Antoine Griezmann

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Bukayo Saka’s goal sends Arsenal to Champions League final after 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid

worldsoccertalk.com · 2 days ago

Bukayo Saka's rebound goal in the 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid made Arsenal reach the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League final stage. Arsenal and Atletico Madrid clashed at the Emirates stadium on Tuesday, May 5, for the second leg of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League semifinals. Bukayo Saka‘s decisive strike proved to be the only goal of the night, sending the Gunners through to the final in Budapest on a 2-1 aggregate scoreline. The match began with Atletico sitting in a deep 5-4-1 defensive structure, and Arsenal struggled to find any penetration through the lines, failing to register a single shot on target in the opening 43 minutes. The breakthrough finally came in the 44th minute when Leandro Trossard tested Jan Oblak after bringing down a Viktor Gyokeres cross, and Saka was quickest to react to the rebound, slotting home to give Arsenal the lead. In the second half, Atletico were forced to open up in search of the goal that would level the tie on aggregate and force extra time. Antoine Griezmann threatened with a right-footed effort, and Alexander Sorloth failed to make clean contact with another chance inside the box, but the Colchoneros could not find the breakthrough they needed and the scoreline stood. With the result confirmed, Arsenal extended their unbeaten run in the 2025-26 Champions League to 14 games, a sequence made up of 11 wins and three draws. The Gunners now turn their attention to the final in Budapest, scheduled for Saturday, May 31, where they will await the winner of the other semifinal between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

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Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid: Confirmed lineups for second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals

worldsoccertalk.com · 2 days ago

Arsenal and Atletico Madrid will be clashing for the UEFA Champions League semifinals at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal host Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, May 5, for the decisive second leg of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League semifinals. While both powerhouse clubs are navigating nagging fitness concerns, they are each expected to push their stars to the limit to secure a ticket to the final in Budapest. The Gunners struck first in the opening leg after David Hancko was whistled for a foul on Viktor Gyokeres inside the area, with the striker clinicaly converting in the 44th minute. However, Atletico showed their trademark resilience, leveling the score after a Benjamin White handball gifted Julian Alvarez a penalty of his own to knot the game. Following the 1-1 draw at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, the tie will be decided in North London. This marks the third meeting between Arsenal and Atletico this season; their first clash came during the UCL league phase, where the Gunners cruised to a dominant 4-0 victory at the Emirates, a result Mikel Arteta’s side will be desperate to replicate. Injury updates and key returns A major concern for Atletico Madrid following the first leg was the health of Julian Alvarez, though manager Diego Simeone was quick to downplay the severity of the Argentine’s second-half exit. Additionally, Alexander Sorloth, who missed the first leg due to discomfort, was rested over the weekend and is expected to be at peak fitness for Tuesday’s clash. Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid is challenged by Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice of Arsenal. Los Colchoneros traveled from Spain to England with a 21-man squad, missing only Nicolas Gonzalez and midfielder Pablo Barrios. On a positive note, veteran defender Jose Maria Gimenez has recovered from an injury sustained in early April and is expected to provide a defensive boost from the substitutes’ bench. On the Gunners’ side, Mikel Arteta confirmed during Monday’s press conference that both Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard are fit and available. The most notable absences remain Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber; Merino is sidelined for the remainder of the season, while Timber continues to struggle with ongoing fitness issues. Confirmed lineups for Arsenal and Atletico Madrid Arsenal’s confirmed lineup (4-3-3): David Raya; Benjamin White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori; Eberechi Eze, Miles Lewis-Skelly, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres, Leandro Trossard.Head coach: Mikel Arteta. Atletico Madrid’s confirmed lineup (4-4-2): Jan Oblak; Marc Pubill, Robin Le Normand, David Hancko, Matteo Ruggeri; Giuliano Simeone, Marcos Llorente, Koke, Ademola Lookman; Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez.Head coach: Diego Simeone.

Kylian Mbappé could have joined Barcelona, but staff prioritized Ousmane Dembélé, says ex-president Josep Maria Bartomeu

worldsoccertalk.com · 2 days ago

Even though Kylian Mbappé is now the cornerstone of Real Madrid, he could have become a Barcelona player in 2017. Despite this, the technical staff prioritized the signing of Ousmane Dembélé, as revealed by former president Josep Maria Bartomeu. Kylian Mbappé has become Real Madrid’s cornerstone after arriving as a marquee signing from PSG. However, the Frenchman was close to joining Barcelona when he was still at AS Monaco. After the departure of Neymar Jr., the Blaugrana were looking for their next star on the left wing, ready to pay a huge transfer fee. While he was a clear option, the staff decided to prioritize the signing of Ousmane Dembélé, as revealed by former president Josep Maria Bartomeu. “We didn’t want the players to leave for other teams, so we matched the offers. Neymar’s departure led other clubs to pay high amounts… We asked about Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, but the coaching staff preferred Dembélé. The only decision I made as president was the signing of Luis Suárez,” reveló Josep Maria Bartomeu, via Cadena SER. After several brilliant seasons at AS Monaco, Mbappé pushed for a move away in 2017, with Real Madrid as the main interested party. However, he rejected that option, as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale would not have guaranteed him a starting role. While he eventually signed for PSG for €180 million, he could have become a Barcelona player had they decided to pursue his signing instead of Ousmane Dembélé, who never truly shined at the club. While Ousmane Dembélé went on to become one of the best players in the world, the Frenchman had a disappointing stint at Barcelona. Signed as one of the world’s most promising young talents, the Blaugranas expected him to make a major impact on the field, but injuries and poor decisions on field prevented him from shining. In contrast, Mbappé excelled at PSG, becoming the team’s best player, proving that the Spanish club’s decision was completely wrong. Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid reacts during a training session ahead of the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona’s post-Neymar transfers: Three big failures under Bartomeu Despite being one of the best players in the world, Neymar Jr. decided to leave Barcelona via his €222M release clause to PSG. While this record fee could have been key to rebuilding the squad, president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his front office instead chose to sign Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembélé, and Antoine Griezmann, all of whom ultimately failed to meet expectations and later left as free agents. Far from acknowledging the failure of his decisions, Bartomeu chose to justify them in a surprising way: “It’s a shame. Dembélé has succeeded at PSG. Xavi said he shouldn’t have been let go. Maybe he was signed too young, I don’t know. Griezmann came to lead a generational transition, which I may have handled too late. I should have started it after the defeat in Liverpool, and I did it a year later,” he said, via Cadena SER. In case the Blaugranas had pursued the signing of Mbappé in 2017, he likely would have formed an ideal partnership with Lionel Messi, becoming the cornerstone of the team for the future. Moreover, Coutinho and Dembélé would not have arrived, avoiding the multimillion-dollar failure that shook the club’s financial and sporting stability for years.

Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann on Arsenal – ‘I used to get stressed for these games, now I’m excited’

sports.yahoo.com · 2 days ago

Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann has said that he is excited by the return leg of their Champions League semi-final against Arsenal, which is finely poised at 1-1. The 35-year-old is playing eit...

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Is Lionel Messi playing today? Confirmed lineups for Inter Miami vs Orlando City in Major League Soccer

worldsoccertalk.com · 4 days ago

Inter Miami and Orlando City will face off this Saturday in the most anticipated Major League Soccer matchup of the weekend, with all eyes on Lionel Messi. This Saturday brings another edition of the Florida derby, with Inter Miami under pressure to secure a win at Nu Stadium against Orlando City to remain among the contenders in Major League Soccer. Lionel Messi will be in the starting lineup. The Herons went through a midseason coaching change, but it did not affect them. Under Guillermo Hoyos, they have put together a strong run of results that has them sitting second in the standings with 19 points, three behind leaders Nashville SC. However, Inter Miami still have unfinished business: winning for the first time at Nu Stadium. The venue officially opened in early April, and since then they have played three matches there—against Austin FC, New York Red Bulls, and New England Revolution—drawing all of them. On the other side will be Orlando City, who are currently experiencing a very different reality from their rivals. They did not start the season well and sit 14th in the Eastern Conference, with just two wins in 10 matches. Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos. While they await the arrival of Antoine Griezmann, who will join after finishing the 2025–26 season with Atletico Madrid, the Lions need to improve their performances in MLS, and Saturday’s clash presents an ideal opportunity to begin that turnaround. Confirmed Inter Miami lineup For this match, head coach Guillermo Hoyos will be without two key squad members: Sergio Reguilon and Mateo Silvetti are out due to injury. The good news is that Lionel Messi is fully fit. Inter Miami’s confirmed lineup is: Dayne St. Clair; Ian Fray, Maximiliano Falcon, Micael, Noah Allen; Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Telasco Segovia; Lionel Messi; Luis Suarez, German Berterame. Confirmed Orlando City lineup In recent weeks, Orlando City have alternated wins and losses in MLS. Their last match was a 4-3 victory over New England Revolution, which gives them momentum heading into Saturday. However, the challenge will now be much greater, and head coach Martin Perelman will need to design an effective defensive strategy to contain Lionel Messi. Orlando City’s confirmed lineup is: Maxime Crepeau; Griffin Dorsey, Iago, Robin Jansson, Adrian Marin; Braian Ojeda, Luis Otavio, Martin Ojeda; Ivan Angulo, Tiago, Justin Ellis.

Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann react to Atletico-Arsenal draw – ‘Another war next week’

sports.yahoo.com · last week

Atletico Madrid’s players seemed pleased with their performance after their 1-1 draw against Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Metropolitano. There was a slight re...

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Why isn’t Bukayo Saka playing? Confirmed lineups for Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal in UCL semifinals

worldsoccertalk.com · last week

With Arsenal clashing against Atletico Madrid for the 25-26 UEFA Champions League semifinals, Bukayo Saka will be one of the big names in question for the game. Arsenal travel to Madrid on Wednesday for the first leg of their 2025-26 UEFA Champions League semifinal against Atletico at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. With a place in the final on the line, the availability of Bukayo Saka has been one of the most pressing questions heading into the match. Coach Mikel Arteta confirmed that Saka will travel with the squad, though he didn’t include the English winger in the starting lineup against Atletico. Saka made his return from an Achilles injury last Sunday against Newcastle United, playing the final 10 minutes, being far from reaching top fitness against the Spanish side. Beyond Saka, Arteta was also asked at Tuesday’s press conference about Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze, both of whom were forced off during the Newcastle match. “Kai is out and Ebs is ready to go,” Arteta said, before elaborating on the German’s situation. “He had a little niggle. I don’t know how serious it is. It didn’t look too big. The action, the way he describes it, is not too sharp. But we have to wait and see.” Alongside Havertz, Jurrien Timber remains another significant absentee for the Gunners, still not fully fit following his most recent groin injury. Saka, however, did participate in training at London Colney, and will be eager to make an impact after missing the entire quarterfinal series against Sporting CP. Bukayo Saka of Arsenal smiles during a training session. Arsenal face a formidable challenge in Spain Having reached the Champions League semifinal in back-to-back seasons, Arsenal now arrive in Spain at a moment when their form has dipped, and they face an Atletico Madrid side fresh off eliminating FC Barcelona, one of the competition’s most fancied contenders. While the two clubs met in the league phase earlier this season with Arsenal running out 4-0 winners, both teams have evolved considerably since that meeting. Asked what he expects from the game, Arteta was generous in his praise of Diego Simeone’s legacy. “They are very strong at both ends, otherwise they would not be here. The energy they create in the stadium, how they believe in it. We have prepared the game to win it. I think a lot of the work he’s carried out, he has transformed the club in 15 years. The way he has done it, I have always had admiration for these kind of people. He is very connected to the club. He is an absolute role model,” the Arsenal coach said. Confirmed lineups for Atletico Madrid and Arsenal Atletico Madrid’s confirmed lineups (4-4-2): Jan Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, David Hancko, Matteo Ruggeri; Giuliano Simeone, Koke, Johnny Cardoso, Ademola Lookman; Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez.Head coach: Diego Simeone. Arsenal’s confirmed lineups (4-3-3): David Raya; Ben White, Gabriel, William Saliba, Piero Hincapie; Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi; Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli.Head coach: Mikel Arteta.

Antoine Griezmann told Arsenal to 'forget it' after transfer move left him furious

mirror.co.uk · last week

Atletico Madrid's Champions League semi-final showdown will be personal for Antoine Griezmann after the Frenchman formed a vendetta that's been years in the making

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Can Griezmann end his Atletico love story in style?

bbc.com · last week

Antoine Griezmann's long love affair with Atletico Madrid is drawing to a close, but can the Frenchman bid farewell by securing the Champions League?

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Atletico boss Simeone acknowledges interest in Julian Alvarez from Barcelona, Arsenal, and PSG

worldsoccertalk.com · last week

Atletico Madrid head coach acknowledged the interest Julian Alvarez has drawn from Barcelona, Arsenal, and PSG. Julian Alvarez has emerged as one of the most coveted players heading into the upcoming transfer window, with FC Barcelona, Arsenal and PSG all reported to be in pursuit of the Argentine star. As the speculation continues to build, Atletico Madrid head coach Diego “Cholo” Simeone has publicly acknowledged the interest in his striker from Europe’s elite clubs. Currently in the UEFA Champions League semifinal, Alvarez has been one of the primary reasons the Colchoneros are just one step away from the final. But Atletico‘s inability to compete across all fronts has fueled interest from clubs eager to bring in one of the most complete players in the game. At the pre-match press conference ahead of the semifinal against Arsenal, Simeone was asked directly about the possibility of his striker leaving at the end of the season. “I am not inside Julian Alvarez’s head. I understand it is normal for an extraordinary player like Julian to be wanted by Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, or Barcelona. It’s normal, because he is very good,” the Argentine coach said. Simeone stopped short of either confirming or ruling out a departure, though extracting Alvarez from the Metropolitano figures to be a significant challenge for any suitor. With his contract running through June 2030, any club looking to sign him would need to surpass the €104 million Atletico paid Manchester City to bring him to Madrid. Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Duje Caleta-Car of Real Sociedad. According to reporter Ben Jacobs, Atletico will push hard to keep Alvarez beyond this summer, valuing him at a figure north of the €120 million Barcelona paid for Antoine Griezmann in 2019. While the striker has no intention of forcing his way out, he would be open to a move to Barcelona if the two clubs were able to reach an agreement. Alvarez has already addressed his future Reports linking Alvarez with Barcelona, Arsenal and PSG are nothing new, with those connections surfacing even during his time at Manchester City, largely centered on how the Argentine would fit into each club’s system. The striker himself, however, has made his current priorities crystal clear. On Monday, Alvarez made it plain that his mind is firmly on the present and the challenges that lie ahead with Atletico. “I try not to give much importance to what they say, because the truth is that new things come out every week. I try not to waste energy on that. I try to focus on our situation here, with very important matches coming up. I want to be at my best to try and help the team and achieve great things here,” he said. What is Alvarez’s price tag? With four years remaining on his deal and a release clause set at 500 million euros, the scenarios in which Alvarez departs Atletico Madrid this summer are limited. FC Barcelona’s financial situation remains precarious, Arsenal have already committed enormous sums in recent windows, and PSG stand out as perhaps the most credible financial option among the reported suitors. As revealed by journalist Jose Alvarez on El Chiringuito, Atletico Madrid have set an asking price of €120 million for the striker. Across two seasons with the Colchoneros, Alvarez has made 104 appearances, scoring 48 goals, though he has yet to lift a trophy with the club, a fact that could weigh on his thinking as he considers whether his ambitions are best served by staying or moving on.

Two Atletico Madrid stars 'extra motivated' to destroy Arsenal's Champions League dream

mirror.co.uk · last week

Antoine Griezmann will play his final Champions League home game on Wednesday night before heading to Orlando City in the summer, while club captain Koke's future is also uncertain

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Griezmann hopes to bid Atletico farewell in spectacular fashion

france24.com · 3 weeks ago

Antoine Griezmann hopes to bid his beloved Atletico Madrid farewell in spectacular fashion after helping his team reach the first Champions League semi-finals in almost a decade. The record-breaking scorer is leaving the Spanish club at the end of this season to join Orlando City.

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