Arsenal fans caught up as police spray tear gas after clashing with Atletico supporters

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Arsenal fans caught up as police spray tear gas after clashing with Atletico supporters

Arsenal fans were caught up in troubles before their Champions League first-leg as Atletico Madrid supporters clashed with police

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Atletico Madrid fans clashed with Spanish police ahead of their Champions League semi-final against Arsenal. The local police were said to have used rubber bullets to quell the troubles but Gunners supporters were caught up in the troubles – some reportedly being teargassed.

Spanish outlet Marca published footage of the tensions outside the stadium, they reported that the local authorities charged at supporters. The video shows the riot police tactically lined up while chants can be heard, as well as bangs from, what appears to be a gun firing rubber bullets.

Smoke appears on the screen, with fans shielding their mouth, nose and eyes but the cause, whether it is from smoke bombs or tear gas is unknown. However, an eyewitness told The Mirror that police sprayed the chemical irritant.

The Premier League leaders travelled to the Spain capital for their first leg against Diego Simeone's side with the showdown at the Wanda Metropolitano one of their best opportunities of reaching the elite European showpiece for the first time since 2006. It was said that there was a smell of tear gas around the Madrid stadium in the build-up to the encounter.

For the hosts, it was one of the biggest matches in their recent history as it was an opportunity for Atletico to salvage a poor season. They failed in earning silverware for an abject campaign, losing to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final, and as they sit fourth in La Liga, their pursuit of the Champions League was the chance to end on a positive.

Ahead of the encounter, supporters lined up along the streets leading up to the stadium and gave the Atletico squad a heros welcome. Aerial footage shows thousands of fans cheering with plumes of red smoke in the air in a bid to give the hosts an advantage over Mikel Arteta's side ahead of next week's second leg at the Emirates Stadium.

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