Atletico Madrid and Arsenal's Champions League clash saw trouble outside of the ground before kick-off as local police appeared to use tear gas on supporters dressed in black
Arsenal fans were caught up in trouble outside the Metropolitano Stadium. Police have sprayed tear gas and fired rubber bullets near the stadium as unsavoury scenes marred the build-up to the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid.
One eyewitness told Mirror Sport that it was Atletico fans - all dressed in black - who clashed with local police, which sparked trouble outside the ground more than an hour before kick-off. Arsenal fans were then caught up in the disturbances as police sprayed tear gas, and there was a clear smell near the stadium. Fans were forced to cover their mouths with scarves as they made their way to the ground. Other confrontations saw police fire rubber bullets from weapons as they attempted to exert their control on the crowd.
Some Atletico supporters could be seen raising their hands in the air in a bid to deter police from targeting them, as others climbed fences trying to escape, as a combination of tear gas and flares filled the air.
Mirror Sport has seen a video of some of the crowd disturbances outside the ground. Mirror Sport contacted UEFA after the incidents.
Atletico also saw issues when they welcomed Barcelona to Madrid in the quarter-final of the Champions League. On that occasion, police could be seen hitting supporters with batons as well as employing the use of gas as they faced off with home fans. A number of supporters were seen receiving treatment for head injuries.
Arsenal will be hoping to reach the Champions League final for the first time since 2006 with victory over Atletico Madrid. The sides face off in the first leg of their semi-final meeting in Madrid.
The Gunners claimed a 4-0 win over the Spanish giants in the group phase of competition in October. Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyokeres all got on the scoresheet, with the latter bagging a brace.
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Atleti boss Diego Simeone has not been deterred, however. He wants to channel his supporters' energy onto the pitch.
Simeone said: “It's extraordinary that Atletico Madrid is in a Champions League semi-final again after nine years and after doing it for the fourth time in 14 years, if I'm not mistaken.
“That really is wonderful, it's incredible, incredible. And I think that faith, that excitement, that contagiousness that our people transmit to us will do us a lot of good.
“We are going to face a tough game with a very good opponent and with a set-piece strategy as you well said at the beginning that is very well worked and well, here we go with all the excitement.
“I always say that dreaming is good but reality is what happens on earth. And what happens on earth is what we do and what God wants. So that's how we behave.
“Honestly pressure no, there's no pressure. There's responsibility. There is the excitement of being close to a huge goal that the club has never achieved. And of course there is a special excitement.
“And we have to prepare well, we’re going to play the game we want to play, the game we imagine and as I always say, take the game where we want so we can hurt them."
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