The Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid hosts the first leg of the Champions League semifinal between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal on Wednesday, April 29 at 9pm (19:00 GMT).

Arsenal remain the only unbeaten team in this season's Champions League, having conceded just five goals in 12 games — a record reminiscent of Atletico under Diego Simeone's notoriously feisty football. However, this Atletico side is more expansive, having conceded 26 goals in 14 Champions League matches while scoring 34, with Julian Alvarez netting nine.

The teams met earlier this season, with Arsenal thrashing Atletico 4-0 in October, but that result feels distant. Arsenal have hit a rocky patch recently, losing to Manchester City in the League Cup final and a key league game, yet they maintain a three-point lead atop the table, though City have a game in hand.

Atletico sit fourth in La Liga, and the Champions League represents their last hope for silverware after defeat in last weekend's Copa del Rey final. Their path to the semifinals has involved taking first-leg leads — ambushing Tottenham at home then winning at Barcelona — before weathering severe pressure in return legs.

The winners will face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Budapest on May 30. Coaches and players shared their thoughts: Simeone said they are heading into the semifinals with "all our enthusiasm and faith," while Arteta called reaching consecutive semifinals "a massive moment" in the club's 140-year history.

Source: www.aljazeera.com