Riyadh Air Metropolitano: Speedy Facts

• Location: Rosas neighborhood, San Blas-Canillejas district, Madrid (40°26′10″N 3°35′58″W)
• Capacity: 70,692 (football) | 60,000 (concerts)
• Opened: 1994 (original); reopened September 16, 2017 after renovation
• Record attendance: 70,112 (Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid, September 29, 2024)
• Sponsor name: Riyadh Air Metropolitano (since 2024)
• Public transit: Metro Line 7 (Estadio Metropolitano station) | Bus lines 28, 140, 153

Matchday Schedule: April 29, 2026

All times below are local (Central European Summer Time, UTC+2). The stadium’s official ticketing page confirms the following timeline:

Note: UEFA’s official match center lists the kickoff time as 21:00 CEST, matching Atlético’s ticketing page. For global viewers:

• UTC: 19:00
• London (BST): 20:00
• New York (EDT): 15:00
• Los Angeles (PDT): 12:00

Arsenal Fans: Away Section Details

The Metropolitano’s away section is located in the upper tier of the North Stand, a configuration common in European stadiums. Here’s what visiting supporters need to know:

Capacity and Access

• Approximately 4,000 Arsenal fans are expected to attend, per stadium guides.
• Entry is via Gates 1-3 on the north side of the stadium.
• All away fans must enter through dedicated turnstiles with enhanced security screening.

Travel Tips

The Metropolitano is 11 kilometers northeast of Madrid’s city center, making pre-match planning essential. Here are the best options:

• Metro: Line 7 (light blue) from the city center to Estadio Metropolitano station. Trains run every 5-10 minutes, with the journey taking approximately 25 minutes from Sol or Gran Vía. The station is a 3-minute walk from the stadium.
• Bus: Lines 28, 140, and 153 stop near the stadium. The 140 from Avenida de América is the most direct.
• Taxi/Uber: A 20-25 minute ride from central Madrid, costing €15-25 depending on traffic. Designated drop-off points are at the north and east entrances.

Pre-Match Atmosphere

Madrid’s Plaza Mayor remains the traditional gathering spot for away fans, with outdoor bars and tapas restaurants offering pre-match drinks and food. For those seeking alternatives:

• Bad Company 1920: C. De Miguel Moya 8 (near Puerta de Alcalá)
• Salmon Guru: Calle de Echegaray, 21 (craft cocktails, central location)
• Beer Station: Cuesta de Santo Domingo, 22 (beer garden with international options)

Stadium Policies and Restrictions

UEFA’s Champions League safety regulations and Atlético Madrid’s stadium policies include:

Prohibited Items

• Large bags (small clutch purses only; max 20x15x10 cm)
• Professional cameras or recording equipment
• Laser pointers, flares, or pyrotechnics
• Alcohol (purchased outside the stadium)
• Drones or selfie sticks

Permitted Items

• Mobile phones and small cameras
• Cash and credit cards (contactless payments preferred)
• Empty reusable water bottles (refill stations available)
• Team scarves and flags (max 2×1.5 meters)

Security

All fans will undergo:

• Bag checks
• Pat-down searches
• Metal detector screening

UEFA’s 2025-26 safety guidelines mandate these measures for all knockout-stage matches.

What to Watch: Tactical Keys

This semi-final pits two of Europe’s most tactically astute managers against each other:

Atlético Madrid (Diego Simeone)

• Defensive shape: Simeone’s 5-4-1 or 5-3-2 formations are designed to frustrate Arsenal’s possession game, with wing-backs dropping deep to form a back five.
• Counter-attacking: Expect rapid transitions through Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata, who have combined for 12 Champions League goals this season.
• Set pieces: Atlético score nearly 30% of their goals from dead balls, per FBref.

Arsenal (Mikel Arteta)

• Midfield control: Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard will glance to dictate tempo, with Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard providing width.
• Pressing triggers: Arsenal’s high press has forced turnovers in 22% of opponent possessions in the Champions League knockout stages.
• Full-back rotation: Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White’s overlapping runs could exploit Atlético’s wing-back positioning.

Injury note: Atlético’s Jan Oblak (ankle) is a doubt for the first leg, even as Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus (knee) remains sidelined. Both clubs are expected to confirm lineups 90 minutes before kickoff via their official social media channels.

Post-Match: What’s Next

The second leg will take place at London’s Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, May 6, 2026, with kickoff at 21:00 CEST (20:00 BST). The winner will face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in the final at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna on May 30.

For fans traveling to Madrid:

• Accommodation: Hotels near Plaza Mayor or Gran Vía are most convenient for pre-match activities. Many Arsenal supporters have booked rooms in the Salamanca district for its nightlife.
• Transport: Metro services run until 1:30 AM on matchdays, with additional night buses (N7, N28) serving the stadium area.
• Local tips: Madrid’s tap water is safe to drink, and tipping is not expected in bars or restaurants (service charge is included).