Arsenal Stages Incredible Comeback Against Real Madrid
Arsenal’s impressive performance in the second half, marked by three goals in just 13 minutes, allowed the Gunners to reverse Real Madrid’s 2-0 lead from the first leg and secure a place in the Champions League semi-finals against Lyon, winning the tie 3-2 on aggregate.
The second half began explosively for Arsenal. Just 44 seconds into the half, a cross from Chloe Kelly was converted by Alessia Russo from close range, reigniting hope for the home side.
Real Madrid had earlier proved to be a challenging opponent for a wasteful Arsenal, but the momentum shifted drastically after Russo’s goal. Three minutes later, Mariona Caldentey equalized with a header from another Kelly cross, which slipped through the grasp of goalkeeper Misa, erasing Real’s lead.
Russo later scored what turned out to be the winning goal, striking a powerful shot into the net from a free-kick following a knock-down by Steph Catley. The forward was left astonished by the quick turnaround in the match.
Despite having two goals disallowed for offside in the closing stages, Russo remained a key figure. Arsenal rarely faced threats from Real Madrid, with the visitors’ only notable chance coming from Linda Caicedo, who shot directly at goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar. This match drew a record crowd of 22,517 for this stage of the Women’s Champions League.
Pitch Improvement After Controversy in First Leg
The lead-up to the match saw conversations about the poor pitch conditions during the first leg in Madrid, where their opponents faced criticism for choosing a smaller venue over the Bernabeu. Arsenal’s players took advantage of the fine pitch at Emirates Stadium, completing a higher number of passes and showcasing their capabilities on home turf.
Coach Slegers’ Reflections and Team Dynamics
Arsenal’s head coach Renee Slegers emphasized that playing on good surfaces enables teams to showcase better football. After a challenging first half, the team made necessary adjustments to maximize their strengths in the second half for a decisive turnaround.
Player ratings featured standout performances, particularly from Chloe Kelly, who earned the title of ‘Player of the Match.’ The team’s depth was also highlighted by the ability to bring on seasoned players like Beth Mead, reinforcing their confidence moving onwards to the semi-finals against Lyon.
