Football Schedule April 29, 2025: Atlético Madrid Hosts Arsenal in Champions League Semi-Final First Leg

Tonight's fixture continues the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, with Atlético Madrid hosting Arsenal in the first leg at Estadio Metropolitano starting at 2:00 AM, broadcast on BeIN Sports 1. In the league phase, Atlético Madrid recorded 4 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses for 13 points, finishing 14th, while Arsenal won all 8 matches with a perfect 24 points to top the standings. In the knockout stages, Atlético defeated Brugge 7-4 on aggregate, beat Tottenham Hotspur 7-5 in the Round of 16, and eliminated Barcelona 3-2 in the quarter-finals. Arsenal advanced past Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 in the Round of 16 and beat Sporting Lisbon 1-0 in the quarter-finals. The two sides have previously met three times in European competition, with each team winning once and one draw, most recently when Arsenal won 4-0 at home in the league phase this season. Atlético will be without injured players Pablo Barrios and José María Giménez, while Arsenal are missing Kai Havertz, Mikel Merino, and Jurrien Timber through injury. Atlético are expected to lineup in a 4-4-2 formation with Jan Oblak in goal, while Arsenal are likely to deploy a 4-3-3 setup with David Raya between the posts. Atlético Madrid appear to be prioritizing this competition fully, unlike Arsenal who must balance their focus with Premier League commitments, and with their continental experience, the home side are considered slight favorites to secure a first-leg advantage.