Atlético Madrid will now travel to the Emirates Stadium in London next Tuesday for the second leg of the Champions League semi-final.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Arsenal and Atlético Madrid played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) semi-final at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Wednesday night.
The European encounter started as a cagey affair, with both sides keen to avoid making a mistake that could lead to a goal.
However, Viktor Gyökeres won and converted a spot-kick for the visitors in the 44th minute after he went down under a challenge from David Hancko.
ALSO READ: Arteta assures Arsenal will go toe-to-toe with Atlético Madrid in UCL semi-final
But Julián Alvarez levelled the score 11 minutes into the second half with a penalty awarded following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
Substitute Eberechi Eze thought he had won Arsenal’s second penalty late on when he appeared to beat Hancko to the ball inside the area, but the decision was overturned after a VAR check.
With the game ending in a draw, the tie is now finely balanced before the two sides meet in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium in London next Tuesday.
The winner of the two-legged match will face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in the final on Saturday, 30 May 2026, at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary.
