Not many football fans expect Arsenal to beat Atletico Madrid at the Metroplitano and reach the final of the Europa League but match facts suggest otherwise.
Match facts
- On the previous two occasions Arsenal have drawn the first leg of a European semi-final, they’ve progressed to the final (1979-80 and 1993-94 Cup Winners Cup).
- Arsenal are winless in their past six European visits to Spain (D2 L4), last winning in February 2006, – a 1-0 victory against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
- However, the past five teams to achieve a score-draw away from home in the first leg of a major European semi-final have progressed to the final, including both teams in the Europa League (Dnipro in 2014-15 and Sevilla in 2015-16).
- Atletico have lost just one of their past 17 home games in European competition (W13 D3), but that was to an English side (Chelsea in the CL group stage this season).
- The Gunners are aiming to qualify for their sixth major European final, and third under Arsene Wenger – they reached the Uefa Cup final in 2000 and Champions League final in 2006 under the Frenchman, losing both.
- Alexandre Lacazette has had a hand in 13 goals in his past 13 Europa League starts (11 goals, two assists).
- In the first leg, Arsenal had 28 shots – only Real Sociedad against Vardar (32) in October have had more in a single game in the Europa League this season.
- Should Arsenal progress from this tie, it’d be the first time two English sides had made the final of the two major European competitions since 2005-06 (Arsenal in the Champions League, Middlesbrough in the Uefa Cup).
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