Julian Alvarez’s penalty ensured Atletico Madrid secured a 1-1 draw against Arsenal in a tense Champions League semi-final first-leg encounter on Wednesday.
Arsenal went ahead just before half-time when Viktor Gyokeres converted from the spot after being fouled, giving the Premier League leaders a narrow advantage going into the break.
Atletico responded in the second half, with Alvarez also scoring from the penalty spot 10 minutes after the restart following a handball by Ben White.
The Spanish side thought they had a chance to snatch a late winner when a penalty was initially awarded after David Hancko’s contact on Eberechi Eze, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.
Although Atletico enjoyed long spells of pressure, Arsenal’s disciplined defending ensured they left Madrid with a valuable draw ahead of the second leg, keeping their hopes of reaching their first Champions League final in 20 years alive.
The match was defined more by tension and tactical caution than the goal-heavy excitement seen in Paris Saint-Germain’s dramatic 5-4 win over Bayern Munich in the other semi-final.
There was also an unusual pre-match moment as toilet paper was thrown from the stands at the Metropolitano Stadium, drawing mixed reactions.
Both teams, still chasing a first Champions League title, approached the game cautiously, wary of conceding first in a tightly contested battle.
Atletico started brightly and tested Arsenal early, with David Raya denying Alvarez from close range, while Arsenal looked to counter, with Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke both coming close as chances remained limited throughout the match.
