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Semi-final 1st leg Wednesday
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It's Champions League semi-final week, and attention turns to the Spanish capital this Wednesday as Atlético Madrid host Arsenal at the Wanda Metropolitano. Diego Simeone's team valiantly got past LaLiga rivals Barcelona in the quarter-finals, whilst Mikel Arteta's side battled past Sporting in their last-eight tie. Neither of these two teams have ever won the Champions League before, but have both played many matches in the competition down the years. With this in mind, here at Transfermarkt, we have compiled an Atlético x Arsenal combined XI based on the most Champions League appearances made for either side.
Atlético x Arsenal combined Champions League XI
In between the sticks is Slovenian Jan Oblak, who has racked up as many as 104 Champions League appearances for Atlético down the years. At right-back is Senegalese, former Arsenal defender Laurén, who played 53 Champions League games for the Gunners. At centre-half it's former Arsenal defender Kolo Touré with 61 appearances, and current Atlético centre-half José María Giménez with 69 matches. At left-back is Ashley Cole, who played 45 times for Arsenal in the Champions League before leaving for London rivals Chelsea.
In central midfield, it's an Atleti double. Koke has played 116 times for the Spanish giants in the Champions League - the most appearances of anyone in the XI. He is alongside his former teammate Saúl Ñíguez, who played 74 times in the competition for Atlético. On the left is Frenchman Robert Pìrès, who played 63 Champions League matches for Arsenal, whilst on the right it's Argentine Ángel Correa with 78 appearances for Atleti. Leading the line is the fearsome french duo of Thierry Henry and Antoine Griezmann. The Arsenal legend accumulated 77 Champions League appearances for the north London side, whilst the Atlético icon has played 96 games for them in the competition.
