Atletico Madrid have reportedly lodged a formal complaint with UEFA after fireworks were set off outside their London hotel in the early hours of Tuesday morning, disrupting the team's preparations for the Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal.
The disturbance occurred ahead of Tuesday evening's crucial match at the Emirates Stadium, following last week's 1-1 draw in Madrid. Spanish publication Marca claims that Atletico were quick to express their frustration to European football's governing body.
According to Marca's report, the first fireworks were ignited at 1:30am, with further loud bangs heard just 20 minutes later near the team's hotel. The disturbance reportedly affected the sleep of at least one player.
Key Players Available Despite Concerns
Despite the unwelcome disruption, Atletico boss Diego Simeone will be relieved to have several key players available for the match in north London. Concerns over the fitness of Julian Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone, Marcos Llorente, and David Hancko had emerged over the past week, but all four have been included in the travelling squad.
Pablo Barrios and Nico Gonzalez are the only notable absentees, although Alexander Sorloth has made the trip despite not featuring in their last two matches.
Arsenal's Injury Boost
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also provided encouraging injury updates, with Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard poised to return to the squad. Speaking on Monday, Arteta said: "Great to have them back, because we need options, we need the capacity to play different games tomorrow, whether it's from the start or after. So it's really, really good news for us to have them both back."
Title Race Implications
While Arsenal's immediate focus is on the Champions League, they received a significant boost in the Premier League title race. Manchester City could only manage a 3-3 draw at Everton, meaning Arsenal now hold a crucial advantage with three league matches remaining.
Were it not for a stoppage-time equaliser from Jeremy Doku, City would be trailing Arsenal by six points. As it stands, the title race is firmly in Arsenal's hands.
Alongside their league fixtures, Arsenal hope to reach the European final on May 31, with either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain awaiting in the final. The two sides meet in their own semi-final second leg on Wednesday in Germany, following PSG's dramatic 5-4 first-leg victory.
