Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
2025-26 UEFA Champions League
Semi-finals, first leg
Atletico Madrid v Arsenal
Estadio Metropolitano
Madrid, Spain
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Kick-off is at 19h00
Atletico Madrid have another Herculean task ahead of them as they prepare to face Arsenal at the Metropolitano in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday, April 29.
Los Colchoneros overcame La Liga leaders Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals to reach the penultimate stage of the competition for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
Diego Simeone's side did all the hard work in the first leg when they ran out 2-0 victors at the Camp Nou, with Ademola Lookman's goal in Madrid enough to see them through following a 2-1 defeat.
Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
Atleti had to navigate the play-offs after winning just four of their eight matches in the league phase to finish in 14th place, and they survived a scare against Club Brugge before 7-2 on aggregate.
Having been held to a 3-3 draw in the first leg in Bruges, the Spanish outfit cruised to a 4-1 win on home soil to book a date with Tottenham in the round of 16.
Atletico crushed a Spurs team in shambles 5-2 in the first leg and two goals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw them advance to the last eight despite losing 3-2.
Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
Simeone is pleased to see the club moving forward after they contested the Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad and has urges his players to keep showing that same competitive spirit against the Gunners.
"We have to keep working the way we are. We've gotten to where we are by competing the way we do. Nothing has stopped us so far," the Argentine said.
"Everything we do has built a driving force to keep pursuing the goals the club needs and the fans want. This year we're closer to what the fans need, which is to play in finals.
"We played in the Copa del Rey final and ended up losing, [now] we'll play in the Champions League semi-final. The fans are excited, it helps the club grow and it makes us stronger because we have what it takes to be where we are.
"We're facing a very good opponent that we already faced at the start of the season. It will be difficult, complex, like any Champions League semi-final."
Head-to-Head (Previous UCL Meetings)
Matches - 1
Atletico wins - 0
Arsenal wins - 1
Draws - 0
UCL semi-final first-leg fixtures:
Tuesday, April 28
19h00: Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Wednesday, April 29
19h00: Atletico Madrid v Arsenal
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