Atletico Madrid and Arsenal go head-to-head again on Thursday night (11:05pm GST) for a place in this season’s Europa League final.
The two European heavyweights drew 1-1 at the Emirates last week, with Antoine Griezmann‘s late leveller cancelling out Alexandre Lacazette’s opener on 60 minutes. Atleti also finished the match with 10 men after Sime Vrsaljko was given his marching orders.
The Gunners will be determined to book their place in this month’s final to be hosted in Lyon and send departing manager Arsene Wenger off on a high.
Ligue 1 side Marseille are likely to be the team in waiting there, given the fact the Olympians carry a 2-0 lead into their second leg against Red Bull Salzburg.
Here, though, we look at the key stats ahead of the second-leg clash in the Spanish capital.
MATCH FACTS
ATLETICO MADRID
Incredibly, last week’s first leg in London was the first-ever competitive clash between the two sides. Their only previous meeting was in the 2009 Emirates Cup, where two late Andrey Arshavin goals handed the hosts a 2-1 win.
There were doubts that Atleti may take some time to make their new Wanda Metropolitano home a fortress but it has become just that. Diego Simeone’s side have kept clean sheets in each of their last 11 home matches. They have won 11 of those games.
Should the Spanish side advance, the final later this month in Lyon will be the club’s third appearance in the Europa League final. That would mean Atleti level La Liga rivals Sevilla (three) for most final outings in the competition, and they are also bidding for a record-equalling third trophy.
Once again, Atleti will be reliant on leading talisman Griezmann to do the business at the top of the pitch – despite speculation over his long-term future. The France international enjoys playing against English opponents and has scored three in his last five matches against sides from the Premier League.
Can Arsenal end Arsene Wenger’s tenure on a high?
ARSENAL
The Gunners will need to improve their miserable away form if they are to get a positive result, with Wenger’s men having won just two of their last 12 fixtures away from the Emirates in all competitions.
However, on the previous two occasions when Arsenal have drawn the opening leg of a European semi-final tie, the north London club have gone on to reach the final (Cup Winners Cup in 1979-80 and 1993-94).
Nevertheless, Arsenal have never won a European trophy under Arsene Wenger and have lost two previous finals under the Frenchman, the UEFA Cup (2000) and Champions League final (2006).
The Premier League side will need to show a greater cutting edge in front of goal on Thursday in a match where they have to score. 28 shots were fired in the first leg but just eight of them were on target.
On their past six European visits to Spain, Arsenal have failed to win (D2, L4), with their last success coming courtesy of Thierry Henry’s famous strike at the Bernabeu in a 1-0 victory back in 2006.
