Atletico Madrid are gearing up for a high-stakes UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal at the iconic Emirates Stadium in London this Tuesday night. After a tense first leg ended goalless, both sides are now fighting tooth and nail for a coveted spot in the final—a stage that has eluded the Spanish giants since 2016, while Arsenal's only appearance dates back to 2006.
Diego Simeone's squad arrives in the English capital with a timely boost, as several key players have won their fitness battles. Julian Alvarez, who sparked concern with an ankle scare in the first leg, has been named in the 25-man traveling party and is expected to lead the line. He's joined by Giuliano Simeone, Alexander Sorloth, and José María Giménez, all of whom have shrugged off recent knocks to make the trip.
The return of Jan Oblak between the posts is a massive lift for Atletico, especially after the goalkeeper was rested over the weekend. However, Simeone will have to make do without Pablo Barrios and Nico Gonzalez, both sidelined with thigh injuries. Expect the Argentine tactician to stick with his trademark disciplined 4-4-2 formation, with Johnny Cardoso and Koke anchoring the midfield, while Alvarez partners Antoine Griezmann up front in a bid to outscore the hosts.
Possible Atletico Madrid starting XI: Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Lookman; Alvarez, Griezmann
Kick-off is set for 8pm BST on Tuesday, 5th May, and fans in the UK can catch all the action exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. With everything on the line, this promises to be a night of relentless drama at the Emirates.
