Simeone Cites Cost Savings for Atletico Hotel Switch

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone downplayed superstition as the reason for his team's hotel switch in London ahead of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, attributing the change to cost savings.

The tie stands at 1-1 after last Wednesday's first leg at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, where Viktor Gyokeres scored from the penalty spot for Atletico before Julian Alvarez equalized in similar fashion. Atletico advanced to the semifinals despite a 4-0 group-stage loss to Arsenal at the same venue in October. Simeone's side arrives boosted by a 2-0 La Liga victory over Valencia on Saturday, though that result came with a rotated squad after securing a top-four finish domestically.

Alvarez, the former Manchester City striker who has netted 20 goals this season, sat out the Valencia match due to an ankle injury sustained in the first leg but traveled with the squad to London and appears available. "Julian Alvarez is important in this game because he knows the English league very well," Simeone said at Monday's news conference. "He played really well last week, and I hope he can bring what he needs in the game tomorrow."