In a tense Champions League semi-final first leg match, Atlético Madrid prevailed from a 1-1 draw with Arsenal thanks to a penalty from Julian Alvarez.
On Wednesday, Premier League leader Victor Goqueres opened the scoring after being fouled just before the interval, but Alvarez followed suit 10 minutes into the second half after being handballed by Ben White.
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Arsenal were upset after David Hanko collided with Ebelesi Eze in the area and a penalty award in the second half was overturned after a VAR review.
“It’s very disappointing and frustrating,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports.
“That’s against the rules. You can’t overturn a decision if you have to watch it 13 times,” the referee is said to have said after watching the replay.
“That can’t happen at this level.”
Atlético had dominated for a long time, but Arsenal’s solid defense put the Spanish capital in a good position to return to the Champions League final for the first time 20 years since their last appearance.
Atlético captain Koke said of his team’s performance in the second half against Movistar: “We were the team we were supposed to be. If we play at this level, we can win.”
“From my point of view they didn’t pose much danger to us…The team defended well and they just gave away that penalty.”
What was missing from the dizzying goal rush that saw Paris Saint-Germain defeat Bayern Munich 5-4 in the other semi-final the night before was replaced by tension and a sense of desperation to keep up.
Minutes before kick-off, toilet paper rained down from the stands at the Metropolitano Stadium, a futile but impressive display that prompted sarcastic jokes from some quarters about the magnitude of the spectacle ahead.
In a contest between perhaps the continent’s two biggest teams that never laid a finger on the trophy, neither wanted to be the first to blink.
Atlético still have a reputation for defending, but David Raya nailed Mikel Arteta’s woeful Arsenal early on, with Alvarez’s shot hitting the post.
The Gunners, a far cry from Arteta’s demands on the eve of the game, were looking to take the lead in the game, but Marc Poubil blocked Martin Odegaard’s quick breakthrough and went for a smash and grab.
Noni Madueke, who started on Arsenal’s right flank with Bukayo Saka on the bench, fired a shot just wide of the target from a distance as last year’s semi-finalists appeared sporadically from their own half.
The next time they did so, Gokeres earned a penalty. The Swedish striker, who might not have started if Kai Havertz had been better, exchanged passes with Martin Zvimendi and Hanko clumsily shoved him in the back.
Diego Simeone and Atletico veteran Antoine Griezmann begged for the decision to be reviewed, but VAR ruled there was no reason to intervene.
Gokeres took the spot-kick himself and dived past Jan Oblak, but he had no chance to stop it.
Three-time runners-up Atlético, returning to the semi-finals for the first time in nine years, launched a fierce attack in the second half.
Raya saved Ademola Lookman’s drive and Gabriel blocked Griezmann’s follow.
The hosts equalized from the penalty spot after White handled Marcos Llorente’s shot, but the ball bounced up and hit his arm, which was away from his body.
Álvarez scored this, and although he lost on penalties in Atlético’s Copa del Rey final in early April, he made no mistake this time and showed a relentless burst that rivaled Goqueres’ first-half goal.
As Atlético looked to gain an advantage ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg, MLS-bound Griezmann hit a looping shot off the crossbar and sent the rebound wide.
The Nigeria international’s lookman twice came close to scoring and could have ruined missed chances.
Arsenal thought they had earned a second penalty after substitute Eze went down under a strike from Hanko, but the referee changed his mind after a VAR review determined that the contact with the Slovakian defender was minimal.
Arsenal next face Fulham, who will continue their battle against Manchester City for the Premier League title, while Simeone will likely be rotated into the side until a draw in London, with few opportunities to play in La Liga.
