Arsenal Atletico Madrid match preview

First semi-final matches of the Europa League are on schedule on Thursday evening, and in the far more attractive one Arsenal from London faces Atletico Madrid. Many agree that this is in fact final before final as unlike Marseille and Salzburg this two teams were regular in knockout phase of the Champions League in previous years. It is interesting that Arsenal and Atletico have never met in that competition and in fact this is their first head-to-head in recent history.

Arsenal

Right because of that it is going to be interesting to see which team will better handle the semi-finals, especially as the Gunners from London play more offensive football than the Madrilenians, and on top of it they have much stronger motive. It is already clear that Arsenal cannot reach the Champions League through the Premiership as at the moment it lags behind for 4th-placed Tottenham for even 11 points, and can play in the elite UEFA club competition next year only if it wins the Europa League.

On the other hand, Arsenal fans are aware that their opponent in the semi-final have one of best defences in Europe, and it would very important for the Gunners to make any kind of advantage in the 1st leg. Regarding situation with players, it is known from before that forward Aubameyang cannot play, while midfielders Elneny and Cazorla are injured, while besides them are questionable not fully recovered midfielders Mkhitaryan and Wilshere, and goalkeeper Cech.

Probable lineups Arsenal: Ospina – Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal – Ramsey, Xhaka – Welbeck, Ozil, Iwobi – Lacazette

Atletico Madrid

Unlike Arsenal which only hope to play in the Champions League next year is to win the Europa League, we are going to see Atletico Madrid in the group phase of that competition one way or another, given that at the moment this team occupies the second place in La Liga table, having unreachable 16 points more than 5th-placed Betis. Atletico met right that team last weekend at home and in the end result read unpopular 0-0.

Since before that Atletico lost away to Real Sociedad 3-0, its advantage over 3rd-placed Real Madrid has reduced to just four points, but the Kings have played one match fewer. On the other hand, leading Barcelona currently has even 11 points more than Atletico and also played one match less, so it is quite certain that that Catalans will win the champion title. Let’s add that due to injuries out of action are still defenders Juanfran and Filipe Luis, and forward Diego Costa.

Probable lineups Atletico Madrid: Oblak – Vrsaljko, Godin, Savic, Hernandez – Correa, Thomas, Koke, Niguez – Griezmann, Gameiro

Verdict:

Although the Gunners from London have much stronger motive and series of six consecutive victories at home, we all know that the guests from Madrid are one of toughest European teams, which is why we have opted here for a pick with few goals.

Pick:  under 2.5 goals 1.83 - 83/100 @1XBet

02/04/2025

Botev Plovdiv - Beroe

Botev Plovdiv Beroe goals and highlights
0:0

02/04/2025

Arda - Cherno More

Arda Cherno More goals and highlights
4:0

02/04/2025

Hiroshima - Kashima

Hiroshima Kashima goals and highlights
1:0

02/04/2025

Verdy - Tokyo

Verdy Tokyo goals and highlights
2:2

02/04/2025

Yokohama FC - Kobe

Yokohama FC Kobe goals and highlights
0:1

02/04/2025

Nagoya - Yokohama Marinos

Nagoya Yokohama Marinos goals and highlights
2:0

02/04/2025

Kyoto - Kashiwa

Kyoto Kashiwa goals and highlights
1:1

02/04/2025

C-Osaka - Okayama Fagiano

C-Osaka Okayama Fagiano goals and highlights
2:1

02/04/2025

Alianza Lima - Libertad

Alianza Lima Libertad goals and highlights
0:1

02/04/2025

Bucaramanga - Colo Colo

Bucaramanga Colo Colo goals and highlights
3:3

02/04/2025

Fortaleza - Racing Club

Fortaleza Racing Club goals and highlights
0:3

02/04/2025

Cerro Porteno - Bolivar

Cerro Porteno Bolivar goals and highlights
4:2

01/04/2025

Boavista - Gil Vicente

Boavista Gil Vicente goals and highlights
1:3

01/04/2025

Empoli - Bologna

Empoli Bologna goals and highlights
0:3

01/04/2025

Annagh - H&W Welders

Annagh H&W Welders goals and highlights
4:2

01/04/2025

Ballymena - Loughgall

Ballymena Loughgall goals and highlights
5:2

01/04/2025

Dungannon - Larne

Dungannon Larne goals and highlights
1:1

01/04/2025

Glentoran - Coleraine

Glentoran Coleraine goals and highlights
2:1

01/04/2025

Linfield - Crusaders

Linfield Crusaders goals and highlights
3:1

01/04/2025

Portadown - Glenavon

Portadown Glenavon goals and highlights
1:1

01/04/2025

Arsenal - Fulham

Arsenal Fulham goals and highlights
2:1

01/04/2025

Wolves - West Ham

Wolves West Ham goals and highlights
1:0

01/04/2025

Swindon - AFC Wimbledon

Swindon AFC Wimbledon goals and highlights
2:1

01/04/2025

Port Vale - Bradford

Port Vale Bradford goals and highlights
2:0

01/04/2025

Newport - Bromley

Newport Bromley goals and highlights
1:1

01/04/2025

Harrogate - Tranmere

Harrogate Tranmere goals and highlights
3:2

01/04/2025

Morecambe - Cheltenham

Morecambe Cheltenham goals and highlights
2:0

01/04/2025

Doncaster - Walsall

Doncaster Walsall goals and highlights
2:2

01/04/2025

Crewe - Grimsby

Crewe Grimsby goals and highlights
2:0

01/04/2025

Gillingham - Colchester

Gillingham Colchester goals and highlights
1:1

01/04/2025

Barrow - Salford

Barrow Salford goals and highlights
1:1

01/04/2025

Chesterfield - Carlisle

Chesterfield Carlisle goals and highlights
2:1

01/04/2025

Wycombe - Shrewsbury

Wycombe Shrewsbury goals and highlights
0:0





Buy tickets to all of your favorite sports events.