MADRID, April 29, 2026, 21:03 CEST
Arsenal left Bukayo Saka on the bench and started Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyökeres in attack as their Champions League semi-final first leg at Atletico Madrid began 0-0 at the Metropolitano. Atletico started Antoine Griezmann and Julián Álvarez up front, with Jan Oblak in goal. (NBC Sports)
The tie carries a clean, hard stake: neither club has won the Champions League. UEFA billed it as a meeting of Atletico, three-time runners-up, and Arsenal, finalists in 2006, with its match reporter Juan Díaz writing that the first leg was set up as a “highly tactical” contest before the return game in London. (UEFA.com)
Arsenal arrive with the pressure of a Premier League title race still attached to them and last season’s Champions League semi-final exit still close enough to bite. Arteta told Sky Sports it was the moment “to make a statement,” while captain Martin Ødegaard said the criticism would remain “until we win it.” (Sky Sports)
Atletico’s official team sheet named Oblak, Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri, Johnny Cardoso, Koke, Giuliano Simeone, Lookman, Álvarez and Griezmann. Arsenal listed Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié, Zubimendi, Ødegaard, Rice, Madueke, Martinelli and Gyökeres, with Saka, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Jesus and Riccardo Calafiori among the substitutes. (Club Atlético de Madrid)
There is recent edge between the sides. Arsenal beat Atletico 4-0 in the league phase earlier this season, with Gyökeres scoring twice, but Atletico knocked Arsenal out of the 2017-18 Europa League semi-final. The Guardian noted Atletico’s 14 Champions League games this season had produced 60 goals, while Arsenal had scored 27 and conceded five in 12. (The Guardian)
The other side of the draw has already turned wild. TNT Sports listed Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-4 first-leg win over Bayern Munich, with the Bayern-PSG return set for May 6 and Arsenal’s second leg against Atletico listed for May 5; the aggregate, or combined score across two legs, will decide who advances. (TNT Sports)
Arteta’s squad is not clean. He said Kai Havertz was out, Eze was ready, Calafiori was available and Jurrien Timber still needed more work before returning. He also praised Atletico’s “togetherness” and “energy” at home and said Arsenal had to go “toe-to-toe” with Simeone’s team. (VAVEL.com – Live Sports)
But the Saka decision is the obvious risk. CBS Sports said calls for him would grow if Arsenal started slowly, and also pointed to a poor recent attacking run, with only two narrow wins in seven games and concerns over end product from open play. Outside the ground, CBS reporter James Benge reported police had deployed tear gas and that it was not clear how many fans were affected. (CBS Sports)
Weather and the surface could add another variable. The Guardian reported a Madrid weather warning for storms and heavy rain, plus earlier criticism of the Metropolitano pitch, while Arteta said Arsenal would “adapt to any context.” (The Guardian)
For Arsenal, the tone from the club side stayed firm rather than emotional. Arsenal’s own pre-match material quoted Arteta as calling it a “massive privilege” to be back at this stage for a second straight season, but privilege will not move the tie; the next two legs will. (arsenal.com)
