The confrontation between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich (5-4) dominates the headlines, but attention turns Tuesday to the second match in the Champions League semi-finals between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal (1-1), which is expected to witness “another football” in which the art of defense plays a pivotal role. Former Arsenal star Robert Pires confirms that this confrontation will be “a defensive court and may be tough physically and nervously,” in stark contrast to the open match between Paris and Bayern.

Published on: 04/05/2026 - 22:37

The match between France's Paris Saint-Germain and Germany's Bayern Munich (5-4) topped the headlines, stealing the spotlight from the second confrontation in the Champions League semi-finals between Spain's Atletico Madrid and England's Arsenal (1-1), which presents "another football" in which the art of defense will be central once again on Tuesday in the second leg.

What is settled is that the bet is one and huge, which is to reserve a ticket to the continental final. However, the atmosphere seems more tense in Munich than in London before the return leg.

Peres: “We should not expect what happened between Paris and Bayern.”

Frenchman Robert Pires, one of the stars of Arsenal's only reaching the final in 2006, says, "What happened between Paris and Bayern should not be expected at all." He added in an interview with Agence France-Presse, "The match will be very tight for both sides, very defensive. It may be tough physically and nervously, and it may leave its effects on you as well."

These two matches present "two sides of football," as the former Gunners winger points out, adding, "I like them both. I enjoyed watching Paris-Bayern very much. Atletico-Arsenal is another way to play football. There are those who don't like it, that's okay. But as a player, good defense is an art in itself. And both teams are good at it."

Two penalty kicks and exciting refereeing in the first leg

In the first leg, the closed summit was decided by two penalty kicks: one for Arsenal via Swede Victor Yukiris and another for Atletico via Argentine Julián Alvarez, in addition to a third being awarded to the London guest in favor of Ebereche Eze before it was canceled after resorting to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which angered the Spanish visitors’ coach, Mikel Arteta.

Arteta between criticism and results

Arteta led the London team to the semi-finals of the main continental competition for the second time in a row, in an unprecedented achievement in the club’s history, and he is also in a good position to win the Premier League title, 22 years after his last coronation in 2004. However, his team presents less entertaining football compared to previous years, more conservative, slow at times, and “boring” as some observers describe it.

"Mikel Arteta realizes that. But what is required of him is to win," Pires replied, adding, "People will say: -They only know how to defend and score from set pieces. That's no problem, but why don't others do the same thing? As long as it's a weapon, whether a corner or a free kick. People talk and criticize. As for me, this makes me laugh."

Against Fulham (3-0) on Saturday, the North London club regained some of its attacking appetite, due to the brilliance of Bukayo Saka, who was annoying and influential, before he left at halftime. Arsenal can, in any match, if it is on its day, sweep away everyone who stands in its way, and Atletico is well aware of this after testing them in the unified group stage when they were humiliated at the Emirates Stadium by a clean score.

Griezmann vs. Saliba

The English's greatest strength remains in defence, especially with the triangle consisting of Spanish goalkeeper David Raya and the Brazilian centre-backs Gabriel and Frenchman William Saliba. In the Champions League this season, the Londoners conceded only six goals in 13 matches, including two goals against Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan (3-2) on a day when the starters were rested.

This option was adopted on Saturday by the Argentine coach of Atletico, Diego Simeone, in the victory over Valencia 2-0 in the Spanish League, as he played the match with a completely different lineup in preparation for the London match. Frenchman Antoine Griezmann was among those who sat on the bench before he entered the second half and passed a decisive ball that gained him more confidence, before playing in what may be his last European summit with Los Rojiblancos after he decided to leave the capital club at the end of the season to move to the American League.

The Madrid club aspires to reach the Champions League final for the fourth time (after 1974, 2014 and 2016), the third with Simeone as coach and the second with Grizzo on the field, with the hope that he will finally succeed in winning the title.

France 24/AFP

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