2025-26 UCL Semi-Finals: Second Leg – Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid

Arsenal host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their 2025-26 UEFA Champions League semi-final. 

With the tie locked at 1-1 on aggregate, victory would see either Arsenal or Atletico Madrid progress to the final on Saturday 30 May.

A draw however will send the tie to extra time and potentially penalties.

 

Team News

Martin Odegaard could be in contention for Arsenal after he wasn’t risked in their 3-0 Premier League victory against Fulham due to a knee injury, which he suffered during the first leg of this tie.

Kai Havertz (thigh) could return but Jurrien Timber (ankle) and Mikel Merino (foot) remains absent.

Atletico Madrid have no fresh injury concerns to report after manager, Diego Simeone rested several regulars in a 2-0 La Liga win at Valencia.

Pablo Barrios remains sidelined with a thigh injury.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Arsenal host Atletico Madrid at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday 5 May at 8pm BST, live on Amazon Prime Video in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Arsenal are yet to lose to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League (W1, D1).
• Atletico Madrid lost 4-0 in their only previous Champions League visit to Arsenal in October 2025.
• Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres has scored three goals in two appearances against Atletico Madrid this season.
• Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have kept four clean sheets in six home matches in this season’s Champions League (W5, D1).
• Atletico Madrid have lost each of their three previous away matches against English opposition this season by a combined aggregate score of 10-4 (L3).

 

Prediction

Having seen Atletico cruise past Valencia with a much-changed squad before their own domestic match on Saturday, Arsenal certainly seemed fired up for their ruthlessly clinical first half against Fulham before Arteta steadily made tweaks in a disciplined second-half display.

Atletico though will absolutely hope that the ‘rule of three’ is strictly just that given that they’ve lost their three trips to English soil this season, and that it be fourth time lucky if they can take advantage of their fresher legs but they have to tighten up to counter Arsenal’s high press.

I however do think that Arsenal will be just too strong if they take the first half by the scruff of the neck like they did against Fulham, but Atletico should keep it nervy until the end if bring the attacking quality which saw them overwhelm Tottenham and Barcelona in last two rounds.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Atletico Madrid