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Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal, UEFA Europa League semi-final 2nd leg, Latest updates: FT: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1) Atletico Madrid are through to the final of the Europa League in Lyon. A gritty performance in the first leg to earn a 1-1 draw with ten men was followed by a professional display at home. Atletico were as strong as ever defensively and Arsenal throughout the night had little answers to the Atletico’s defensive resolve. There will be no fairytale ending for Wenger as Arsenal’s season will end without silverware and for the second season in a row the Gunners fail to quality for the Champions League. Atletico through will march to Lyon for the final. They await the winners of the other semi-final between Marseille and Salzburg which has gone into extra time. Preview: Atletico Madrid and Arsenal are both out to save their seasons. Arsenal is looking to qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League, while Atletico is looking to get something from a season that promised so much but has so far delivered little. [caption id=“attachment_4455773” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa (L) and Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette (R) will be key for their respective teams in the Europa League semi-final. Agencies[/caption] The teams play in the second leg of the Europa League semifinals on Thursday. They drew 1-1 in England last week, when Antoine Griezmann scored late to give Atletico hope despite playing most of the match with 10 men. Arsenal is sixth in the Premier League and needs the title to return to the Champions League after a one-year absence. “I did that for 20 years,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Wednesday. “To be in the Champions League, I want to achieve it.” A failure to make it to the final would keep Wenger from winning one last title before bidding his farewell at the end of the season. Wenger announced two weeks ago he was standing down as Arsenal coach after nearly 22 years at the helm. “I don’t know what I will do next season,” said Wenger, who will be in his 250th UEFA club game as a coach. “At the moment I would just like to finish my job. A man has to give his best as long as he is somewhere. I would like to walk out and think I focus only on Arsenal. I want to finish this love story well.” Wenger said Arsenal was prepared to challenge Atletico in Madrid. “It will be a game where we know exactly what to do,” Wenger said. “Our way of approaching it is clear. That is an advantage sometimes.” Atletico, which has already secured a spot in Champions League and is in second place behind champion Barcelona in the Spanish league with three matches left, had expected to contend for titles both domestically and internationally. It didn’t go as planned, however, and Atletico was eliminated in the group stage of the Champions League — something that hadn’t happened in four seasons — and fell to Sevilla in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey. The team did well in the Spanish league by staying ahead of Real Madrid but it never really challenged Barcelona for the title. When it had a chance to move closer, it lost to the Catalan club to see its title hopes all but evaporate. “We always have high expectations in the beginning of the season,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “The goal is always to go as far as possible in the competitions in which we are playing.” Simeone will have to make two changes from the first leg in England. Sime Vrsaljko is suspended after being sent off about 10 minutes into the match, and Juanfran Torres still hasn’t recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in the first half. Left back Filipe Luis, out since March because of a broken left leg, has been cleared medically and was included in the squad for Thursday’s match at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. “He’s been out for two months so obviously he isn’t quite ready to play 90 minutes,” Simeone said. “But we are in an important stretch of the competition where important players like Filipe have done wonders. If I need him, he will be there.” Wenger said David Ospina will start in goal for Arsenal. With inputs from AP
Highlights, Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal, UEFA Europa League semi-final 2nd leg: Atleti reach final after narrow win
Catch Live score and updates from Europa League semi-final second leg between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal at Wanda Metropolitano
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A revolution that lost its way
Atletico’s new fortress!
No joy for Arsenal. Arsene Wenger’s final season at the club will end trophyless
Atletico once again show their pedigree in European competition as they book their place in a third European final in five years.
FT: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1)
Atletico Madrid are through to the final of the Europa League in Lyon. A gritty performance in the first leg to earn a 1-1 draw with ten men was followed by a professional display at home. Atletico were as strong as ever defensively and Arsenal throughout the night had little answers to the Atletico’s defensive resolve. There will be no fairytale ending for Wenger as Arsenal’s season will end without silverware and for the second season in a row the Gunners fail to quality for the Champions League. Atletico through will march to Lyon for the final. They await the winners of the other semi-final between Marseille and Salzburg which has gone into extra time.
90’ Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1)
3 minutes of stoppage time added as Arsenal pile on the pressure in hope to fashion one telling opportunity
85’ Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1)
Nacho Monreal gets in a good position to put in a cross but overcooks it. The chance is gone and that sums up Arsenal’s semi-final
80’ Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1)
Atletico players are hunting down the Arsenal players and not allowing the Gunners to build attacks from the back. The Atletico fans love the commitment from the team and get their noise levels up. Arsenal are lacking energy and it seems that a place in the final might be just beyond them. Meanhwile Fernando Torres comes on for Diego Costa
75’ Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1)
Angel Correa comes on for Atletico in place of Vitolo. Time is running out for Arsenal. They will have to produce something special to open up this Atletico side that has upped its game after the break. Big final 15 minutes for Arsenal’s season. Can they find some inspiration?
70’ Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1)
Big chance for Antoine Griezmann to double Atletico’s advantage as some brilliant hold-up play from Costa leaves the Frenchman free inside the box. But his shot is blocked for Ospina to collect the looping ball. After a spell of Arsenal possession, it’s Atletico now who are pushing for the second goal that would in all probability seal it for the home side.
Wenger throws on Henrikh Mkhitaryan in place of Jack Wilshere as Arsenal look for the equaliser.
65’ Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1)
Arsenal register their first shot on target through Granit Xhaka. Mesut Ozil with a few moments of brilliance to create a couple of opening. However, Atletico holding firm.
60’ Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1)
Atletico playing much better in the second half. They are much more identifiable. Solid in defence and threatening on the counter. The goal just before the break has taken the sting out of Arsenal who don’t seem to be playing with the intensity required to get back in the tie
55’ Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1)
Much better start to the second half. The game is opening up and Atletico are finding plenty of joy on the break
50’ Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1)
Atletico happy to play on the counter. The scoreline really suits them and the players ppear more comfortable playing on the counter. With every passing minute Arsenal will have to throw bodies forward and that will open up spaces for Atletico to exploit
46’ Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1)
Second half begins. No changes to either teams
In Salzburg, Marseille preserving their 2-0 lead from the first leg at the interval
Not been the best of the halves, but Atletico won’t mind it at this moment of time
The Nemesis!
HT: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1)
A cagey half that ended with Atletico producing a moment of quality and punishing Arsenal for their defensive lapse. The goal doesn’t change anything great deal as an Arsenal goal will level matters in the tie and send it to extra time something that the Gunners will take at this point of time. But Costa’s goal gives Diego Simeone’s men assurance and they can take the risk of sitting back and defending in the second half, something they are very good at. Apart from the final few minutes of the half , it’s been an even contest and there is still hope for Arsenal
45 + 2’ Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 2-1)
GOAL! DIEGO COSTA scores. A fine move from Atletico as Griezmenn sends Costa through on goal and the Spaniard makes no mistake in putting it away
45’ Atletico Madrid 0-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 1-1)
3 minutes of stoppage time added at the end of the regulation 45 minutes
40’ Atletico Madrid 0-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 1-1)
Best spell for Atletico in the game. Antoine Griezmann fires just wide after brilliantly controlling a loose ball inside the box. A bit more intensity from the home side as the first half nears its conclusion.
35’ Atletico Madrid 0-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 1-1)
Scrappy half so far. Both teams showing a bit of spark in patches but apart from those few moments it’s been a dull affair.
30’ Atletico Madrid 0-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 1-1)
Arsenal growing as an attacking force in this game. Lacazette gets behind the Atletico defence but Oblak closes the angle for a shot and the Frenchman is forced to play the ball wide and the chance goes begging. Atletico haven’t got going in this game so far and Arsenal have ahcnace to cancel out that away goal before half time
25’ Atletico Madrid 0-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 1-1)
Atletico with a promising counter-attack that sees Diego Costa receive the ball in space inside the box, but he is closed down by the Arsenal defenders before he could get his shot away. It’s been a cagey affair so far and no team has been able to get any sort of rhythm in their play
20’ Atletico Madrid 0-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 1-1)
Arsenal seeing more of the ball in the last five minutes. They have been able to involve their full-backs in an attacking sense in the game. There is no real impetus to Atletico’s attacks and Wenger will be happy with the first 20 minutes in this game so far
15’ Atletico Madrid 0-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 1-1)
Arsenal have employed a low pressing block. Wenger’s men have kept a good shape and the midfielders and the forward players have shown good discipline in terms of closing down. Atletico are not able to get past the Arsenal block and thus it has led to a quiet start to the game
10’ Atletico Madrid 0-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 1-1)
Callum Chambers comes on for Laurent Koscielny who has to leave the field due to injury. Play resumes after a long stoppage
Koscielny is down and it looks like he will have to be replaced early on. Costa may have missed the chance but he has already inflicted some damage on Arsenal.
5’ Atletico Madrid 0-0 Arsenal (Agg score: 1-1)
Atletico Madrid with all the early possession in the game. Arsenal forced to defend deep, The hosts have tried to play some intricate stuff through the middle but Arsenal hold firm
KICK OFF!
The action is underway in Madrid. Atletico Madrid attacking from left to right
Some happy memories for Arsenal in Madrid
Meanwhile, in the other semi-final at Salzburg, Marseille will be looking to preserve a 2-0 lead they bring from the first leg. But Salzburg will be looking to give their best shot in front of their home fans
Arsenal have a few wrongs to right and there couldn’t be a better time than tonight
This is the biggest game for Arsenal this season. If they fail to get past Atletico Madrid tonight their season would be considered a major disappointment and it will be a sad end for Wenger at Arsenal. So the Gunners will be determined to give it their all and make this game a very close contest. Arsenal may take leaf out of Chelsea’s books who won 2-1 at this stadium earlier in the Champions League. That was Chelsea’s best performance this season and Arsenal will have to do something similar
Atletico Madrid players arriving at the Wanda Metropolitano ahead of the big game. Atletico have plenty of experience under their belt of dealing with such occasions having reached 2 of the last 4 Champions League finals. Against a relatively inexperienced Arsenal side for this occasion, Atletico will fancy their chances of producing a positive result at home
TEAM NEWS!
Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak, Thomas, Gimenez, Godin, Lucas Hernandez, Saul, Koke, Gabi, Vitolo, Griezmann, Diego Costa
Arsenal XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal, Ramsey, Wilshere, Xhaka, Ozil, Lacazette, Welbeck