A 1-1 draw in the first leg leaves Arsenal and Atletico Madrid level heading into the decisive return leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals, with a place in the final in Budapest on the line. Follow our liveblog of Arsenal vs Atletico today and don’t miss a single thing!
Arsenal now return to North London aiming to capitalize on home advantage, backed by one of the most consistent defensive records in the competition. But Diego Simeone‘s men have built their reputation on navigating these scenarios.
With the aggregate score tied and no away goals rule in play, the path to the final could hinge on the smallest details—from a single breakthrough to extra time or penalties. Every possible result carries a different consequence.
What happens if Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid today?
With a win, Arsenal would qualify for the UEFA Champions League final, where they would face either Bayern Munich or PSG, who face off on Wednesday. A win for them over Atletico Madrid in the second leg would immediately send the Gunners through to the final.
Mikel Arteta waves to the media during the training session before the second leg. (Source: Harry Murphy/Getty Images)
The first leg in Madrid ended 1-1, with both goals coming from penalties—Viktor Gyokeres for Arsenal and Julian Alvarez for Atletico—leaving the tie completely open. Because the aggregate score is level, any victory at the Emirates Stadium would be enough to secure progression without the need for extra time.
What happens if Arsenal and Atletico Madrid tie today?
If Arsenal and Atletico Madrid draw, the match will go to extra time, and potentially penalties, because the aggregate score would remain level. With the first leg finishing 1-1, any draw in the second leg keeps the tie even on aggregate.
Under current UEFA Champions League rules, the away goals rule no longer applies, so there is no advantage based on where goals are scored. That means the game would move into two 15-minute periods of extra time.
If neither Arsenal nor Atletico Madrid breaks the deadlock, the semifinal would then be decided by a penalty shootout. This scenario is especially likely given how tight the first leg was.
What happens if Arsenal lose to Atletico Madrid today?
Arsenal would be eliminated with a loss, and Atletico Madrid would advance to the Champions League final against Bayern or PSG. This would also see the list of unbeaten winners in UCL history unchanged.
That outcome would be particularly painful for the Gunners given how balanced the tie has been so far. The first leg was decided by fine margins, including penalty decisions and a late VAR controversy, highlighting just how little separates the two sides.
For Atletico Madrid, this is familiar territory. Diego Simeone’s teams are known for managing tight knockout scenarios effectively, often capitalizing on small advantages. The final opponent would remain uncertain as Bayern can still turn things around after a hard-fought first leg in Paris.
