Madrid: Julian Alvarez's penalty secured Atletico Madrid a 1-1 draw against Arsenal in a nervy Champions League semi-final first-leg clash on Wednesday. Viktor Gyokeres sent the Premier League leaders ahead from the spot just before the interval after he was fouled, but Alvarez followed suit 10 minutes into the second half after Ben White's handball.
According to Ghana Web, Arsenal were upset at a late penalty decision being overturned following a VAR review when David Hancko made contact with Eberechi Eze in the area. Atletico had the better of the game for long periods, but Arsenal's solid defending helped them leave the Spanish capital in a good position to return to the Champions League final 20 years after their last appearance.
The match lacked the goal rush of Paris Saint-Germain's 5-4 win over Bayern Munich in the other semi-final the night before, replacing it with tension and a desperation not to fall behind. Toilet paper rained down from the stands of the Metropolitano Stadium minutes before kick-off, inviting cynical jokes about the calibre of the spectacle ahead.
In a tussle between arguably the continent's two biggest teams never to lay a finger on the trophy, neither wanted to blink first. Atletico, often perceived as defensively inclined, pinned Mikel Arteta's Arsenal back in the early stages, with David Raya tipping Alvarez's shot around the post.
The Gunners, straying from Arteta's pre-game demand for dominance, looked to counter-attack, with Marc Pubill blocking from Martin Odegaard on a quick breakaway. Noni Madueke, starting on Arsenal's right flank, hammered just wide from distance as Arsenal sporadically emerged from their half.
The breakthrough came when Gyokeres won a penalty after a clumsy shove from Hancko and converted it past Jan Oblak. Atletico responded in the second half with Raya saving Ademola Lookman's drive and Gabriel blocking Griezmann's follow-up. The hosts leveled from the penalty spot after White handled Marcos Llorente's shot.
Alvarez's successful penalty, after a previous miss in Atletico's Copa del Rey final, brought the score level. Griezmann and Lookman both came close to scoring, but missed opportunities could be crucial going into the second leg.
Arsenal thought they had a second penalty when Eze went down under a Hancko challenge, but the referee overturned the decision. Arsenal will next face Fulham in their Premier League title battle with Manchester City, while Atletico, with little to play for in La Liga, will rotate heavily before the tie is decided in London.