Atletico Madrid host Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-finals, with both teams still in pursuit of a maiden trophy in Europe’s top tier.
Diego Simeone’s side saw off Barcelona in an enthralling 3-2 quarter-final tie on aggregate, while Mikel Arteta’s men did just enough in a rather more pedestrian 1-0 aggregate win over Sporting Lisbon.
Arsenal ran out 4-0 winners in the two sides’ league phase encounter earlier this season but both sides have transformed since then, with the Gunners looking depleted and low on confidence after being pegged back in the Premier League title race, while Atletico ran out 3-2 winners in La Liga in their last game and have looked a different beast in the knockout stages.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is Atletico Madrid v Arsenal?
The first leg of the semi-final takes place at Atletico’s Estadio Metropolitano, with kick-off at 8pm BST on Wednesday 29 April.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the UK can watch the game live on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max, with coverage beginning at 7pm BST.
Team news
The home side may be missing striker Ademola Lookman, who has missed the last two games with a muscle issue but has trained with the squad in the last couple of days.
Julian Alvarez – who has been courted by Arsenal, according to Simeone – was an unused substitute at the weekend with a minor knock but should be fit to feature. Pablo Barrios and Jose Gimenez are both out with injury.
Arsenal will be without Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber and are sweating on the availability of Eberechi Eze, Kai Havertz and Martin Zubimendi, who were all taken off against Newcastle last time out.
Predicted line-ups
Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak; Molina, Le Normand, Lenglet, Ruggeri; Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Gonzalez; Griezmann, Alvarez
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
