Overview
- Atlético Madrid and Arsenal drew 1-1 in Madrid on Wednesday, with Viktor Gyökeres and Julián Álvarez scoring from the penalty spot in a tense Champions League semi-final first leg.
- Ben White was penalized for handball after VAR highlighted Marcos Llorente’s shot striking his outstretched arm, and Álvarez buried the equalizer from 12 yards.
- Referee Danny Makkelie later overturned an Arsenal penalty for Eberechi Eze following a pitch-side review, a ruling Mikel Arteta called “completely unacceptable.”
- Pundits split over the decisions, with Jamie Carragher condemning the handball call as a “stain on the competition” and Steven Gerrard noting such penalties are typically given when an arm is away from the body.
- With Álvarez a late injury concern, attention turns to Tuesday’s second leg at the Emirates, where the winner moves on to face Paris Saint‑Germain or Bayern Munich in the May 30 final in Budapest.