Arsenal fans set off fireworks outside Atlético Madrid’s London hotel in the early hours of Tuesday morning in an attempt to disrupt the Spanish side’s preparations for their Champions League semi-final.

Atlético’s hotel in Shoreditch was targeted at around 1.30am and 2am in two separate fireworks displays.

According to Spanish media, Atlético have swiftly made their displeasure known to governing body Uefa.

The enthusiasm of Arsenal supporters for the semi-final second leg is likely to have grown on Monday night after Manchester City’s draw with Everton handed the advantage to Mikel Arteta’s team in the Premier League title race.

Atlético had stayed in a different London hotel when they were defeated 4-0 by Arsenal in October, with Spanish reports saying manager Diego Simeone wanted to make a change for superstitious reasons ahead of his team’s return to the Emirates Stadium.

Asked on Monday night why he had switched hotels, Simeone joked: “We are doing better than in October, and the hotel was cheaper. That’s why we changed.”

Atlético’s preparations for the match in October were also disrupted, as they were enraged by a hot-water shortage at the Emirates Stadium the day before the game.

Atletico complained to Arsenal about the issue, which meant their players were not able to shower in the away dressing room Atlético their training session at the stadium.

The tie is finely balanced after Wednesday’s 1-1 draw in Madrid, and Arsenal have been boosted by the return to fitness of key players Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz. Both Odegaard and Havertz were absent from Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Fulham.

Arsenal and Atlético are the two teams who have played the most European Cup or Champions League matches without winning the competition. The winner of Tuesday’s semi-final will face either Paris St-Germain or Bayern Munich in the final in Budapest.