President Paul Kagame on Wednesday attended the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg between Visit Rwanda partners Atlético Madrid and Arsenal Football Club at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium.

The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with both goals coming from the penalty spot. Viktor Gyökeres converted for Arsenal, while Julián Álvarez scored for Atlético Madrid.

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The second leg will be played on Tuesday next week at Emirates Stadium.

Both sides are chasing a historic breakthrough in Europe’s top football competition and neither has ever won the UEFA Champions League trophy.

Atlético Madrid last reached the final in 2016, losing to Real Madrid, while Arsenal’s only final appearance came in 2006, when they were beaten by FC Barcelona.

Kagame’s presence in Madrid comes just a day after he attended another high-profile semi-final clash in Paris, where Visit Rwanda partner Paris Saint-Germain edged Bayern Munich 5–4 in a thrilling first-leg encounter at Parc des Princes.

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At that match, Kagame joined PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy in the stands as the French side secured a narrow advantage ahead of the return leg.

PSG’s goals were scored by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé, who each netted twice, alongside João Neves, while Bayern Munich replied through Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Dayot Upamecano and Luis Díaz.

The two matches highlight the strong presence of Visit Rwanda partner clubs in the latter stages of Europe’s premier club competition, with decisive return legs set for next week.