Everything you need to know about Arsenal’s most important game of the season so far
Bukayo Saka could be back from injury to help Arsenal during their crunch match with Atletico Madrid(Image: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock)
- Kick-off time: Arsenal vs Atletico is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time tonight, April 29. It’s the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, giving Mikel Arteta’s side their first chance to secure a place in the final, against either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich, depending on how their matches end. The French and German sides faced off for their first leg last night in a barn storming match which Paris won 5-4.
- Match location: Arsenal vs Atletico will take place at the Spanish club’s home ground, the state-of-the-art Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid.
- Why is the game important? Despite a packed trophy cabinet, Arsenal has never won the Champions League. Ensuring a good showing away from home will put them in a good position for the second leg, which will be held at the Emirates Stadium in London on Tuesday, May 5 at 8pm.
- UK TV channel: Live coverage of the game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max. The official broadcast coverage begins at 7pm, with an hour of pre-match analysis and team news before kick off.
- Live stream information: TNT Sports is no longer streamed on the Discovery+ app. Instead, viewers who want to stream the game must download the HBO Max app and sign in.
- UK radio coverage: Live commentary will be provided by BBC Radio 5 Live on national radio across the UK. Meanwhile, local coverage and fan-focused audio commentary can also be accessed through the official Arsenal app and the club’s website.
- Team news is largely based around injuries: Both teams have their own injury worries after intense home league seasons and some full-on games earlier in the tournament. There is a glimmer of hope for the Gunners, with Bukayo Saka potentially fit enough to stage a return, having come off the bench for the team’s recent Newcastle game.Meanwhile Diego Simeone’s men, who knocked out Barcelona to take their place in the semi-finals are no longer in contention for the La Liga title so are expected to be going all out for the trophy here. The side could be without midfield star Pablo Barrios who was injured during a match at the weekend against Athletic Bilbao.
- Head-to-head record: On previous form, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid seem fairly evenly matched. In five games played since 2009, Atletico has won one, Arsenal won two and two were draws.
- What happens if Arsenal and Atletico tie? Because it’s the first leg there’s no need for extra time if the match ends with one team ahead of the other.
- Do away goals count for more? The away goals rule for Champions League games is no longer in effect, meaning there’s no difference when calculating the aggregate depending on where the goal was scored. If at the end of the ninety minutes of the second the teams are equal, this will send the tie directly into extra time. If the aggregate score remains level after thirty minutes of extra time, a penalty shootout will be the final decider on which team advances to the final.
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