champions league
Arsenal is 1-0 ahead against Atlético Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League, after last Wednesday’s 1-1 draw in Spain. The winner will face Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Budapest on Saturday, May 30. Follow our live blog here.
Minne Groenstege
Sports editor
liveblog
Leandro Trossard is replaced by Gabriel Martinelli
Albert Stuivenberg along the line
Albert Stuivenberg, the Dutch assistant coach at Arsenal since 2019, seems to wonder whether Diego Simeone still has everything under control.
Yellow card for Marc Pubill
Ten minutes left on the clock
Only ten minutes remain on the clock at the Emirates Stadium in London, where Bukayo Saka seems to be the match winner tonight with his tap-in in the 44th minute. What is possible Atlético Madrid still in this final phase? It will mainly come from the Norwegian Spitz Alexander Sørloth should come, it seems, although he would undoubtedly have liked Antoine Griezmann and Julián Alvarez was also within the lines.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is replaced by Martín Zubimendi
Myles Lewis-Skelly played another great game in midfield, just like last Saturday when they won 3-0 in the Premier League. Is Martín Zubimendi losing his place in midfield next to Declan Rice? It just might be possible.
Julián Álvarez is replaced by Thiago Almada
A very remarkable decision by Diego Simeone, who scored halfway through the second half Julián Álvarez as Antoine Griezmann takes off the field. Griezmann hardly seems to be able to believe it. It may have been his last match in the Champions League, as he moves to MLS club Orlando City from Florida in the summer.
Will there be a third Champions League final for the 35-year-old Frenchman (after losing the finals against Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016) or is this it for him on the highest stage in Europe?
Antoine Griezmann is replaced by Álex Baena
Viktor Gyökeres misses a chance to make it 2-0
A nice attack from Arsenal, but Viktor Gyökeres cannot get the ball in after a good cross from the left of the substitute Piero Hincapie. That should have been 2-0 for The Gunners!
Time is running out for Atlético Madrid
Time is starting to run out now Atlético Madrid. Diego Simeone’s team is still offensively powerless.
Atlético Madrid screams for a penalty
Atlético Madrid screams for a penalty, but unlike last week, the ball does not hit the spot tonight. Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta and Diego Simeone have both made three substitutions.
Bukayo Saka is replaced by Martin Ødegaard
The maker of the 1-0 is also taken to the side by Mikel Arteta. Will Bukayo Saka be the player who took Arsenal to the final in Budapest or will there be more goals tonight?
Eberechi Eze is replaced by Noni Madueke
Riccardo Calafiori is replaced by Piero Hincapié
Ademola Lookman is replaced by Nahuel Molina
Robin Le Normand is replaced by Alexander Sørloth
Giuliano Simeone is replaced by Johnny Cardoso
Atlético Madrid has a chance to score 1-1
Giuliano Simeone with a great chance to make it 1-1, but the son of his trainer Diego does not score. The intervention of French defender William Saliba prevents that Atlético Madrid can make it 1-1. It will be checked whether Saliba has not committed a foul, but referee Daniel Siebert and the VAR are of the opinion that this is not the case.
Second half kicked off
The second half has started, without any substitutions for Mikel Arteta and Diego Simeone. The Argentinian coach of Atlético Madrid has with the Norwegian strong striker Alexander Sørloth still has an ace up his sleeve, but otherwise only has defenders and midfielders on the bench.
Bukayo Saka important in home matches
Bukayo Saka will play his 14th home match in the Champions League tonight. He now has nine goals and five assists.
Statistics after first half
Score: 1-0
Shots: 7-1
Shots on target: 2-0
Ball possession: 66-34%
Passes: 314-142
Fouls: 5-4
Offside: 0-2
Corners: 3-0
