Atletico Madrid and Arsenal played to a 1-1 draw Wednesday in their UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg at the Metropolitano, with both goals coming from the penalty spot. Atletico held a 2.22 to 1.51 edge in expected goals, a combined 3.73 xG that trailed only marginally behind Tuesday's nine-goal PSG-Bayern thriller, which generated 4.42 xG.

Viktor Gyokeres gave Arsenal the lead in the 44th minute after drawing a foul from Atletico defender David Hancko inside the box and converting the penalty. Julian Alvarez leveled in the 56th minute, converting from the spot after Ben White was penalized for handball.

Referee Danny Makkelie awarded Arsenal a third penalty late in the match, but reversed the decision following a VAR review, ruling Hancko had not fouled Eberechi Eze. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was furious.

"What I'm incredibly fuming with is how the hell the penalty on Ebs gets overturned in the manner that it happened when there is no clear and obvious error," Arteta said. "This changes the course of the game. And at this level, I'm sorry but this cannot happen. It was against the rules and I don't understand it. There is clear contact. He makes the decision and you can't overturn it when you have to watch it 13 times."

Atletico manager Diego Simeone offered a measured perspective on both spot kicks.

"For the first penalty, in my humble opinion, it's from the back, the player waits for the contact, it seems to me that in the Champions League semifinals it really needs to be a penalty," Simeone said. "And then the handball, it was given thanks to the VAR, and the second penalty wasn't, thanks to the VAR. Sometimes VAR gives and sometimes it takes away."

Alvarez was Atletico's standout performer, registering his 10th Champions League goal of the season, a record for any Atletico player in competition history. Lionel Messi is the only other Argentine to reach double figures in a single Champions League campaign.

Arsenal are unbeaten in 13 consecutive Champions League matches, equaling their longest such run. The second leg takes place next Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium in north London with Arsenal -215 favorites to advance to the final, which gives them approximately a 68 percent probability.