The UEFA Champions League semifinal delivers a heavyweight clash as Atlético Madrid host Arsenal at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. This first-leg showdown carries enormous stakes for both clubs. Arsenal chase their first Champions League final appearance in 20 years, while Atlético seek revenge after losing 4-0 to the Gunners earlier this season. The only unbeaten team remaining in the competition faces a Spanish side that previously eliminated them in the 2017-18 Europa League semifinal.
Match Preview
Arsenal arrive in Madrid riding a seven-game winning streak against Spanish opposition and fresh from reclaiming the Premier League lead. The Gunners have reached consecutive Champions League semifinals for the first time in club history, losing just one of their last 11 European away fixtures. Their 4-0 demolition of Atlético on October 21, 2025, demonstrated their attacking prowess and tactical superiority over Diego Simeone’s side.
Atlético Madrid enter the tie with momentum after a dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Athletic Club on April 25. Alexander Sørloth scored twice after returning from injury, while Antoine Griezmann provided the crucial equalizer. Los Colchoneros sit ten points clear of fifth place in La Liga, allowing them to focus entirely on European glory. The absence of Ademola Lookman with a knock presents a tactical challenge for Simeone.
The historical context adds extra spice. Atlético eliminated Arsenal 2-1 on aggregate in the 2017-18 Europa League semifinal, a painful memory for Gunners fans. Arsenal’s current form suggests they’ve evolved significantly since that defeat, but Simeone’s tactical acumen in knockout football cannot be underestimated. The Metropolitano atmosphere will test Arsenal’s mental fortitude as they navigate a draining Premier League title race alongside their European ambitions.
Kickoff Time
The match kicks off at 21:00 CET at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain. Fans worldwide can catch the action at the following times:
- United Kingdom: 8:00 p.m. BST
- United States: 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT
- Australia: 5:00 a.m. AEST (April 30)
- India: 12:30 a.m. IST (April 30)
- Brazil: 4:00 p.m. BRT
How to watch online & on TV
Global broadcasters provide comprehensive coverage of this Champions League semifinal. In the UK, TNT Sports 1 holds exclusive rights, requiring a subscription through Sky, BT, or Virgin Media. US viewers can watch on CBS, Univision, or stream via Paramount+. Spanish fans tune into Movistar+ Campeones, while German audiences access the match through DAZN. Many streaming platforms require active subscriptions, with costs varying by region. Free-to-air options exist in select territories, including RTE 2 in Ireland.
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom (England) | RTE 2, TNT 1, RTE |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Movistar+, M+ Campeones |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | DAZN |
| 🇫🇷 France | SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, Canal+, Canal+ Foot |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | Sport TV5 |
| 🏴 United Kingdom (Scotland) | RTE 2, TNT 1, RTE |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Sport 24 |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | VTM 2 |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | Viaplay |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | TV2 |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | Viaplay, TV3+ |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | CANAL+ Austria |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Canal+ |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | TNT 1, RTE 2, RTE |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) | RTE 2, TNT 1, RTE |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | Okko Sport |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | TVP Sport, TVP 1 HD |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | COSMOTE 1HD |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | Digi 1, Prima 1 |
| 🏴 United Kingdom (Wales) | RTE 2, TNT 1, RTE |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | TRT 1 |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | Arena 1 HR |
| 🇷🇸 Serbia | Arena 1 |
| 🇮🇱 Israel | 5Sport |
| 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Qazsport |
| 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Arena 1 |
| 🇲🇰 North Macedonia | Arena 1 |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | Disney+ P Arg |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | TNT, HBO Max |
| 🇺🇸 United States | CBS, Univision, Paramount+ |
| 🇨🇱 Chile | ESPN Chi, Disney+ P Chi |
| 🇵🇾 Paraguay | Disney+ P Arg |
| 🇵🇪 Peru | Disney+ P Chi |
| 🇺🇾 Uruguay | Disney+ P Arg |
| 🇨🇴 Colombia | Disney+ P Sur, ESPN Col |
| 🇪🇨 Ecuador | Disney+ P Sur, ESPN Col |
| 🇻🇪 Venezuela | Disney+ P Sur, ESPN Col |
| 🇧🇴 Bolivia | Disney+ P Chi |
| 🇨🇳 China | iQiyi |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Paramount+ |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | beIN 1 |
| 🇮🇷 Iran | beIN 1 |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | beIN 1 |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | beIN Mal |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | beIN Malaysia, sooka, beIN Mal |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | beIN 1 |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | beIN 1 |
| 🇾🇪 Yemen | beIN 1 |
| 🇯🇴 Jordan | beIN 1 |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | beIN Connect |
| 🇰🇼 Kuwait | beIN 1 |
| 🇴🇲 Oman | beIN 1 |
| 🇱🇧 Lebanon | beIN 1 |
| 🇮🇶 Iraq | beIN 1 |
| 🇮🇳 India | SonyLIV, Sony 2 |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | SCTV |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | SuperSport Football Plus, Sport 24, SS Maximo |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | DStv Now, SS Maximo, Canal+ |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | beIN 1 |
| 🇹🇳 Tunisia | beIN 1 |
| 🇩🇿 Algeria | beIN 1 |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | beIN 1 |
| 🇱🇾 Libya | beIN 1 |
| 🇦🇴 Angola | SS Maximo, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand, DStv Now |
| 🇬🇭 Ghana | DStv Now, SS Maximo, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand, Canal+ |
| 🇸🇩 Sudan | SS Maximo, beIN 1, DStv Now, SS Grandstand, SuperSport Football Plus |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | TRT 1 |
| 🇸🇾 Syria | beIN 1 |
| 🇵🇸 Palestine | beIN 1 |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | SonyLIV, Sony 2 |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand, DStv Now, SS Maximo, Canal+ |
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | DStv Now, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, SuperSport Football Plus |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | DStv Now, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand |
| 🇨🇲 Cameroon | Sport 24, SS Maximo, SuperSport Football Plus, DStv Now, SS Grandstand, Canal+ |
| 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, DStv Now |
| 🇷🇼 Rwanda | SS Grandstand, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Maximo, Canal+ |
| 🇧🇹 Bhutan | Sony 2, SonyLIV |
| 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast | DStv Now, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand, SuperSport Football Plus, Canal+ |
| 🇲🇱 Mali | SuperSport Football Plus, DStv Now, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand, Canal+ |
| 🇿🇲 Zambia | SS Maximo, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | SonyLIV, Sony 2 |
| 🇲🇷 Mauritania | SS Grandstand, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Maximo, beIN 1, DStv Now, Canal+ |
| 🇳🇦 Namibia | SS Maximo, SS Grandstand, DStv Now, SuperSport Football Plus |
| 🇧🇼 Botswana | DStv Now, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, SuperSport Football Plus |
| 🇹🇬 Togo | DStv Now, SS Grandstand, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Maximo, Canal+ |
| 🇲🇼 Malawi | SuperSport Football Plus, SS Maximo, DStv Now, SS Grandstand |
| 🇧🇯 Benin | SS Maximo, SS Grandstand, SuperSport Football Plus, Canal+ |
| 🇬🇲 Gambia | SS Grandstand, DStv Now, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Maximo, Canal+ |
| 🇱🇦 Laos | beIN Connect |
| 🇱🇸 Lesotho | SuperSport Football Plus, Sport 24, SS Maximo, DStv Now, SS Grandstand |
| 🇺🇬 Uganda | SS Grandstand, DStv Now, SS Maximo, SuperSport Football Plus |
| 🇬🇦 Gabon | SuperSport Football Plus, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand, DStv Now, Canal+ |
| 🇧🇮 Burundi | SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand, DStv Now, SS Maximo, Canal+ |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Sony 2, SonyLIV |
| 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo | DStv Now, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand, SuperSport Football Plus |
| 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | SuperSport Football Plus, SS Maximo, DStv Now, SS Grandstand, Canal+ |
| 🇬🇳 Guinea | SS Maximo, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand, DStv Now, Canal+ |
| 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | DStv Now, SS Grandstand, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Maximo, Canal+ |
| 🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo | SS Grandstand, SuperSport Football Plus, DStv Now, SS Maximo, Canal+ |
| 🇳🇪 Niger | DStv Now, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, Canal+ |
| 🇲🇬 Madagascar | SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, DStv Now |
| 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, Canal+ |
| 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | SS Maximo, Sport 24, SS Grandstand, DStv Now, SuperSport Football Plus, Canal+ |
| 🇲🇿 Mozambique | SS Maximo, SuperSport Football Plus, DStv Now, SS Grandstand |
| 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | DStv Now, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, SuperSport Football Plus, Canal+ |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | SS Grandstand, DStv Now, SS Maximo, SuperSport Football Plus |
| 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, DStv Now, SuperSport Football Plus, Canal+ |
| 🇸🇿 Eswatini | SS Maximo, DStv Now, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand |
| 🇰🇲 Comoros | SuperSport Football Plus, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand |
| 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | Sony 2 |
| 🇲🇻 Maldives | Sony 2, SonyLIV |
| 🇱🇷 Liberia | SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand, DStv Now, SS Maximo |
| 🇲🇺 Mauritius | DStv Now, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | Sony 2, SonyLIV |
| 🇰🇭 Cambodia | beIN Connect |
| 🇹🇩 Chad | SuperSport Football Plus, SS Grandstand, beIN Connect, beIN 1, SS Maximo, DStv Now, Canal+ |
| 🇲🇴 Macau | iQiyi |
| 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe | SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, SuperSport Football Plus |
| 🇸🇨 Seychelles | DStv Now, SuperSport Football Plus, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand |
| 🇧🇳 Brunei | beIN Connect, beIN Malaysia |
| 🇩🇯 Djibouti | DStv Now, SS Grandstand, beIN 1, SS Maximo, beIN Connect, SuperSport Football Plus, Canal+ |
| 🇪🇷 Eritrea | SuperSport Football Plus, DStv Now, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand |
| 🇸🇴 Somalia | SuperSport Football Plus, beIN 1, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand |
| 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Megogo |
How to watch anywhere with VPN
Geographic restrictions prevent access to certain streaming platforms when traveling abroad. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) bypasses these geo-blocks by masking your IP address and routing your connection through servers in different countries. This allows you to access your home streaming services from anywhere in the world.
Follow these steps to watch the match with a VPN:
- Choose a reliable VPN provider: Select a service with fast servers and strong encryption (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark are popular options)
- Install and launch the VPN app: Download the application on your device (available for iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Smart TVs)
- Connect to a server: Select a server location where your streaming platform operates (e.g., UK server for TNT Sports, US server for Paramount+)
- Log into your streaming service: Access the platform as you normally would
- Start watching: Stream the match without geographic restrictions
VPN services typically cost between $3-12 monthly depending on subscription length. Most providers offer 30-day money-back guarantees for new users. Ensure your VPN supports simultaneous connections if you plan to watch on multiple devices.
How to watch at Sportsbooks
Many online sportsbooks offer live streaming of major football matches to registered customers with funded accounts. This provides an alternative viewing option while allowing you to place in-play bets simultaneously. Popular bookmakers like bet365, Unibet, and 1xBet frequently stream Champions League fixtures.
Here’s how to access sportsbook streams:
- Create an account: Register with a licensed sportsbook operating in your jurisdiction
- Verify your identity: Complete KYC requirements by submitting identification documents
- Make a deposit: Fund your account using credit/debit cards, e-wallets, or bank transfers (minimum deposits typically range from $5-20)
- Navigate to live streaming: Look for the ‘Play’ icon or ‘Watch Live’ button next to the match listing
- Maintain account balance: Some bookmakers require a minimum balance or a bet placed within the last 24 hours to access streams
Streaming quality varies by provider but generally offers standard definition broadcasts. Check your sportsbook’s terms regarding streaming availability in your region, as licensing restrictions apply. This method works well for viewers who already engage in sports betting activities.
This Champions League semifinal promises tactical intrigue and high stakes. Arsenal’s quest for European glory faces its sternest test against Atlético’s defensive resilience and counter-attacking threat. The first leg at the Metropolitano will set the tone for what could be a classic two-legged tie. Don’t miss our post-match analysis, player ratings, and second-leg preview exclusively on TipsGG.