It was actually not fair for the players of Atlético Madrid and Arsenal: a day after the unprecedented football evening in Paris between PSG and Bayern Munich (5-4), they had to play the other semi-final in the Champions League. How could both teams come anywhere close in terms of intensity and technical class to what many consider to be the most beautiful match in the European tournament ever? How could the Spanish and English attackers excel as much as their colleagues did 24 hours earlier?
Moreover, Arsenal has been playing football squeaking and creaking for months. After taking a large lead over Manchester City in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s team is in danger of missing out on the national title again, and is being criticized for the way in which it regularly decides matches: not through beautiful combination play, but through corners and free kicks. And although Atlético has started to play a little more aggressively in recent years under coach Diego Simeone, that team certainly does not guarantee a spectacle.
It would not be a spectacle on Wednesday evening in the Estadio Metropolitano in the east of Madrid. Two penalty kicks ultimately resulted in a 1-1 final score in a not eye-catching, but tactically interesting match. “We did a lot of positive things,” Arteta said encouragingly afterwards.
Little movement
The match between the two teams that have never won the Champions League starts very nicely. Julián Álvarez, on behalf of Atlético, soon gets a good chance on the edge of the sixteen-meter area, after nice cutting movements in the small space. Arsenal comes close through Piero Hincapié and Martin Odegaard. The busy former PSV Noni Madueke shoots just wide after an agile dribble.
But in the course of the first half there is little movement in the play of both teams. Atlético is on the lookout for mistakes in Arsenal’s build-up, but when the Madrilenians win the ball and break out, it hardly creates any chances. Arsenal, in turn, find it difficult to get through Atlético’s last line, which is lined up with five players at the back when the English player has possession of the ball. Arsenal playmaker Odegaard regularly searches in vain for the increasingly difficult to play Madueke and left winger Gabriel Martinelli.
Yet Arsenal made it 1-0 just before half-time. Referee Danny Makkelie gives the Londoners a penalty after a push from former Feyenoord player David Hancko in the back of Viktor Gyökeres. The striker himself hits the target convincingly. Fourth man Serdar Gözübüyük finds a fierce Simeone next to him, who makes it clear in word, but especially in theatrical gesture, what he thinks of Makkelie’s decision.
Atlético more aggressive
The goal ensures that Simeone’s team takes more initiative after the break – they really want a good result in their own stadium. Aided by the roaring crowd, which almost incessantly shouted ‘Atleti! Atleti!’ sings, the Spaniards suddenly play a lot more aggressively. Arsenal can no longer find a solution because of the chasing Atlético players, especially after coach Mikel Arteta replaced Odegaard. A number of opportunities for Atlético follow, including for Ademola Lookman. He gets in front of his man in the penalty area, but shoots straight at goalkeeper David Raya.
In the end it is a penalty – Arsenal defender Ben White makes hands – from which Atlético also scores, in the 57th minute. Just like Gyökeres, Álvarez shoots in unstoppably. Retiring Atlético icon Antoine Griezmann – he will leave for Orlando City next season – almost makes it 2-1, but half-falls his shot against the crossbar. It is the last big chance of the match.
Thus, Atlético became a game of battle and two penalties were awarded – and almost three, but Makkelie reversed his decision to award another penalty to Arsenal after VAR intervention. And it became a match in which both teams did not necessarily only defend, but strove for control and certainty, and to avoid excessive risk.
The Champions League thus fell back to earth, trainers complained afterwards ‘just’ again about wrong decisions by the referee. Next week, when the decision is made, both teams will have to take more risks. It is clear that the team that reaches the final in Budapest will not go there as favorites.
