Atlético Madrid and Arsenal will head to north London next week with all to play for after a 1-1 draw in Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg in the Spanish capital.
In a game defined by penalties, Viktor Gyökeres put Arsenal in front from the spot in the 44th minute, before Julián Álvarez replied with a penalty of his own to level the score 11 minutes into the second half.
Arsenal thought they had a chance to retake the lead late on after being awarded a second penalty when Eberechi Eze was brought down by David Hancko inside the area. However, after being urged to consult the pitch-side monitor by the video assistant referee, referee Danny Makkelie waved it off.
It was a gritty encounter in Madrid between the clubs trying to return to the final after a long absence and looking to win the European title for the first time.
It was a harsh contrast to Tuesday’s semifinal, when defending champions Paris Saint-Germain edged Bayern Munich 5-4 in a thriller in France.
and Arsenal.
Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal had the first sight of goal when Noni Madueke did well to get to the byline before finding Piero Hincapié at the far post, but the defender miscued his volley.
Álvarez called David Raya into action after 14 minutes with a fine effort from outside the penalty area. And moments later, Gyökeres’ lung-busting gallop along the left-hand touchline and pass to Martin Ødegaard presented the Arsenal captain with a chance to open the scoring, but Johnny Cardoso blocked his strike.
Arsenal were beginning to take charge, and with two minutes of the first half left they were awarded a penalty.
Álvarez headed the ball straight to Martín Zubimendi, who played a neat one-two with Ødegaard and then released Álvarez. Hancko was the wrong side of Gyokeres, and, in his haste to stop the Arsenal man, sent him over in the area.
Dutch official Makkelie pointed to the spot, and despite Diego Simeone’s protests on the touchline, VAR, on this occasion at least, did not intervene.
Gyökeres stepped up, and although Jan Oblak guessed the right way, he had no answer to the power of the Sweden international’s strike.
Atleti started the second half with intent and just four minutes had passed when Álvarez wicked free kick found the side-netting. Álvarez then played in Ademola Lookman who could not find a way past Raya before Gabriel blocked Griezmann’s follow-up.
When Llorente’s wayward volley from just inside the area struck White’s left hand, a typically animated Simeone, backed by 70,000 Atleti fans, demanded a spot-kick.
Referee Makkelie was originally unmoved but was urged by VAR to check his pitch-side monitor and he reversed his decision.
Álvarez blasted home and Arsenal were on the ropes. Just after the hour, Griezmann’s looped strike cannoned off the frame of Raya’s goal.
A triple substitution by Arteta — including the introduction of Bukayo Saka — followed as he attempted to wrest back control.
Arsenal managed to weather Atleti’s second-half storm and were celebrating a second penalty of the night when Eze fell to the floor. But VAR had other ideas to leave the last-four tie delicately poised.
The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.
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