The UEFA Europa League semi-final second legs take place on Thursday night and the Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal match is the most evenly poised of the two ties.
Atletico Madrid know what it takes to reach the latter stages of European tournaments having played in two of the last four Champions League finals. Diego Simeone and his players certainly have the knowhow when it comes to this stage of European competition.
Arsenal have been regulars in the Champions League but have never made this stage of that tournament under Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman is aiming to lead Arsenal to their second Europa League final in his final season in charge at the Emirates.
The first leg ended 1-1 in London.
Atletico Madrid come into this match having won only one of their last four games in all competitions. They picked up a 1-0 win at Deportivo Alaves away from home in La Liga on the weekend but prior to that were held by Real Betis at home and lost 3-0 at Real Sociedad.
There is no doubt Atletico Madrid have been inconsistent of late, both domestically and in the Europa League. Having finished third in the Champions League group, Atletico Madrid have won five of their seven Europa League games but have lost and been held to a draw in their last two.
At home, Atletico Madrid are undefeated in their last twelve games in all competitions and have kept a clean sheet in each of their last eleven.
This match represents the last chance saloon for Arsenal this season and they were disappointed to lose a late goal to ten-man Atletico Madrid in the first leg. That disappointment was followed by the concession of another late goal on the weekend, this time a goal which saw a much-changed Arsenal lose at Manchester United.
Trends show the Gunners have won just one of their last five games in all competitions, which was a 4-1 home win over relegation threatened West Ham United in the Premier League.
Arsenal have really been struggling away from home and have failed to win a single away point in the Premier League this year. Their only two away wins in 2018 have come at Ostersunds and AC Milan in the Europa League.
Wenger’s team were held to a 2-2 draw at CSKA Moscow in the previous round of the Champions league and would be more than happy to come away with the same result from this match.
Looking ahead to the team news and Atletico Madrid are without injured full-backs Filipe Luis and Juanfran plus the suspended Sime Vrsaljko, leaving them light in that position. Antoine Griezmann, Jose Gimenez, Jan Oblak, and Saul Niguez will all return having been rested on the weekend.
Arsenal are without the injured duo of Mohamed Elneny and Santi Cazorla plus Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is ineligible. Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Alexandre Lacazette, Nacho Monreal, and Laurent Koscielny are all expected to start.
Atletico Madrid are in the driving seat and their home record plus Arsenal’s away record makes them favourites. However, Arsenal showed at AC Milan they can turn it on in this competition and will press for the away goal. This could be a very tight match and we could see a low scoring draw and the possibility of extra-time.