Atletico Madrid have dropped a major hint regarding Julian Alvarez's fitness ahead of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal. The former Manchester City striker's penalty ensured the tie is evenly poised at 1-1 heading into the decisive match at the Emirates Stadium.
Alvarez's Fitness Boost
Alvarez, who has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in the summer, was substituted with 13 minutes remaining in the first leg and did not feature in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Valencia. However, the Argentina international appears to have made a full recovery after being named in the squad traveling to London on Monday afternoon.
Diego Simeone is expected to confirm during his pre-match press conference that his star forward, who has scored 21 goals in all competitions this season, will be fit to play. Atletico will face an Arsenal side buoyed by a dominant 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.
Arsenal's Resurgence
The Gunners, who have struggled for goals in recent weeks, returned to their fluent best against Fulham. Bukayo Saka shone during an explosive first-half performance, while Viktor Gyokeres scored twice and Myles Lewis-Skelly impressed in his preferred midfield role.
Mikel Arteta will make a late decision on Martin Odegaard's involvement, and it remains uncertain whether Jurrien Timber will be part of the matchday squad. Despite these uncertainties, Arteta was encouraged by his side's display against a Fulham team known for being tough opponents.
“I’m very happy with the team performance, and the individual performances within that performance,” Arteta said. “We knew how difficult it was going to be, especially coming back from Madrid so late on Thursday afternoon and the energy we spent in that game. But we talked about hunger and having the ability to focus and be determined on what we had to do.”
The Arsenal manager added that fresh legs from some players made a significant difference, allowing the team to flow in a different way. “The moment we did that, we engaged the supporters, and when that happens and you create the atmosphere you saw at the Emirates, we make it very difficult for the opponent.”
Looking Ahead
With the tie finely balanced, both teams will be eager to secure a spot in the final. Arsenal's confidence is high after their convincing win, while Atletico will rely on Alvarez's potential return to bolster their attack. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter as two top sides battle for a place in the Champions League final.
