
Highlights from the Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal match where the Gunners were denied a contentious penalty by VAR.
Atlético Madrid sought a late winner in the match’s final moments, with Antoine Griezmann striking the crossbar and Lookman narrowly missing out as goalkeeper David Raya made a key save. The Nigerian international experienced a rare full 90-minute match on Wednesday, contributing to Atlético's 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
Throughout the match, Lookman was active, taking three shots on goal but failing to score, resulting in Atlético settling for a draw on home turf. Arsenal initially took the lead just before halftime when Viktor Gyokeres converted a penalty after being fouled in the box, giving them a slight edge at the break in a tightly contested game.
After halftime, Atlético came back stronger and equalized through Julian Alvarez, who scored from the penalty spot following a handball by Ben White. This goal kept Atlético firmly in the contest.
Alvarez's penalty was significant as it marked his 10th goal in this season's competition, making him the first Atlético player to reach that milestone, and the fastest South American to achieve 25 Champions League goals, surpassing Lionel Messi.
The drama intensified late in the match when Arsenal was initially awarded a second penalty after a challenge on Eberechi Eze, but the decision was reversed following a VAR review.
As the match wound down, Atlético pressed for a winning goal, with Griezmann hitting the crossbar and Lookman being thwarted by Raya. The result leaves the semi-final finely poised heading into the second leg in London, with both teams aiming for a place in the final and their first Champions League title.