Atletico Madrid died on their feet, but they died. This Champions League will belong to others. Arsenal became the first finalist after a fiercely contested match decided by the fine details—always favoring the English side. In accuracy and in the whistle. Details that shattered Atletico. Others will touch the metal. The journey to Neptune is postponed again, without Griezmann’s fairytale ending. As years pass, it is titles that remind us of the efforts. For the red-and-whites, this night will be remembered above all by one name: Daniel Siebert.
Arteta had surprised by benching Zubimendi to give Lewis-Skelly a starting spot, and by fielding Ben White over Mosquera, Calafiori over Hincapié. But Saka’s inclusion was no shock—60 minutes for that slippery player to try and break through Atletico. Simeone benched Cardoso, moving Llorente alongside Koke in midfield, and started Pubill at full-back with Le Normand. At nine o’clock, Julian Alvarez was tasked with taking the opening kick. With his right foot. If his left ankle hurt, it didn’t stop him. On nights like this, the only weight is not being part of them. As the ball started rolling, the chess game began.
The fireworks were saved for the other semifinal. The script for this return leg mirrored the first: tactical rigor and minimal risk. A long match, winning on points. Arsenal trod the grass as if afraid. With the handbrake on, they moved the ball from side to side like a compass around the wall built by Atletico, who waited in their own half, alert and condensed like a dome. Hancko swept, Trossard and Saka barely poked a foot out, Koke helped ward off any threat when Gyokeres ran. The match headed to halftime, with the English seeking a corner at every chance and the Spaniards celebrating every goal kick. Atletico’s danger was scarce—Lookman was as off-target when looking at Raya as he was generous in defense. Arsenal kept gaining meters of grass with each possession against an Atletico that cracked in the 44th minute.
The hole came from a Saliba pass to Gyokeres that Hancko slightly touched, delaying Oblak’s exit. Just one chance, but enough for Arsenal. As the Slovenian returned to his goal, Gyokeres sent a cross that Pubill cleared in the area, only to give the ball to Trossard. His shot was parried low by Oblak. As Le Normand and Ruggeri tried to clear the rebound, Saka had already bundled it in. Goal. 1-0 on the night, 2-1 on aggregate. At halftime, Budapest was English. Atletico, as in the first leg, had to get up and fight back.
In the second half, Atletico returned with a higher press, mirroring the first leg in Madrid. Now it was the red-and-whites pushing, with Pubill involved in every play. Back at right-back, he cleared, overlapped, shielded, drove, and threatened. But Daniel Siebert, with his all-too-eager whistle, didn’t help: he blew for every Atletico touch on English skin but not the reverse. Giuliano could have equalized on a counter after stealing a ball and racing into Raya’s area, where he kicked at air—Gabriel destabilized him just as he was about to shoot. The Argentine asked for a penalty, but the referee’s only gesture was “play on.” Four minutes later, Griezmann was asking for one too. And Simeone. And every red-and-white in the Emirates.
