Arsenal vs Real Madrid LIVE: Gunners lead in Women’s Champions League quarter-finals after gorgeous turnaround

Arsenal vs Real Madrid LIVE: Gunners lead in Women’s Champions League quarter-finals after gorgeous turnaround
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Arsenal host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final tie knowing they must come from behind if they have any hopes of reaching the last four.

Renee Slegers’ team lost the first leg 2-0 away from home after Linda Caicedo gave Real the lead in the first half, finishing off a counter-attacking move. A second goal for the hosts saw Athenea del Castillo blaze a shot past Manuela Zinsberger late in the game to leave Arsenal with work to do.

Arsenal know they will have the Emirates behind them as they look to use the power of their home crown following a memorable run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2023. Captain Kim Little said: “We will have to create even more and play good football. That’s what we need as a team for the second leg.”

Follow all the Women’s Champions League action and updates with our live blog below:

CHANCE! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (agg 3-2)

90+5 mins: Foord leaps over Misa but under pressure by two Real defenders goes for goal herself, only for it to roll tamely wide, instead of passing to Blackstenius with the goal wide open.

Arsenal counter again, Caldentey gets it up to Blackstenius, but once again Lakrar is in the way.

Garcia puts in a brilliant challenge on a charging Caldentey and it’s straight to Misa, before Foord punts an attempt of her own into keeper’s hands.

Flo Clifford26 March 2025 21:53

CHANCE! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (agg 3-2)

90+3 mins: Lakrar has been an absolute rock in Real’s back line, and she’s in position again to bring an end to a dangerous move by Blackstenius. She holds onto it a fraction too long and has no-one to pass to.

Nervy moments now as Caicedo threatens down the right for Real, but Arsenal counter to huge roars of encouragement…

And van Domselaar denies Caicedo again! It’s an absolutely crucial intervention as the Colombian sprints down the left, gets past Williamson, but it’s palmed away by the keeper.

Two corners in quick succession for Real…

Flo Clifford26 March 2025 21:51

DISALLOWED GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (agg 3-2)

90 mins: The flag goes up again for Russo! She sprints onto a lovely ball and it’s a fabulous finish, but she barely has time to celebrate before it’s offside.

Just before that she had another chance as Little passed into space for Foord, who outwitted her defender down the left, but laid it off for Russo – who was immediately blocked by Lakrar.

Another sub by Slegers as Little is replaced by Stina Blackstenius. SIX minutes of added time.

Flo Clifford26 March 2025 21:47

Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (agg 3-2)

85 mins: McCabe has hit the deck and looks in some pain as the medics come on. Russo goes for a chat with Slegers as we see a replay of Arsenal’s goals. Big smiles all round

McCabe limps off for some treatment and we resume play – no, she’s back on. Into the final five (ish) minutes at the Emirates. Have Real got a surprise in store, or can Russo get a first Arsenal hat-trick?

Flo Clifford26 March 2025 21:43

Chance! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (agg 3-2)

83 mins: Another golden chance for Russo! She’s one-on-one against Misa but the keeper collects.

Free-kick to Arsenal as Foord is fouled just outside the box and Real Madrid are quite miffed. Mead goes for goal but it clears the bar as well as the wall.

The big screen reads 22,517 in the crowd – a new record attendance for a Champions League quarter-final in the UK. They’ve been treated to a cracking second half in particular tonight.

Flo Clifford26 March 2025 21:40

Chance! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (agg 3-2)

80 mins: Handball by Real and a free-kick in a dangerous place for Arsenal.

Mead whips in the delivery but Lakrar heads it away! Dealt with well, but Arsenal now win a corner on the opposite side. McCabe attempts to find Russo but Misa catches it instead.

Russo comes again but Mendez doggedly gets in the way. That hat-trick is still eluding the England international, and she misses another chance as she knocks a header from another corner by Mead wide.

26 March 2025 21:38

Subs: Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (agg 3-2)

76 mins: Another chance for Russo, in nearly identical circumstances as she receives it from the right, but in any case it was offside too. Replays show it was in fact Kelly who was offside in the build-up to that disallowed goal.

Changes for Real now as captain Olga Carmona comes off for Alba Redondo, and Yasmim and Feller come on for Angeldahl and Bruun.

Flo Clifford26 March 2025 21:34

Subs: Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (agg 3-2)

73 mins: Substitutions for Arsenal – Maanum is replaced by Lia Walti, and a beaming Kelly comes off for Beth Mead.

Flo Clifford26 March 2025 21:30

DISALLOWED GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (agg 3-2)

70 mins: Hat-trick for Russo!

First Caldentey jinks into the box and it falls to Russo, but she slips and can’t get enough on it so it’s easy enough for Misa to gather.

But no bother, she quickly gets onto the ball from Maanum on the right and slides it beyond Mendez and Misa – but it’s ruled offside, to the boos of the crowd.

Flo Clifford26 March 2025 21:29

Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid (agg 3-2)

69 mins: The Real players will surely have nightmares about Chloe Kelly after this game. She passes in from the right again but this time Angeldahl deals with it quickly.

Fox links up with Kelly well again but her cross rolls out for a corner – Arsenal’s ninth, compared to nil for Real.

Russo nods the delivery wide.

Flo Clifford26 March 2025 21:26