It was an impressive run in the Champions League, but Atletico Madrid have now bowed out at the semi-final stage. Diego Simeone's side were beaten by Arsenal 2-1 on aggregate, with the English team now set to play either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
Goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez had seen the first leg end in a 1-1 draw. As such, Bukayo Saka's close-range finish, scored on the brink of half-time, was just enough to see the Gunners across the line at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Arsenal are now in their first Champions League final since 2006, having lost that match 2-1 to Barcelona, while Atletico Madrid have failed to make it that far, having most recently lost finals in 2016 and 2014 to rivals Real Madrid.
Atletico Madrid Beat Liverpool, Tottenham and Barcelona Before Arsenal Defeat
Simeone's team have come up against some impressive sides across the course of the season. They lost 3-2 to Liverpool at Anfield in the opening match of the League Phase, and later beat Inter Milan 2-1 in Spain.
They then came up against Premier League opposition again in the last 16, beating Tottenham Hotspur 7-5 across two thrilling legs, before overcoming Spanish rivals Barcelona, with a 3-2 win on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
Arsenal, however, proved a step too far for Atletico in 2025/26, with the Gunners the better side across both Champions League legs.
Simeone Names 'Best Team' To Play Atletico in 2025/26
Having also played Real Madrid twice in La Liga this season, winning at home and losing away – as well as losing to Los Blancos in the Supercopa de Espana, Simeone has now revealed which team was the toughest to play. He had no doubts when it came to handing out that status to Arsenal, explaining:
“Well if we got knocked out it’s because our opponents deserved to get through. They took their big chance in the first-half and they deserved to get through. I feel calm, I feel peaceful.
“We weren’t clinical enough with the situations we were in. We improved in the second-half. There were things that could’ve gone our way but they didn’t.
“We gave it our all and now we have to accept the place that we are in. Thanks to our supporters and players I feel proud to be where we are right now. I said we wanted to compete and we have done that. Unfortunately we haven’t won anything but we have got to places that are hard to get to.
“Arsenal were the better team over these two legs, they are the best team we have faced this season. They play with a rhythm and a conviction that is very difficult to contain.”
After the defeat, Atletico's season is now as good as over with only four La Liga games left to play. They currently sit fourth in the league, five points behind Villarreal in third and 10 points above Real Betis in fifth.