Atlético Madrid-Arsenal (1-1): despite an agitated Griezmann, the Colchoneros held on by the Gunners

After the fireworks at the Parc des Princes, we could hardly have hoped for better. The day after the “match of the year” between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich (5-4), the poster between Atlético Madrid and Arsenal appeared much less attractive. The players of Mikel Arteta and Diego Simeone, whose game is considered unattractive by the general public, put on the spectacle we expected: two goals from penalties, a draw and that’s it.

While the two teams engaged in locked opposition, it was ultimately Atlético defender David Hancko who broke first by pushing past Viktor Gyökeres in the area just before the break. The Swede takes justice into his own hands and transforms into strength against Jan Oblak (44th).

Antoine Griezmann hits the square

The second error of the game, as rare as they are, leans in favor of the Colchoneros. On a corner played at the entrance to the area, Marcos Llorente completely misses his volley which ends up… on the hand of Ben White. Like Gyökeres, Julian Alvarez chooses the left side and tears the nets of David Raya, stoic on his line (56th).

A few months before his official departure for Orlando, Antoine Griezmann, elected man of the match, was expected for his last Champions League match at the Metropolitano. The former French international, self-effacing and rarely in a good position, initially seemed to have settled perfectly into the rhythm of MLS.

Before returning to Champions League mode after the break, he dreams of reliving a second final in the competition, ten years after his penalty failure against Real Madrid. Coming close to equalizing after returning from the locker room, “Grizou” was at the origin of the corner leading to the penalty. Revolted, the native of Mâcon is a few centimeters away from finding the fault in the same action. But the square then Gabriel oppose him (63rd).

Dominated, Arsenal then believed they had the opportunity to regain the advantage in the last quarter of an hour. In difficulty throughout the match, David Hancko missed his intervention on Eberechi Eze and forced Danny Makkelie to designate the penalty point a third time in the match. After intervention by video assistance, the contact was finally judged to be too light and the official changed his decision. Revived, the Gunners push, the Colchoneros defense does not break and allows Atlético de Madrid to stay alive before the second round, at the Emirates Stadium next Tuesday (9 p.m.).