Atlético Madrid and Arsenal, perennial nearly men chasing Champions League glory | OneFootball

Atlético Madrid host Arsenal on Wednesday at 21:00 in a Champions League semi-final first leg between clubs long tagged as nearly men.

Le Progres notes both sides carry a 'losers' label and a shared pursuit of the trophy.

For Atlético, decades in Real Madrid and Barcelona’s shadow include three lost finals, 1974, 2014 and 2016, two to Real, plus a Copa del Rey defeat to Real Sociedad on penalties 10 days ago.

Arsenal chase a second final, 20 years after losing to Barcelona at the Stade de France. Since their 2004 title they have often finished fourth or second, including the last three seasons, and this year have seen a nine-point lead over Manchester City vanish, alongside a League Cup final loss to City and an FA Cup quarter-final exit to Southampton.

Since 2019 Mikel Arteta has worked to change the mood, winning the 2020 FA Cup and Community Shields in 2020 and 2023. Arsenal topped the league phase and moved into a second successive semi-final, keeping hopes of a league and European double alive. After beating Sporting, Arteta called the run unprecedented in the club’s 140-year history, stressing its difficulty.

Atlético also talk of writing history. Julian Alvarez, signed in 2024 from Manchester City, reflects renewed ambition, while Diego Simeone says their path is to fall, rise and fight on. He added they are close, but Arsenal, who beat them 4-0 at home early in the season, make this a very tough tie that demands no repeat.

Source: Le Progres