Atletico Madrid walked away from the first leg of their Champions League semifinal against Arsenal with a 1-1 draw, but the scoreline hardly tells the full story. The only real controversy? That Atletico didn't win.

The match was a classic tactical chess match between Diego Simeone and Mikel Arteta, two of the game's most intense managers. Arsenal struck first from the penalty spot in the opening half, but Atletico responded after the break with a spot-kick of their own. The drama didn't end there – referee Danny Makkelie initially pointed to the spot for a second Arsenal penalty, only to overturn his decision after VAR review, much to the frustration of the Gunners' camp.

Jamie Carragher was particularly vocal, calling the handball decision against Ben White "a stain on the Champions League" and worrying about a final being decided on such a call. But for Atletico fans, the real frustration was that their side couldn't convert their dominance into goals from open play.

Let's talk numbers. Atletico Madrid fired off 18 shots over the 90 minutes, compared to PSG's 12 in their wild 5-4 win over Bayern Munich the night before. True, only four of those were on target – but that doesn't count Antoine Griezmann's effort that rattled the crossbar. The stats, when you dig deeper, paint a picture of a team that created plenty but lacked that final touch.

For Atletico, this result feels like a missed opportunity. They had the better chances, the stronger moments, and the belief that they could have walked away with a lead. Instead, they head to the Emirates with everything still to play for – and a growing sense that their Champions League dream is very much alive.

If they can sharpen their finishing and maintain that defensive discipline, don't count them out. After all, in knockout football, belief is half the battle – and right now, Atletico have plenty of it.