Astonishingly, the tactical clash in Madrid generated a combined cumulative xG that was just 0.76 xG less than the total produced by the record-breaking nine-goal thriller in the French capital, severely undermining the pre-game narrative surrounding Arsenal’s supposedly impenetrable defensive solidity.
The volume of quality opportunities surrendered by the Premier League side was highlighted by the performance of Atlético Madrid forward Ademola Lookman.
The 28-year-old Nigerian international found himself on the receiving end of two, clear-cut chances that entirely bypassed Arsenal’s normally disciplined defensive structure.
While the fans had spent the previous day openly joking that the showdown against Simeone would be painstakingly boring, the underlying metrics revealed a fairly open contest.