At least Arsenal won't face a Calderon of noise

Atletico Madrid’s creaking Estadio Vicente Calderon Stadium was not a ground any opponent fancied visiting, especially on big Champions League nights when the old concrete bowl literally shook with emotion and noise.

Atletico lost just one of the 23 European games they played at the Calderon under Simeone, conceding just six goals in total across all that time. Barcelona [twice], Bayern Munich [twice], Juventus and AC Milan are among the opponents swept away by Diego Simeone’s men there in recent years, while Real Madrid were also beaten there 4-0 in a La Liga game not so long ago.

However, the good news for Arsenal ahead of tonight’s Europa League semi-final second leg is Atletico left their home of four decades last summer for the much less intimidating Wanda Metropolitano.