Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal LIVE: Saka and Eze start on bench for crucial Champions League semi-final

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The Independent

·29. April 2026

Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal LIVE: Saka and Eze start on bench for crucial Champions League semi-final

Atletico Madrid host Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-finals, with both teams still in pursuit of a maiden trophy in Europe’s top tier.

Tuesday night saw PSG edge out Bayern Munich in a thrilling 5-4 first-leg tie showcasing the best of both sides - although tonight’s affair is likely to be a rather different type of football altogether.

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Diego Simeone’s side saw off Barcelona in an enthralling 3-2 quarter-final tie on aggregate, while Mikel Arteta’s men did just enough in a rather more pedestrian 1-0 aggregate win over Sporting Lisbon.

Arsenal ran out 4-0 winners in the two sides’ league phase encounter earlier this season but both sides have transformed since then. The Gunners appear depleted and low on confidence after being pegged back in the Premier League title race, while Atletico ran out 3-2 winners in La Liga in their last game and have looked a different beast in the knockout stages.