Atletico Madrid handed immediate boost ahead of Arsenal semi-final second leg | OneFootball

Champions League tie is all square after tense first leg

Diego Simeone’s side held their Premier League counterparts to a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Metrpolitano on Wednesday night, with Viktor Gyokeres’ penalty cancelled out by Julian Alvarez’s second-half spot kick.

It leaves the tie in the balance heading back to the Emirates Stadium for Tuesday’s reverse fixture.

It was a game of fine margins in Madrid, and Arsenal were denied a penalty in controversial fashion after Eberechi Eze was felled by David Hancko.

Now, it seems as though another fine margin will fall in Atleti’s favour.

Simeone has appeared to throw all of his eggs into the Champions League basket this term, with his side well and truly out of the La Liga title race.

That was made abundantly clear in Atletico’s last two league encounters, where the Argentine has made wholesale changes to his lineups.

As such, should he decide to continue that pattern this weekend, then the Spanish side’s stars can expect a rest ahead of Atleti’s trip to Valencia, who in mid-table obscurity and have nothing to play for.

Atleti themselves are fourth in the table and ten points clear of Real Betis in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are battling at the top of the Premier League with Manchester City for a first title since 2004.

The Gunners sit at the summit, three points clear of their rivals, although City hold a game in hand.

Arteta’s men take on Fulham at the Emirates this Saturday, with the Cottagers still chasing an unlikely European finish.