of Atlético, but which he himself transformed into a goal with a powerful and crossed shot.
The second half showed another side of the Spanish team. With greater intensity and pressure, Atlético began to tilt the field and found the tie through Julián, who converted from a penalty with a strong and unapproachable shot. From there, the Cholo team had its best minutes, with clear arrivals of Antoine Griezmann and Ademola Lookman.
In that section, the local team was close to turning the result around, even with a shot from Griezmann that hit the corner. Arsenal, beaten, sought to react with changes from the bench and managed to balance the development in the final stretch, in a match that once again became open.
At the end, the match added controversy with a penalty initially sanctioned for Atlético that was later annulled after the VAR review. In the final minutes, the English team pushed and Simeone’s team ended up resisting, although they also had a last chance at the feet of Nahuel Molinawho entered from the bench, with a powerful shot that went just wide.
The tie between Atlético de Madrid and Arsenal
Julián Álvarez ended up with a blow that forced him to ask for a changeafter a cross that left him feeling in his left ankle. However, he was later seen with the squad without signs of pain, so it would not be a serious injury.
The 1-1 draw leaves the series completely open for the rematch in London, in which both will seek to get into the Champions League final in a duel that promises the same intensity.
