8:34 p.m
Overall, the balance between the two clubs remains balanced. Four competitive European games have taken place between Arsenal and Atlético and in two draws there was a win for both teams. While the Colchoneros were able to knock the Gunners out of the competition in the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2017/18, in the 2025/26 season there was only the aforementioned 4-0 defeat in the league phase before the first leg ended 1-1 last week. Mikel Arteta could now become the third coach after Carlo Ancelotti and Maurizio Sarri to remain unbeaten in his first three competitive games against Diego Simeone.
8:20 p.m
Under long-running favorite Diego Simeone, Atlético Madrid could now reach the Champions League final for the third time after 2014 and 2016. However, the away record of the Colchoneros speaks against this, as they have lost six of their last seven away games against representatives of the Premier League (one win) – including the last four games in a row. There was already a crushing 4-0 defeat at Arsenal FC in the league phase. Even in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, the Rojiblancos have only won one of their last seven away games (one draw, five defeats), although that 2-0 win at FC Barcelona only dates back to the quarter-finals.
8:06 p.m
The Gunners not only finished the league phase of the Champions League in first place, but also remained completely undefeated in the knockout phase. There are now a total of 13 games without defeat (ten wins, three draws). Overall, the latest balance sheet also reads strongly. The Londoners have lost just two of the last 23 games in the premier class (17 wins, four draws), which is primarily due to their defensive stability. Under Mikel Areta there were just 24 goals conceded in 37 Champions League games.
19:52
Atlético Madrid cruised to a 2-0 away LaLiga win at Valencia CF at the weekend, despite Diego Simeone rotating as much as possible and even resting goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Consequently, there are ten changes for the Rojiblancos today. Only Robin Le Normand starts again from the start, but he wasn’t just part of the starting eleven in the first leg last week. But the best news is certainly that Julián Alvarez, whose appearance was in limbo until recently, can play again today.
7:50 p.m
The Gunners got a 3-0 home win against Fulham FC in Saturday’s dress rehearsal, which was all the more valuable because Manchester City failed against Everton. After the successful London derby, Mikel Arteta decided not to make any changes at all and sent exactly the same starting eleven onto the field again from the start.
7:47 p.m
After last Wednesday’s 1-1 draw, everything is basically still open, although history speaks for the Gunners. If Arsenal were able to avoid defeat in the first leg away from home in a knockout round of the premier class, they were able to advance in the second leg in front of their home crowd in eight out of ten cases – including in the last five cases in a row. The Colchoneros, on the other hand, have only progressed twice in five attempts, remaining winless at home in the first leg. Atlético succeeded both times in England: in 2013/14 at Chelsea FC and in 2021/22 at Manchester United.
19:46
Good evening and welcome from the Emirates Stadium. Today is the second leg of the Champions League semi-final. Arsenal FC host Alético Madrid at 9 p.m.
