Unbeaten Gunners Book The Budapest Ticket: Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid Semi-Final Second Leg Recap

The first Champions League finalist is determined in North-London. In the return game of 1-1 draw, Arsenal hosts Atletico Madrid in Emirates Stadium.

(Image credit to si.com)

Arsenal and Atletico Madrid face each other to earn a place in the Champions League Final on 30th of May. Last week in the first leg, penalties from Gyökeres and Alvarez gave us a 1-1 draw. Atleti used the Metropolitano atmosphere well to take game control, but couldn’t use the many chances they had and left everything to play for in Emirates. Both teams have been in long UCL Final droughts and one of them ends with this match. It’s been a decade since Atleti’s last final appearance and Gunners reached their latest UCL final 20 years ago. It’s an interesting coincidence that both teams lost those matches against Spanish opponents. 

Coming into the second leg, both teams won their respective league games in the weekend and they’re on form. Arsenal received good news of Ødegaard and Havertz’s availability, but Merino and Timber are still not included in Arteta’s squad . On the Rojiblancos side Julian Alvarez is medically cleared and expected to be in the starting eleven. While injury-doubts Giuliano Simeone, Alexander Sørloth and Jose Maria Gimenez also travel to North-London, Barrios and Gonzalez are left out of Diego Simeone’s Atleti. 

So, without further ado, let’s have a look at the teams’ starting elevens:

Arsenal XI: Raya - White - Saliba - Gabriel - Calafiori - Rice - Lewis-Skelly - Saka - Eze - Trossard - Gyökeres

Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak - Pubill - Le Normand - Hancko - Ruggeri - G.Simeone - Llorente - Koke - Lookman - Griezmann - Álvarez

Compared to last week’s game, the Gunners made 5 changes to their squad. Calafiori replaces Hincapié on left-back, Eze and Lewis-Skelly start instead of Ødegaard and Zubimendi in midfield and wingers are switched to Saka and Trossard. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid’s only change is Le Normand instead of Cardoso, as Pubill and Llorente return to their original positions.

(Image credit to sportsmole.co.uk)

First Half

The first threat comes from the Rojiblancos in the 11th minute, as Raya parries Griezmann’s initial pass to the box and Rice tackles just in time to prevent Simeone from scoring. With this early chance missed, Arsenal starts taking control of the possession with the home atmosphere boosting them as well. Gabriel tries his luck from long range, but the shot goes just wide. Trossard finds himself on the ground in the Atleti box in the 35th minute and the Gunners expect a penalty, however no penalty decision is given after a short VAR check. Ten minutes later, in the dying stages of the first half, Ben White sends a through ball to Gyökeres, who manages to receive it despite the intercepting Koke and fast-approaching Oblak. The Swedish striker crosses the ball towards Trossard, his shot is parried by Oblak and the ball drops right in front of Saka. The only thing left for the English international is to tap in and the Gunners take the lead of the game and the tie, as the first half ends 1-0.   

(Image Credit to kicker.at)

Second Half

In hopes of turning the tie around, Atletico Madrid put early pressure on the Gunners and missed vital opportunities. First, in the 51st minute, Saliba’s weak back pass header gave Giuliano Simeone an opening to capitalize. However, despite dribbling past the keeper, Gabriel ruins his position and the Argentinian can’t put the ball into the net. Only 5 minutes later, Griezmann tested the water for a goal, his shot was saved by Raya and in the follow-up, the Frenchman was brought down by Calafiori in the box. But a freekick for Arsenal is given instead of a penalty, because Pubill fouls Gabriel, as he attempts to get the ball before Griezmann does. The Gunners once again take control of the game after Atleti’s wasted opportunities, they also miss a chance with Gyökeres. The Swede receives a curling, on-target cross from the fresh-sub Hincapié and sends the ball over the bar with fine margins. As the minutes pass, the Rojiblancos desperately search for an opening, but Arsenal defend well and barely give the ball to Atleti. Towards the end of the game, Hancko rallies the attackers with a long ball, two fresh faces, Baena and Sørloth connect at the front. The Spaniard crosses the ball to the unmarked striker, but the Norwegian can’t shoot the ball properly and the defence players swarm him to fend off the danger afterwards. Tensions rise in the remaining minutes, as the Gunners try everything to waste Atletico Madrid’s time and hopes. In the end, the referee blows the full-time whistle and Arsenal emerge victorious with 1-0. 

(Image credit to independent.co.uk)

Bukayo Saka’s goal before halftime ends the Gunners’ 20 years wait for Champions League Final. With this result, Mikel Arteta’s men reached the final unbeaten and only conceded 6 goals so far. Player of the Match award goes to Declan Rice, as he became a crucial part of Arsenal’s controlling game and also made important interceptions in defence. Arsenal have been knocking on the door of finals in recent years and now, they finally harvest the fruits of their progress. On the other hand, one word that would describe Atletico Madrid’s tie is “wasted”. The opportunities they missed in both Metropolitano and Emirates came back to haunt them and cost them the Champions League final. They played well defensively, but when it comes to attack, their lack of clinical finishing became their downfall in this tie. With the rumours swirling around Diego Simeone may be leaving at the end of the season, this defeat confirms a trophyless possible exit for the passionate Argentinian.   

(Image credit to arsenal.com)

In summary, Arsenal defeated Atletico Madrid and ended a two-decades-long Champions League drought. The Gunners will now wait and see if Bayern Munich or PSG will join them in the final at Budapest.

Article written by Emre Albas © Emre Albas 2026