CNN World Sport’s Amanda Davies speaks with former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello and 2-time European Cup winner Ruud Gullit about the PSG-Bayern and Arsenal-Atlético clashes in the UEFA Champions League.
Legends Capello, Gullit discuss UCL semifinal …
- Atlético and Arsenal draw: This Champions League semifinal first leg finishes 1-1 after two penalties are scored: the first by Viktor Gyökeres in the first half and the second was smashed in by Julián Álvarez. The game was a defensive struggle, but entertaining nonetheless.
- Atleti and Arsenal chasing the dream: Neither club has won the European Cup, though both have made the final before. The Colchoneros have reached the final three times (1974, 2014 and 2016) and the London club did it once (2006).
- Last night’s chaos: If you missed last night’s game between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich – wow, you lost out. The 5-4 thriller that Les Parisiens won included comebacks, spectacular goals, a bit of controversy and non-stop action. Read up on everything that happened here.
- Cobertura en directo en español: sigue toda nuestra cobertura de las semifinales de la Liga de Campeones en CNN en Español.
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Atlético and Arsenal draw 1-1 after defensive battle in the Champions League semifinal first leg
Updated 5:46 PM EDT, Wed April 29, 2026
CNN World Sport’s Amanda Davies speaks with former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello and 2-time European Cup winner Ruud Gullit about the PSG-Bayern and Arsenal-Atlético clashes in the UEFA Champions League.
- Atlético and Arsenal draw: This Champions League semifinal first leg finishes 1-1 after two penalties are scored: the first by Viktor Gyökeres in the first half and the second was smashed in by Julián Álvarez. The game was a defensive struggle, but entertaining nonetheless.
- Atleti and Arsenal chasing the dream: Neither club has won the European Cup, though both have made the final before. The Colchoneros have reached the final three times (1974, 2014 and 2016) and the London club did it once (2006).
- Last night’s chaos: If you missed last night’s game between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich – wow, you lost out. The 5-4 thriller that Les Parisiens won included comebacks, spectacular goals, a bit of controversy and non-stop action. Read up on everything that happened here.
- Cobertura en directo en español: sigue toda nuestra cobertura de las semifinales de la Liga de Campeones en CNN en Español.
A game of two halves, penalties and VAR drama
Referee Danny Makkelie listens to a VAR review for a possible penalty.
Referee Danny Makkelie listens to a VAR review for a possible penalty.
It was far from the nine-goal thriller that Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich gave fans in the City of Light last night, but there are still plenty of talking points to take away from tonight’s game.
And as the old saying goes, it really was a game of two halves.
Arsenal was on top for the first 45 minutes and the scoreline reflected that. Diego Simeone’s squad then came out like men possessed in the second half and managed to pull themselves level.But the main talking points will undoubtedly be around the referee and VAR.
Three penalty decisions were whistled in this game, and oddly enough, it seemed that each time a spot kick was awarded, the resulting VAR check became more onerous – with the final decision being overturned by the referee.
Regardless, the tie remains all square heading into the second leg at the Emirates on Tuesday. It doesn’t really matter if either or both sides feel decisions tonight went against them, the task for the second leg is simple.
Winner takes all.For Atlético, a chance to return to its first final in a decade is at stake. For Arsenal, a first final in 20 years.
For both, a chance to keep their dreams alive of lifting the biggest and most important trophy in the European club game for the very first time.
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