Nimbus Pronos, the feline oracle, has predicted which team will reach the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid. The mysterious cat backs Atletico Madrid to secure victory at the Emirates Stadium in London on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 8 pm, and advance to their first final since 2016.
Semi-Final First Leg Recap
The two sides battled to a 1-1 draw at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid last week. Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez both scored from the penalty spot. Arsenal had a second penalty appeal denied by VAR after referee Daniel Makkelie initially pointed to the spot for David Hancko's foul on Eberechi Eze but overturned his decision after a review.
Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are the only teams left in the competition yet to win the trophy. One of them will reach the final for a shot at glory. The other semi-final sees Bayern Munich face defending champions Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
Cat's Prediction
In a video shared on Instagram, Nimbus Pronos predicted a win for Atletico Madrid, suggesting they will steal the match at the Emirates and reach their third final in history, all under Diego Simeone. The cat had predicted a win for Atletico in the first leg, but the match ended in a draw.
Manager Reactions
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta called the match the biggest game of the season at the Emirates. He said, "I can't wait. I feel the energy in and amongst the team, our supporters, so these are the moments that we want to live together. We had a lot of work as a club, as a team, after 20 years to be in this position again, and we are so hungry to get a game that we want tomorrow and go through to the final."
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone dismissed pressure, stating, "It's nothing more than a football match, and whoever plays better will have a better chance of winning. Within that, each team has our own strengths, and we'll do our thing to try to make the most of our strengths, and I'm sure the Arsenal coach will try to maximize theirs."
Penalty Controversy
UEFA explained why Arsenal were denied a second penalty in the first leg. Dutch referee Daniel Makkelie initially pointed to the spot, but after an extensive VAR monitor check, he canceled his decision, sparking debate.
