The first leg of this gripping UEFA Champions League semi-final between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal ended all square at the Metropolitano Stadium, with both sides converting from the penalty spot in a tense 1-1 draw.

Arsenal threatened early, carving out their first real opportunity in the sixth minute. Gabriel Martinelli and Piero Hincapié both attacked a dangerous cross, but a lack of coordination saw them get in each other’s way, allowing the ball to drift harmlessly wide.

Atletico Madrid quickly responded. Julian Alvarez unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box, forcing David Raya into an acrobatic save as the Spanish goalkeeper tipped the effort around the post.

Midway through the first half, Noni Madueke came close to breaking the deadlock, but his driven effort narrowly missed the far corner. The breakthrough eventually arrived just before half-time, when the referee pointed to the spot after Dávid Hancko brought down Viktor Gyökeres inside the area. Jan Oblak guessed correctly, but the strike from Viktor Gyökeres was hit with such power that it found the net — 0-1.

The hosts came out with renewed intensity after the break. Johnny Cardoso won a dangerous free-kick, and once again Julian Alvarez went close, his effort flashing just wide. Moments later, Ademola Lookman tested David Raya from close range, while Antoine Griezmann saw his rebound effort heroically blocked by Gabriel Magalhães.

The pressure finally told. Following a Marcos Llorente strike, the ball bounced up and struck the hand of Ben White inside the area. After a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty, and Julian Alvarez made no mistake, rifling the ball into the left corner beyond David Raya to level the score at 1-1.

Atletico Madrid pushed relentlessly for a winner. Antoine Griezmann rattled the crossbar with an acrobatic effort before firing another shot into a defender moments later. Ademola Lookman also came close, weaving through defenders only to shoot straight at David Raya. Remarkably, the hosts registered 12 second-half attempts compared to none from Arsenal.

Late drama followed in the 78th minute when the referee initially awarded another penalty after Eberechi Eze went down under a challenge from Dávid Hancko. However, after consulting VAR, the decision was overturned, much to the relief of Arsenal.

The match finished 1-1, leaving everything to play for in the decisive second leg in London.

2025-26 UEFA Champions League

Atletico Madrid - Arsenal 1:1 (0:1)
Goals: Gyökeres, 44 (penalty) (0:1); Álvarez Jul., 56 (penalty) (1:1)

Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Hancko; Ruggeri; Pubill; Cardoso Joao (Molina N., 88); Koke; Llorente M.; Griezmann; Álvarez Jul. (Álex Baena, 77); Simeone G-o (Le Normand, 46); Lookman
Substitution: Le Normand (from 46); Álex Baena (from 77); Molina N. (from 88)
Bench: Musso; Esquivel S.; Boñar; Díaz J.; Lenglet; Vargas Ob.; Almada; Mendoza R.; Sørloth
Yellow Cards: Hancko 78

Arsenal: Raya; White B. (Mosquera Cr., 86); Saliba; Hincapie; Gabriel M.; Zubimendi; Odegaard (Eze, 58); Rice; Madueke (Saka B., 68); Martinelli (Trossard, 68); Gyökeres (Gabriel Jesus, 68)
Substitution: Eze (from 58); Saka B. (from 68); Gabriel Jesus (from 68); Trossard (from 68); Mosquera Cr. (from 86)
Bench: Arrizabalaga; Setford; Salmon; Lewis-Skelly; Calafiori; Nørgaard; Dowman M.