Spanish club Atlético Madrid drew 1-1 at home with English club Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal, APA reports.
Victor Gyökeres scored for Arsenal (44th minute). Julián Álvarez scored for Atlético (56). Both goals were scored from the penalty spot. In the 81st minute, referee Danny Makkelie awarded a penalty for a foul on Arsenal striker Eberechi Eze, but later reversed his decision after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system intervened.
This goal was Alvarez's 25th in the Champions League. He reached this milestone faster than any South American player, in 41 matches. The previous record holder was eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, also an Argentine (42).
The teams met for the third time in European competition. They previously met in the 2017/18 Europa League semifinals. Atlético Madrid won the two-legged tie (1-1, 1-0). The Spanish club later went on to win the tournament.
The return match between the teams will take place on May 5 in London. The winner will play the winner in the final, which will feature Paris Saint-Germain of France and Bayern Munich of Germany (the first leg was won 5-4).
The final will take place on May 30 in Budapest. PSG is the reigning Champions League champion. In the final, the Parisian team crushed Italian side Inter 5-0 to win the title for the first time. Spain's Real Madrid holds the record for most trophies, having won Europe's most prestigious club competition 15 times.
