Real Madrid vs Arsenal Report

Scorers: Vinicius 67’; Saka 65’, Martinelli 90+3’

Arsenal sealed a memorable return to the UEFA Champions League (UCL) semi-finals for the first time in 15 years, overcoming Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu to complete a 5-1 aggregate victory.

The result marks a historic night for Mikel Arteta’s men, who produced a disciplined and clinical performance to dispatch the 15-time European champions on their own turf.

Gunners Stand Strong Amid Early Madrid Pressure

Holding a commanding three-goal lead from the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal approached this quarter-final second leg with composure and maturity. Real Madrid looked to make a fast start in front of their home crowd and forced the Gunners to soak up pressure in the early exchanges.

However, the visitors were handed a chance to all but kill off the tie inside 20 minutes when VAR awarded a penalty for Raúl Asencio’s foul on Mikel Merino. Bukayo Saka stepped up with confidence but saw his audacious chipped effort clawed away by Thibaut Courtois to keep the hosts alive.

Real thought they had a penalty of their own just moments later, but after a lengthy VAR review, Declan Rice’s slight contact on Kylian Mbappé was ruled insufficient for a spot-kick. Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession, Madrid rarely troubled David Raya in the Arsenal goal, with the visitors’ defensive organisation neutralising any major threat.

Saka’s Redemption and Arsenal’s Knockout Blow

Real Madrid intensified their efforts after the restart, as they searched for an early goal to ignite a potential comeback. Mbappé headed over from a promising position, while Vinícius Júnior’s curling effort was comfortably saved by Raya.

Yet, just as the Bernabéu began to believe in a revival, Arsenal delivered a hammer blow. A sweeping team move, involving Gabriel Martinelli and Merino, saw Saka clean through on goal in the 65th minute. The winger made amends for his missed penalty by calmly dinking a superb finish over Courtois to extend Arsenal’s aggregate lead to 5-1 and all but end the contest.

To their credit, Real Madrid responded almost immediately. William Saliba’s uncharacteristic error gifted possession to Vinícius, who took full advantage to fire into the empty net and restore parity on the night. However, with the mountain still too steep to climb, Los Blancos faded as the game wore on.

Martinelli Seals the Deal in Stoppage Time

Deep into stoppage time, Arsenal underlined their dominance with a breakaway goal. Substitute Martinelli burst forward on the counter and finished coolly past Courtois to cap off an emphatic two-legged performance.

The result ensures Arsenal’s progression to a long-awaited Champions League semi-final, and continues a remarkable European campaign in which the Gunners have combined attacking flair with defensive solidity. It also marks the 19th time in 21 UEFA ties that Arsenal have progressed after winning the first leg at home.

What’s Next?

Mikel Arteta and his players will now turn their attention to domestic matters, where they remain firmly in the Premier League title race. For Real Madrid, the disappointment will be palpable, and they’ll need an immediate reaction when they face Athletic Club this weekend as they aim to close the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona.

For more info on this game’s outcome, you may also visit:
Real Madrid vs Arsenal | UEFA Champions League 2024/25