Despite having scored 138 goals at club level, the Argentine Julián Álvarez continues to be denied scoring against Arsenal. In five previous meetings – both with Manchester City as with Atlético de Madrid—has neither managed to score nor provide assists.
The “Araña”, Atlético’s current top scorer in the Champions League, will have a new opportunity to break that streak this Wednesday, when the English team led by Mikel Arteta visits the Metropolitan stadium in the first leg of the semi-finals.
The Argentine forward, who was suffering from discomfort that prevented him from playing last Saturday against Athletic Club, assured that he is ready to start. His objective will be to help the team achieve a good result at home, which will allow them to travel to London with an advantage and keep the dream of winning the Champions League alive.
“I am one hundred percent,” he said on Monday at a press conference from the Majadahonda Sports Center. Arsenal arrives undefeated in this edition of the tournament, although it is going through its most irregular moment of the season.
Álvarez has been key in Atlético’s path in the top European competition. He has nine goals, which places him as the fourth highest scorer in the tournament and has been decisive for Diego Simeone’s team to return to the semifinals, something it had not achieved since Milan 2016.
His three goals against Tottenham in the round of 16, as well as the free kick goal against Barcelona in the first leg of the quarterfinals, were fundamental for the red and whites to reach this stage. Now, he will seek to contribute for the first time against the “Gunners”.
The last precedent between both teams was on October 21, in the group stage, when Arsenal beat Atlético 4-0. Despite the result, Álvarez was the most dangerous player on his team and generated several scoring chances.
In that match, the English scored four goals in just 13 minutes into the second half. Before that, the Argentine striker had two clear opportunities to overtake his team. The first came in the 27th minute, when, after a quick play, he scored with an empty goal, but was unable to define. Then, in the second half, he hit a powerful shot off the crossbar when the score was still 0-0.
At 25 years old, Álvarez still cannot break his bad streak against Arsenal, a situation he has carried over since his time with Manchester City. Of the 36 goals he scored with the English club, none were against the London team.
With the “Citizens” faced Arsenal on four occasions – two in the Premier League, one in the FA Cup and another in the Community Shield – without being able to score, against Manchester United the only teams in the so-called “Big Six” that he has not scored against.
❝We want to make history. We know what we can achieve and what we are capable of.❞
—Julián Alvarez 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/FOBWlzF6IR
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) April 27, 2026
Now, as Atlético’s main offensive reference – and Champions League champion with City in 2023 – he will have the challenge of overcoming one of the most solid defenses in Europe, led by the Spanish goalkeeper David Raya and the central duo formed by Gabriel and William Saliba.