Arsenal have booked a place in the Champions League final after beating Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final clash on Tuesday. They will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in Budapest on May 30th, but winger Bukayo Saka, the scorer of the only goal against Atletico at the Emirates, does not […]
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has been filmed walking on the Arsenal badge as he made his way off the pitch at the Emirates Stadium last night.
While this strange new obsession with supposedly showing ‘respect’ by not walking on a certain area of flooring is a bit bizarre, it seems worth pointing out that Simeone did this less than a week after he complained about Ben White doing the same with the Atletico Madrid badge in the first leg of this Champions League semi-final.
See below for a video clip of Simeone doing nothing to avoid the Arsenal badge after his side’s 1-0 defeat at the Emirates, without anyone making the kind of fuss he did about White’s similar action last week…
Diego Simeone was spotted walking on the Arsenal badge at full-time, while his players avoided it ?
The Atletico Madrid manager confronted Ben White for doing the same thing in the first leg.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 6, 2026
Perhaps the reality here is that Simeone didn’t give it too much thought, because in all honesty, why would you?
As far as we can remember, this slightly manufactured controversy just wasn’t a thing until the last two or three years, but correct us in the comments if we’re wrong!
Arsenal reach Champions League final but more heartache for Atletico Madrid
Arsenal fans will be delighted to have made it to the Champions League final after a 20-year wait, and they’ll hope they can finally see their club win this competition for the first time.
Atletico, meanwhile, are facing more heartache after coming close on a few occasions and also still never managing to lift this famous old trophy.
Simeone guided the Spanish giants to two finals just over a decade ago, but lost to bitter rivals Real Madrid on both occasions, so this was a big chance for them to get there again without having to face a side who have such a psychological edge over them.
It could be a major rebuilding job for them this summer, however, with Antoine Griezmann set to leave and doubts over Julian Alvarez’s future.
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka got a big reaction from the pundits in the CBS Sports studio as he discussed who he wants to play in the Champions League final.
The Gunners were in celebratory mood last night as they made it to the final of Europe’s biggest club competition for the first time in 20 years and only the second time in their history.
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Saka scored the winner for Arsenal as they beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium and 2-1 on aggregate, and he was asked about his preferred final opponent out of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain afterwards.
Watch below, however, as Saka insisted he couldn’t give an answer to that question from Micah Richards, though he dropped the cryptic line that “deep down” he knows who he wants to face…
This got a big reaction from the likes of Richards and Thierry Henry on the punditry team, and it’s interesting to think about what Saka could mean.
Who does Bukayo Saka want Arsenal to face in the Champions League final?
We will probably never know for sure which team Saka was talking about as Bayern prepare to host PSG at the Allianz Arena this evening for the second leg of their semi-final tie.
It may be that the England international has his eye on revenge on PSG for knocking them out in last season’s semi-final, which was a closer contest than the 3-1 aggregate score-line would suggest.
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Then again, perhaps Saka is thinking back to Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Bayern earlier this season in the league phase of the competition, with the player and the rest of his teammates perhaps fancying their chances against a side they already know they can beat.
We’ll find out later who will be Arsenal’s opponents, with the two finalists set to meet in Budapest on the 30th of May.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta could be seen having a major touchline row with Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone during last night’s Champions League semi-final.
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It’s not clear precisely what went on between the pair, but there’s clearly some bad blood after their time working together with the La Liga club.
See below for a video of the incident, though it possibly doesn’t capture the entire context of what went down, with additional footage and reporting from TNT Sports suggesting Simeone may have started it by pushing a member of Arsenal’s coaching staff…
Tensions were clearly high towards the end of such a big game, with Arsenal eventually going through after a 1-0 victory on the night, and a 2-1 win over both legs of the tie.
Simeone is known for being a bit of a fiery character, so it’s possible that he didn’t show his best side here as he looked to get his team back into the game.
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Arsenal get past Atletico Madrid into Champions League final
In the end, Arsenal held on to their lead in a close and intriguing tie against Simeone’s side to make it to only their second ever Champions League final.
The Gunners have had to wait 20 years for this moment, with the club last reaching the final of this competition in 2006 when they were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona.
Mikel Arteta’s side are also top of the Premier League in what could still be a memorable season, though they will likely be underdogs in the Champions League final whether they end up facing Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain.
According to Spanish outlet Marca, Barcelona have all but given up on their pursuit of Julian Alvarez as a long-term replacement for striker Robert Lewandowski. The Argentina international is very happy and settled in Madrid and has no wish to leave, and Atletico are preparing a new long-term contract for him, with terms significantly approved. […]
According to Spanish outlet Marca, Barcelona have all but given up on their pursuit of Julian Alvarez as a long-term replacement for striker Robert Lewandowski. The Argentina international is very happy and settled in Madrid and has no wish to leave, and Atletico are preparing a new long-term contract for him, with terms significantly approved. […]
Verdict: Home win Best odds: 3/4 Bookmaker: Luckster Atletico Madrid return to La Liga action on Saturday afternoon as they visit Valencia, aiming to record back‑to‑back league victories while balancing their ongoing Champions League commitments. Diego Simeone’s side sit fourth in the table, comfortably clear of the chasing pack, while Valencia occupy 12th place and […]
Arsenal and Atletico Madrid played a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their clash in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday. Both teams scored from the spot, but Arsenal had another penalty initially awarded by the on-field referee, who then changed his decision after the VAR instructed him to take another look. Gunners boss […]
Arsenal are still battling for the Premier League title and the Champions League trophy this season, and speaking to the press ahead of the Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid, Gunners captain Martin Odegaard appeared very excited about the challenges to come. “How can you not enjoy it?” 😨 “This is the best […]
The Champions League semifinals are where excuses finally run out. By now, reputation counts for nothing unless it is reinforced by discipline, nerve, and timing. This week’s first legs — Paris Saint‑Germain against Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid against Arsenal — are not just steps toward a final in Budapest. They are auditions, stress tests, and […]
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