Madrid witnessed a tightly contested first leg of the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, as Atlético Madrid and Arsenal battled to a 1-1 draw at the Metropolitano Stadium. The match featured two penalty kicks, sparking debate among fans and analysts alike.
Arsenal drew first blood with a penalty converted by Viktor Gyokeres just before halftime. However, Atlético Madrid responded in the second half, with Julian Alvarez leveling the score from the spot after Ben White was called for a handball.
Dutch referee Danny Makkelie oversaw the match, assisted by Hessel Steegstra and Jan de Vries as assistant referees, with Serdar Gözübüyük serving as the fourth official. Dennis Higler and Pol van Boekel were responsible for VAR. Makkelie has previously officiated Atlético Madrid seven times, including their memorable comeback win over Liverpool in the 2019–20 season. He has also refereed Arsenal on four occasions.
The first leg was marked by several contentious decisions, including a late penalty awarded to Arsenal that was ultimately overturned by Makkelie. The result leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg, with both teams vying for a place in the Champions League final.
Makkelie has officiated 59 Champions League matches, issuing a total of 214 yellow cards and 10 red cards – three directly, to Benfica’s Arthur Cabral, Red Bull Salzburg’s Alexander Schlager, and Atleti’s Felipe. He has also awarded 21 penalties throughout his Champions League career, including three in a single match on two separate occasions.
Antoine Griezmann had two significant chances to secure a lead for Atlético, but was unable to convert. The tie will be decided next week, as Arsenal hosts Atlético at the Emirates Stadium.
