Arsenal host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, with the tie level at 1-1 after the first leg. Riccardo Calafiori and Matteo Ruggeri are both in the starting line-ups for their respective teams. Calafiori has kept his place in the Arsenal starting XI after a stellar performance against Fulham in the Premier League over the weekend. The Italy international was denied his first goal at The Emirates after a late VAR review on Saturday.
Team Line-ups
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres. Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Oblak; Pubill, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; Giuliano, Llorente, Koke, Lookman; Alvarez, Griezmann.
Key Player Matchups
The matchup between Bukayo Saka and Marc Pubill will be crucial, with Saka's pace and skill going up against Pubill's defensive expertise. Another key matchup will be between Calafiori and Ademola Lookman, with Calafiori's defensive skills being tested by Lookman's attacking prowess.
Tactical Analysis
Arsenal will likely look to dominate possession and create scoring opportunities through their attacking midfielders. Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, will look to absorb pressure and counter-attack through the pace of Lookman and Alvarez. The team that can impose their style of play on the game will likely come out on top.
Recent Form
Arsenal have been in good form recently, with a 2-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League over the weekend. Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, rested several key players for their LaLiga match against Valencia, but still managed a 1-1 draw.
Match Prediction
Arsenal's home advantage and recent form give them the edge in this matchup. With Calafiori and Ruggeri starting, both teams have a strong defensive presence, but Arsenal's attacking midfielders should be able to create enough scoring opportunities to win the game. Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal's ability to dominate possession and create scoring opportunities through their attacking midfielders will be the key to their success. With Calafiori and Ruggeri starting, both teams have a strong defensive presence, but Arsenal's attacking prowess should be enough to win the game. Atletico Madrid's counter-attacking style will be a threat, but Arsenal's defense should be able to handle it.
A win for Arsenal would put them in a strong position to advance to the Champions League final. A loss for Atletico Madrid would be a significant setback, but they still have a chance to advance if they can win the return leg. The outcome of this game will have significant implications for the Champions League table and the teams' chances of advancing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Riccardo Calafiori and Bukayo Saka are starting for Arsenal against Atletico Madrid
The current score is 1-1 after the first leg
Bukayo Saka is the key player to watch in the matchup between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid