Diego Simeone can breathe again against Arsenal as fortune favours Atlético Madrid at last | Sid Lowe

Diego Simeone reacts with emotion after Arsenal’s second penalty was overturned by the referee after intervention by the VAR. Photograph: Kiko Huesca/EPA

A decade on, Atlético were longing to go back to the final and attempt an exorcism. Arsenal’s second semi-final in a row was Atlético’s first in nine years, the biggest game this place had ever seen. Their last semi had been the final European night at the old Vicente Calderón in May 2017, supporters singing through the storm and yet another defeat against Madrid. Last year, they had been denied the chance to get there again in another shootout against the same opponents. Back at last, Real mercifully cleared from their path this time, they were determined to make something special of the first grand occasion here.

Thousands lined Luis Aragonés Avenue as the bus rolled in through the fireworks and the smoke and before kick-off they turned the Metropolitano into the Monumental, toilet roll unravelling from the stands. Then they sang: bring my heart joy, the Champions League is my obsession.

Koke, the captain, had said the nerves were like the moments before a first date with the girl you’ve fallen in love with. But hearts can be broken too, they know. Fatalism is never far away.

When Gyökeres got his first‑half penalty, especially. Atlético were furious, Simeone gesturing that the striker had thrust out his backside and gone down, looking for it. Perhaps, but Hancko’s challenge had been an invitation and this time Simeone’s pressure failed. For a while, it appeared that Atlético’s early pressure would, too. They had taken their first shot after just 40 seconds but Arsenal had taken control and now the lead.

There was a reaction though, Simeone’s side flying at Arsenal in the second half, Ademola Lookman, Antoine Griezmann and Alvarez superb as for a while they overran Arsenal, totting up 18 shots.

Atlético Madrid players celebrate in front of their fans after Julián Alvarez’s penalty equaliser. Photograph: Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

What a player Alvarez is. He interests Arsenal, Simeone had been told. “That’s normal because he’s a very good player,” the coach replied. He is a man for the big occasion and the big competition too: scorer of 11 Champions League goals, including strikes in every knockout round so far. His sensational free kick at the Camp Nou had brought them here and he was superb until forced to depart: generous, intelligent, imaginative.

Setting others up, taking responsibility, he led, running the game. A superb free-kick was so close half the stadium erupted, a corner almost went straight in entirely deliberately, and David Raya denied him too.

Until, that was, Alvarez scored the penalty which levelled this and which was not just a penalty but redemption, too. When they were knocked out in the shootout last year, his “goal” was chalked off when the referee judged him to have taken two touches as he slipped upon striking it. Many months later, Uefa had said that was wrong, which was no use to them by then, but now Alvarez was back on the spot. Soon Arsenal thought they were, too, but there was the screen and there was Simeone and so to London, relief all round.