Arsenal players are the first finalists of this season’s Champions League, after 1-1 in the first game in Madrid, the English team beat Atletico 1-0 (1-0) in the semi-final second leg at their Emirates Stadium.
The match was decided in the last moments of the first halfand the hero of the London team was Bukayo Sakathe only scorer in return.
Arsenal await the winner of the second semi-final meeting in which they meet in the final Bayern and PSG. The second leg will be played at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Wednesday at 21:00 with broadcast on HRT, and in the first match defending champions PSG won 5-4 in Paris.
Arsenal won second appearance in the Champions League final in its history. The London team played its premier final match in 2006, when it was defeated by Barcelona.
Atletico remains in three finals, all three lost, and coach Diego Simeone led Madrid to the finals in 2014 and 2016, when in both cases big brother Real celebrated in the finals.
At the start of the match, Arsenal immediately put the ball at their feet and tried to slowly press the opponent. Considering the 1-1 in the first match, it was expected that neither team they won’t risk too much so the opening 45 minutes was primarily a cautious game from both sides.
At the Emirates Stadium, Atletico had the first slightly bigger chances. In the seventh minute, Alvarez shot wide of the post, while in the 11th minute, a crowd was created in the home penalty area, but Simeone had no room or time for a better reaction.
First strike against the opponent’s goal Arsenal had in the 19th minute. Gabriel opted for a shot from 25 meters. Although he made a thunderous shot, the ball was not entirely accurate. Arsenal controlled the game, but it was very difficult to break through the two defensive lines of Madrid, who for a large part of the first part did very good and concrete pressing.
The home team tried several crosses, threatened from a corner, and a dangerous situation was when Lewis-Skelly threw the ball that traveled parallel to the goal line, but no one reacted to it.
When it was expected to go on vacation, it followed Arsenal’s goal in the 45th minute and a big party of local fans. Gyoekeres crossed, and Trossard sent an excellent shot despite three players in front of him. Atletico’s goalkeeper Oblak reacted equally well, who saved a dangerous attempt, but Saka was the first on the deflected ball and easily put it into the net from close range for 1-0 Arsenal.
The goal at the end of the first half changed it Atlético’s stance in the second half. The guests from Madrid continued to have the ball at their feet more often and the game still went to the home side.
It didn’t take long for Atlético’s big chance. In the 51st minute, Simeone found himself alone in front of the home goal, but in the duel with Gabriel, he was unable to react to the end or send a shot when the goal was on offer.
As Arsenal struggled in the first half to break through the opponent’s well-organized defense, Atletico had the same problem in the sequel, and the host had more and more space when he decided to rush forward. Arsenal had a great chance in the 66th minute, but Gyoekeres shot just over the crossbar.
It was difficult for Atletico to come up with opportunities with combinatorics, so as the end of the match drew near, the visitors skipped the game more often and tried to score something with crosses. Arsenal easily coped with such surges.
Atletico had the last chance in the 86th minute. About ten meters from the home goal, Sorloth received a nice ball, but the Norwegian striker messed up, reacted sloppily and Atletico had to sign a painful defeat in the north of London.
The final will be played at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30.
(China | Photo: Arsenal)
