Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal Champions League preview, team news and prediction

Mikel Arteta's side will be looking to come back from Madrid with an advantage on aggregate but face the tough resilience of Atletico Madrid that is well orchestrated by Diego Simeone

Atletico Madrid and Arsenal, two clubs still chasing a first Champions League crown, meet at the Metropolitano on Wednesday night in the first leg of an eye-catching semi-final. The winner over two legs will face either Bayern Munich or reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain in the final at Budapest’s Puskas Arena on May 30.

Atleti are appearing in their seventh European Cup/Champions League semi-final — and their first since 2016-17 — after squeezing past Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate in the last eight. While Diego Simeone’s side have long been associated with a more cautious style, they have been far more expansive in Europe this season, racking up a club-record 34 goals in the competition to surpass their 2013-14 mark. Eight of those came in their last-16 success over Tottenham Hotspur.

The Madrid outfit have scored in each of their last 12 games in all competitions and returned to winning ways in La Liga on Saturday with a 3-2 home win over Athletic Bilbao, halting a four-match league losing streak and strengthening their grip on a top-four place.

Arsenal now provide a stern test, particularly after Atletico were thrashed 4-0 at the Emirates in the league phase earlier this season. Simeone’s men have also won just two of their last 12 UEFA matches against English opposition and their Champions League semi-final record is mixed. Still, Atleti have won 11 of their last 15 two-legged European ties against English sides — including all three semi-finals — and have lost only twice in their last 18 home meetings with English clubs in Madrid.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have reached the Champions League semi-finals in back-to-back seasons for the first time in their history, and for the fourth time overall, after edging Sporting Lisbon 1-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. Mikel Arteta’s side topped the league phase with a perfect record and are the competition’s only unbeaten team this season, losing just two of their last 22 Champions League matches overall.

Domestically, Arsenal’s form has wobbled, but Saturday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle ended a four-game losing run — which included EFL Cup final defeat and FA Cup exit — and restored a three-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

As well as chasing a long-awaited league title, the Gunners are determined to lift a first European crown, and their recent record against Spanish sides offers encouragement after seven straight Champions League wins against La Liga opposition. Arsenal have lost just one of their last 11 away games in the competition and have won five of their last nine two-legged Champions League ties against Spanish teams — including beating Real Madrid last season — though Atletico did eliminate them 2-1 on aggregate in the 2017-18 Europa League semi-finals.

Atletico vs Arsenal Prediction

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Atletico vs Arsenal Team News

Atletico Madrid will be without Pablo Barrios (hamstring) and Jose Gimenez (muscle), while Ademola Lookman (muscle) and David Hancko (ankle) are doubts and will be assessed before kick-off. Julian Alvarez is also a minor doubt with “discomfort”, but Atletico hope he can start alongside Antoine Griezmann or Alexander Sorloth, who scored twice last time out.

Johnny Cardoso, Rodrigo Mendoza or Marcos Llorente could replace Barrios in midfield next to Koke, with Llorente also an option at right-back, though Nahuel Molina may keep his place.

For Arsenal, Mikel Merino (foot) and Jurrien Timber (ankle) remain out, Riccardo Calafiori (knock) is a doubt, and Kai Havertz, Eberechi Eze (both muscle) plus Martin Zubimendi (illness) will be checked after coming off against Newcastle. Eze says he is fine, but Arteta could bring in Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard on the left, with Viktor Gyokeres set to replace Havertz, while Bukayo Saka is pushing for his first start in over a month.

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