Julian Alvarez’s penalty secured Atletico Madrid a 1-1 draw against Arsenal in a nervy Champions League semi-final first leg clash on Wednesday.

Viktor Gyokeres sent the Premier League leaders ahead from the spot just before the interval after he was fouled, but Alvarez followed suit 10 minutes into the second half after Ben White’s handball.

Arsenal were upset at a late penalty decision being overturned following a VAR review when David Hancko made contact with Eberechi Eze in the area.

Atletico had the better for long periods but Arsenal’s solid defending helped them leave the Spanish capital in a good position to return to the Champions League final 20 years after their last appearance.

“We were the team we have to be, if we play at this level we can win,” said Atletico captain Koke of his team’s second-half display on Movistar.

“From my point of view they didn’t create much danger against us… the team defended well and they just had that penalty.”

Read moreChampions League: PSG come out on top in legendary game against Bayern Munich

What the game lacked in the dizzying goal rush of Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-4 win over Bayern Munich in the other semi-final the night before, it replaced with tension and a desperation not to fall behind.

Toilet paper rained down from the stands of the Metropolitano stadium minutes before kick-off, in a striking — if wasteful — display, which invited cynical jokes from some quarters about the calibre of the spectacle ahead.

In a tussle between arguably the continent’s two biggest teams never to lay a finger on the trophy neither wanted to blink first.

Atletico still have an outdated defensive reputation but pinned Mikel Arteta’s miserly Arsenal back in the early stages, with David Raya tipping Alvarez’s shot around the post.

The Gunners, a long way from Arteta’s eve-of-the-game demand they dominate proceedings, looked to smash and grab, with Marc Pubill blocking from Martin Odegaard on a quick breakaway.

Noni Madueke, starting on Arsenal’s right flank with Bukayo Saka only fit for the bench, hammered just wide from distance as last year’s beaten semi-finalists sporadically emerged from their half.

The next time they did, Gyokeres won a penalty. The Swedish striker, who might not have started if Kai Havertz was fit, exchanged passes with Martin Zubimendi and Hancko clumsily shoved him in the back from behind.

Diego Simeone and Atletico veteran Antoine Griezmann begged for the decision to be reviewed but VAR saw no reason to intervene.

Gyokeres took the spot-kick himself, walloping it past Jan Oblak, who dived the right way but stood no chance of keeping it out.

Read morePSG edge Bayern in nine-goal Champions League semi-final thriller

Atletico battle back 

Three-time runners-up Atletico, back in the semi-finals for the first time in nine years, came out guns blazing in the second half.

Raya saved Ademola Lookman’s drive with Gabriel blocking Griezmann’s follow-up.

The hosts pulled level from the penalty spot after White handled Marcos Llorente’s shot, the ball bouncing up and hitting his arm, which was away from his body.

Alvarez took it, and having missed in Atletico’s Copa del Rey final shoot-out defeat earlier in April, this time made no mistake with an unforgiving blast rivalling Gyokeres’s first-half effort.

MLS-bound Griezmann looped a shot off the crossbar and then sent the rebound off target as Atletico turned the screw in pursuit of an advantage to take into next Tuesday’s second leg.

Nigeria international Lookman twice came close and could end up ruing his missed chances.

Arsenal thought they had won a second penalty when substitute Eze went down under a sluggish Hancko challenge but the referee changed his mind after a VAR review, deciding the Slovakian defender’s contact was minimal.

Arsenal next take on Fulham as they continue their battle with Manchester City for the Premier Leaguetitle, while with little to play for in La Liga Simeone will rotate heavily, before this tie is decided in London.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

The Seahawks signed tight end Harrison Bryant on Wednesday, the team announced.

Bryant, 28, spent last season with the Texans after the Eagles released him out of the preseason. He played 12 games with four starts and made two catches for 7 yards and one tackle.

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The Browns made Bryant a fourth-round draft pick in 2020, and he started in nine games his rookie year. In his career, Bryant has appeared in 90 games, starting 27, and has caught 100 passes for 884 yards and 10 touchdowns.

After four seasons in Cleveland, Bryant joined the Raiders in 2024.

The addition of Bryant gives the Seahawks five tight ends as he joins AJ Barner, Elijah Arroyo, Nick Kallerup and Eric Saubert on the roster at the position.

The Seahawks now have 83 players on the roster, not including undrafted rookie free agents who will sign ahead of rookie minicamp this week. Seattle can have up to 91 players on the roster, including international pathway player, Federico Maranges.

BBC Sport pundits Stephen Warnock, Nedum Onuoha and Rory Smith debate whether the on-field decision to award Arsenal a penalty against Atletico Madrid, for a foul on Eberechi Eze, was enough of a “clear and obvious” error to justify VAR intervening to overturn it.

MATCH REPORT: Champions League semi-final – Atletico Madrid 1-1 Arsenal

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The Indiana Fever will host the Dallas Wings in their second preseason game on Thursday. Coach Stephanie White spoke to the media ahead of the game on Wednesday, providing an injury update on Aliiyah Boston, Lexie Hull and Tyasha Harris.

White said that she is prioritizing the injured players’ health and has yet to decide on their participation status in the preseason game.

“I don’t know if we’re gonna play them tomorrow. I think we’ll still probably be cautious with that,” she said. “The goal is probably to get some of their minutes on Saturday if we can.”

“We’ve got another week again from the next game until our home opener. So, we will take it slow and will see how it goes.”

Aliyah Boston is out with a lower leg injury, which she suffered in the final regular-season game for the Phanton BC in Unrivaled in February. The injury forced Boston to sit out the Unrivaled Playoffs and the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

Lexie Hull is out with a hamstring injury, while Tyasha Harris is coming back from a knee surgery.

“You’ve got two of the best young players in the world”: Indiana Fever coach speaks her mind on Fever-Wings preseason game

The Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings game will be an exciting watch for neutral fans as it features some of the biggest names in the WNBA. Caitlin Clark leads the Indiana Fever in the matchup while the Wings rest their game on the two-woman pillar of Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd.

Coach Stephanie White praised Bueckers and Fudd as two of the best young players in the world while talking about the game to the press on Wednesday.

“Yeah, I think it’s gonna be great. I mean, you’ve got two of the best young players in the world that are playing,” she said. “(They are) kind of highlighted, in terms of coverage. You’ve got back-to-back number one picks with Dallas, and they have a lot to be excited about. They had a great free agency; they’re gonna have a different team. Jose is an outstanding coach.”

Caitliin Clark has gone against Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers many times during her time as the ace for the Iowa Hawkeyes. The game is a treat for college basketball fans as they get a chance to see the former Hawkeyes star take on the former Huskies star but this time on a professional stage.