The first leg in Madrid finished 1-1. Julian Alvarez’s 28th-minute opener for Atletico, Viktor Gyokeres’s 71st-minute equalizer for Arsenal — the kind of away result that suits Diego Simeone perfectly. Sixteen yellow cards across the 90 minutes hint at where the second leg might tilt. With away goals long since abolished, the Emirates on Tuesday 5 May is essentially a one-off cup match: extra time and penalties available if Mikel Arteta’s side and Simeone’s defense produce another stalemate.
US viewers stream the match on Paramount+ Premium at $11.99/month — kick-off 3:00 PM ET. This is Arsenal’s first European semi-final since 2009 and Atletico’s first since 2017, and it lands at a time on the East Coast that suits the matinee crowd. Paramount+ Essential subscribers should upgrade to Premium before kick-off; the cheaper tier doesn’t carry live UCL.
First leg: how it played out
Alvarez gave Atletico the lead in the 28th minute on a typically precise low finish, picked out by a Rodrigo De Paul through-ball that split David Raya’s center-backs. From there Atleti settled into the shape Simeone wanted: a deep block, Antoine Griezmann dropping into half-spaces to absorb pressure, the front three poised to break.
Arsenal pressed Atleti deep into their own third for most of the second half. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli ran at the Atleti full-backs in waves. The breakthrough came in the 71st minute — a Declan Rice cross from the left, Viktor Gyokeres rising to head past Jan Oblak. It was Gyokeres’s ninth goal of the competition this season, and on the balance of play after the hour, it was deserved.
Eight bookings per side tells the rest of the story. Atletico’s high press absorbs more fouls than any other elite side in Europe, and Arsenal increasingly matched the physicality as the game wore on. Several of those yellows carry into the second leg via the suspension table.
Where to watch Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid
| Country | Broadcaster | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Paramount+ Premium | $11.99/mo (Essential does NOT include UCL) |
| UK | TNT Sports 1, Discovery+ | £30.99/mo Discovery+ Premium |
| Spain | Movistar Liga de Campeones | €11/mo UCL bolt-on |
| Germany | Amazon Prime Video | €8.99/mo (Tuesday slot) |
| France | Canal+ Sport 360 | €25.99/mo |
| Italy | Amazon Prime / Sky | Tuesday slot is Prime in Italy |
USA: Paramount+ Premium
Paramount+ has held exclusive US Champions League rights since 2021 and the current contract runs through 2030. The match streams on the $11.99/month Premium plan only — the $7.99 Essential plan, which functions essentially as a discounted on-demand service, does not unlock live UEFA matches. This is the most common subscription mix-up among casual American soccer fans on UCL nights, so worth confirming the tier in advance.
The Champions League Today studio team — Kate Abdo with Thierry Henry, Micah Richards, and Jamie Carragher — anchors pre-match and post-match coverage from London. CBS Sports Network simulcasts the studio coverage on linear cable for those who prefer the TV route, but the live match itself stays on Paramount+ Premium. App support covers Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, iOS, Android, and the web client.
Outside the US
In the UK, TNT Sports and Discovery+ Premium carry the match (£30.99/month, no contract). Spain’s home broadcaster is Movistar Liga de Campeones (€11/month UCL bolt-on). For the German market, Tuesday-night UCL goes to Amazon Prime Video under the 2024-27 deal — German expats can route through Amazon Prime DE at €8.99/month.
US bettors can find pre-match and in-play markets on Betus. International sportsbooks like bet365 carry deeper European-football market coverage.
Team news
Arsenal: Bukayo Saka came off the trip to Madrid with a rolled ankle but is fit to start. Mikel Merino, who missed the first leg entirely, is back in training and available. Gabriel Magalhaes remains a doubt with the hamstring problem from the Crystal Palace fixture in the Premier League — William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are likely to start at center-back.
Atletico Madrid: Jose Maria Gimenez serves a one-match suspension after collecting his third yellow of the knockout phase. Antoine Griezmann was withdrawn at the hour mark in the first leg with cramp but has trained fully. Pablo Barrios and Marcos Llorente complete the midfield Simeone has used together for the past three weeks; Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth lead the line.
Knockout rules quick reference
The away goals rule has been gone since 2021. The full mechanics for an aggregate-level tie:
- Aggregate level after 90 mins: 30 minutes of extra time at the Emirates
- Still level after extra time: penalty shoot-out
- Goals scored in extra time count normally — no double-weight
What’s at stake
The winner advances to the 2026 Champions League final on Saturday 30 May at the Puskas Arena in Budapest to face the winner of Bayern Munich vs PSG (Wednesday 6 May). PSG carry a 5-4 first-leg lead into Munich — see the Bayern vs PSG streaming guide for the full Wednesday picture, or the Champions League semi-finals hub for both ties side by side.
For Arsenal’s domestic context, see the Premier League streaming guide. Wider UCL coverage is in the Champions League US streaming guide.