Arsenal denied penalty by VAR in Champions League draw against Atletico Madrid

Arsenal and Atletico Madrid drew 1-1 in their Champions League semifinal first leg match at the Metropolitano stadium. Julian Alvarez scored for Atletico Madrid in the second half after Viktor Gyokeres had given Arsenal a lead just before halftime on a penalty.

Gyokeres was fouled by David Hancko, allowing him to take the penalty and score against goalkeeper Jan Oblak. However, VAR later overturned the goal, citing that Hancko’s contact with Eberechi Eze in the area did not warrant a penalty.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed disappointment over the decision, stating it was “against the rules” and that the referee should have reviewed the replay 13 times as requested. Atletico Madrid captain Koke credited his team’s solid defending for their draw, saying they defended well and created few scoring opportunities against Arsenal.

The match saw a tense atmosphere, with toilet paper being thrown from the stands before kickoff. The game lacked the high-scoring nature of other Champions League matches, instead focusing on defensive solidity and counter-attacks. Atletico Madrid’s defense was criticized for its outdated reputation, but they managed to pin down Arsenal in the early stages.

Arsenal looked to score quickly, with Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka creating few scoring opportunities. The team’s strategy shifted as the match progressed, with Gyokeres winning a penalty that Atletico Madrid capitalized on. Alvarez then scored an equalizing goal from the penalty spot after Ben White handled Marcos Llorente’s shot.

The draw left both teams in a strong position for the second leg of the semifinal series, which will take place next Tuesday.

Source: Al Jazeera