Thank you for joining me this evening for the first leg of this Women’s Champions League quarter-final. Real Madrid have come out on top in horrid conditions to beat Arsenal 2-0. To catch up with all the action, have a read of the report below. I will be back tomorrow evening to talk you through Manchester City v Chelsea, see you then!
The second leg of this tie will be played at the Emirates Stadium next Wednesday. Can Arsenal fight their way back into it? Of course they can. But they will have to find a way through Real Madrid’s brick wall defence.
Our very own Tom Garry has said:
So I guess I’ve got two main thoughts at full-time.
1) Both sets of players, and frankly the entire women’s game, have been completely disrespected by Real Madrid with the condition of that pitch for a European quarter-final.
2) Caroline Weir is very good at football.
You can see by Olga Carmona’s kit, that was completely white when she came out of the changing room, just how gross the pitch was.
And while those goals will be the centre of a lot of discussions, it is the poor quality pitch that has taken over social media. Many have likened it to a Sunday league pitch and it is impossible to disagree with them. Women’s football deserves much better.
That was a superb performance by Real Madrid. Not just the exquisite two counterattacks that led to their goals but their resolute defence.
Full-time: Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal
Well, well, well. Real Madrid have one foot in the semi-finals with an impressive 2-0 win but the fight it far from over as they travel to Arsenal next week in the second leg. The Gunners are by no means out of it but they have made life difficult for themselves.
90 + 5 min: Another Arsenal corner is whipped in by McCabe but Little’s shot is over the bar.
90 + 3 min: McCabe takes the set piece and it finds Williamson but she can’t get on it. There are then cries for handball, VAR has checked to see if it hit Toletti’s hand but check is complete with nothing given.
90 + 2 min: Foord puts in a delightful cross but Carmona is there again – what a game she has had – so Kelly cannot have a shot. A few passes later Carmona gets a yellow card and she cannot believe it as she got the ball but an Arsenal free kick will be given.
90 + 1 min: There will be five minutes added, time for Arsenal to score.
89 min: Can Arsenal salvage something from this first leg? They certainly deserve a goal for all of their good work but if they get one is a completely different story.
88 min: Weir is off for Antonia. What a game Weir has had, yes she isn’t always on the ball but when she is she makes it count.
87 min: Fox is doing really well to draw free kicks and she wins another as she makes a great run down the right from a Del Castillo foul. McCabe takes it but Misa punches clear again – she has been confident with those all game.
85 min: Arsenal immediately get it up the other end and want to strike back, they don’t but they do win a corner. Before it is taken Russo and Hurtig is off for Maanum and Caldentey. The corner is taken and while it isn’t clean, Real Madrid eventually get it away.
It is on the counterattack again, Weir lays it off to Del Castillo who hits a along range effort. Zinsberger gets a glove to it but it goes in regardless.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal (Del Castillo, 83)
Wow.
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82 min: Arsenal win yet another corner, this is their eighth of the match. Will this one come together for the visitors? No. It’s another good delivery but Madrid manage to scrabble it away.
81 min: It is Arsenal’s turn to attack now and they win a corner after Carmona puts it behind. McCabe takes the set piece and it is a good delivery but Feller meets it to clear with a header. A long ball comes in but Misa does just enough to clear. The Gunners really giving it everything right now.
79 min: Feller does unbelievably well to beat Catley down the right. Her run and resulting cross only finds Williamson who clears. Real Madrid so dangerous when they come forward.
78 min: Williamson crowds Weir off the ball on the edge of the area and Zinsberger is allowed to clear. Arsenal need to strike and soon if they are to make an impact on this first leg.
76 min: Del Castillo gives away a free kick for a foul on Fox. They have to build from deep as it is on the halfway line and they don’t execute well with a pass from Russo straight out of play.
75 min: An interesting call to take off Caicedo, she has been their brightest attacking spark this evening and this tie is far from done.
74 min: Real Madrid make two changes with Naomie Feller and Athenea del Castillo entering the game for Bruun and Caicedo.
72 min: Arsenal need to make this pressure count, Foord takes a punt but Misa saves and now Real Madrid are on the counter. Catley does enough to slow the hosts down but they remain with the ball.
70 min: Arsenal have another corner and Walti joins the fray just before for Cooney-Cross. Kelly takes the corner but it is cleared, it comes back in and Misa has to punch clear.
68 min: Kelly is brought down in the box and the England international looks astonished that hasn’t been given as a penalty. The referee waves away her cries and we play on. Real Madrid counter and Weir rifles a long range shot but Zinsberger saves.
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66 min: Arsenal are slowly building but they just can’t get a shot at goal. They manage to continually work it into the box but the calm and assured Real Madrid defence just keep repelling the danger.
64 min: Some sublime defence from Real Madrid to repel Arsenal but they do concede a corner. All this time the hosts have been down to 10 as the replacement for Leupolz hasn’t yet been made. The corner comes in but it is well defended and now Irune Dorado comes on.
62 min: Leupolz passed the ball and then held her knee and immediately hit the pitch. She is crying as she hobbles off the pitch. Let’s hope that isn’t the dreaded ACL.
60 min: Arsenal legend Ian Wright is watching the game and has had his say on the pitch:
Watching the Champions League quarter-final. Real Madrid’s pitch is worse than Derby’s in the League Cup [on Saturday]. It’s a disgrace the pitches these girls have to play on.
Wright is absolutely right. The conditions are only getting worse with the rain pouring down. There is a break in play here as Leupolz is down, this looks bad.
58 min: A lovely bit of build-up from Arsenal but there are cries of offside with Foord but play carries on before eventually the flag goes up. Those calls need to happen a lot faster, she was clearly offside.
56 min: Arsenal are doing better in not allowing Caicedo as much space when she has the ball. The hosts still look the brighter and they only seem to be growing into the game.
54 min: Caicedo does very well on the counter again but she is brought down in the box by Fox. She remains down, wanting a penalty, but nothing is given. VAR is in operation this evening. Up the other end Kelly has her first chance but Misa collects.
52 min: Real Madrid, of course, would take a 1-0 win in this first leg but if they are to progress to the semi-finals they will need more of a buffer before they travel to the Emirates next week. Giving away a free kick won’t help either but Garcia clears the set piece danger.
50 min: Peter Oh has got in touch with a great pun:
I think Real Mudrid will win. It’ll be hard to keep a clean sheet though.
Can confirm it is still raining.
49 min: Real Madrid do some great work to get it into the box but then a sloppy pass allows Arsenal to clear. The game has not changed dynamic at all at the break, still a cagey and soggy atmosphere.
47 min: It was Mead and Blackstenius who have come off for those changes.
Back underway! Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
The action is back underway in Madrid. Can the hosts take control of this tie? Or will Arsenal fight their way back into it? All to come. Arsenal have made a changes with Chloe Kelly on, it will be her first minutes for the Gunners in the Champions League. Caitlin Foord is also entering the fray.
Our latest women’s football newsletter is all about the change of Manchester City manager. Have a read here:
Linda Caicedo’s goal was a bit of magic on the counter-attack. A bit more fluidity from Arsenal, again no pun intended with that watery pitch, they will get some goals.
Half-time: Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
The hosts have the only goal so far in the first leg of the quarter-final but Arsenal have been playing well.
45 + 1 min: They can’t but my goodness they were close. Mead rifled off a shot outside the area but it is just wide. There will be one minute added
45 min: Arsenal win a free kick in a good position, can they equalise here before half-time?
44 min: McCabe is over this one again and the delivery is good, Steph Catley wanted a penalty with a pull to the floor but nothing is given and it ends with a goal kick.
43 min: Real Madrid are a well-oiled machine this evening, the cohesion throughout their squad is seamless. They definitely have Arsenal’s card at the moment but just as a type that Arsenal win a corner.
41 min: So much build-up play by both sides which is being interrupted by the defences, not many clear chances being created in this tie so far. Each side have had a good shot at goal and Real Madrid’s is the difference on the scoresheet at the moment.
39 min: The ball is crossed into the box for Brunn but her header is wide and collected by Zinsberger.
37 min: There is only one way to sum up Arsenal’s play at the moment and that is patient. Real Madrid have done their homework and they have all the answers to the questions Arsenal’s attack are asking them. But if the Gunners keep knocking on the door, one chance will come together.
35 min: Arsenal have some great build-up play and it pays off with Carmona seeing it out for a corner. McCabe again the taker and she takes it short to Beth Mead. She pops it in but it’s cleared.
33 min: Signe Bruun just put in a great block but she had to slide along the floor and she is now absolutely plastered in water and mud. I know I keep talking about the pitch but it is one of the worst I have seen in a long time.
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31 min: Real Madrid come close again but the ball is just ahead of Angeldahl and she can’t get to it to score.
29 min: The formally pristine white socks of Real Madrid are now all brown with this sodden pitch flicking mud up with any action a player takes. It’s absolutely disgusting the conditions they are playing in right now, a sock change needed at half-time.
27 min: Real Madrid have a free kick with Weir the taker. It’s a poor delivery though and Russo is able to clear easily.
26 min: Real Madrid have all the momentum now but Arsenal’s defence has firmed up, Little the latest to repel a chance.
24 min: Caicedo has had so many eyes on her since the 2023 World Cup but the pressure has not faltered her form. What a player and she is still only 20!
Sandie Toletti intercepted a pass from Kyra Cooney-Cross. Caroline Weir picked it up and found Caicedo with an excellent ball. Caicedo had a lot left to do though and muscled past Williamson to slot it in the back of the net.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Caicedo, 22)
Huge.
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21 min: McCabe steps up to take the corner but it goes straight over the next. A missed opportunity there and McCabe knows it, she grimaces as she runs back into position.
20 min: Wow, what a save by Maria Misa. The long ball to Blackstenius works and she has a great hit at goal but Misa has incredible reflexes to send it behind for a corner.
18 min: Arsenal are getting a bit more of a grip on this game now, they are having a lot more possession and creating more but it’s in that final third they need to be more clinical. Katie McCabe lays a pass off to the edge of the box but Melanie Leupolz clears to feed Caicedo. She makes a great run into the opposite box but the Gunners defend well.
16 min: Leah Williamson finds Fox down the right but Olga Carmona does really well to force the US international to run the ball off the pitch. Some classy defending by the Spanish team so far.
14 min: After the criticism for the League Cup final pitch, this pitch at Real Madrid is only going to amplify the discussion. I can’t say Real Madrid’s men’s team would play on a pitch of this condition for a Champions League quarter-final.
12 min: The caginess of this first leg continues with Arsenal struggling to get out of their own half. The only tactic they can deploy is a long ball to try and find Blackstenius but Real Madrid are becoming wise to it.
10 min: There is no flow, no pun intended with this watery pitch, to this game so far. Real Madrid have threaded a few plays together but it is very stop, start.
8 min: A lot of battles taking place across the pitch at the moment but Arsenal are yet to really stamp any authority on the match. It has been all Real Madrid.
6 min: Kim Little gives Blackstenius an amazing ball through but Maelle Lakrar puts in a perfectly timed challenge to quash the chance. Gordon has got in touch and said:
Arsenal Women have selected a very attack-minded starting XI, surprising to me that Walti is only on the bench. Real will want to attack, so could be a few goals this evening in the wet conditions.
The tactics may be to deploy more attacking players the longer the game goes on. Lia Walti is not a bad player to enter the game in the second half when other players may be tiring.
4 min: Emily Fox clears a dangerous ball in the area, the Gunner has a tricky job this evening going up against Linda Caicedo but she is doing well so far.
3 min: I am not going to lie, the pitch looks pretty bad. It is so muddy and the continual rain won’t be helping. Players have already started to slip over.
2 min: Both teams are just finding their feet in the early stages of this one but a ball is popped through for Stina Blackstenius, she can’t latch onto it and so Real Madrid can clear.
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Kick-off: Real Madrid 0-0 Arsenal
Here we go then. Who will get the upper hand in this tie? All the action to come. It is also still raining in Madrid, a soggy one out there.
It has been raining quite heavily in Madrid today and journalists on the ground in Spain say the pitch is not in the best condition. Hopefully it doesn’t affect play too much.
There is just over ten minutes to go until the first leg of this quarter-final, how are the nerves out there? It should be an absolute cracker of a game.
I would love to hear from you and hear your thoughts on what your club winning the Champions League would mean to you. Would it top any other day of your life? Would you cancel plans to go to the final? Let me know all the details by email.
Arsenal are still the only English club to have won the Women’s Champions League, can they keep that record going this year? Chelsea and Manchester City are still also in the competition. The two sides will play each other in the quarter-finals, the first leg being played tomorrow.
Defending champions Barcelona will take on Wolfsburg in their first leg of the quarter-finals tomorrow night. Star forward Ewa Pajor spoke to Alex Ibaceta before the match, you can read the interview:
After a three-month wait for restless fans since the conclusion of the group stage, Europe’s top clubs finally return to continental action this week as the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals get under way. The main question on everybody’s mind between now and the final in Lisbon on 24 May is: can anybody stop Barcelona?
Read the full piece:
The team news is here.
Real Madrid: Misa, Shei, Lakrar, M Mendez, Carmona, Toletti, Leupolz, Weir, Angeldahl, Caicedo, Bruun.
Subs: Laia, Sofia, Antonia, Redondo, Yasmin, Moller, Carmacho, Navarro, Feller, Del Castillo, Noe, Irune
Meanwhile, for Arsenal, Manuela Zinsberger is between the sticks as Daphne van Domselaar did not travel with the team.
Arsenal: Zinsberger, Fox, Williamson, Catley, Mariona, Mead, Little (C), McCabe, Russo, Blackstenius, Cooney-Cross
Subs: Williams, Codina, Ilestedt, Nighswonger, Reid, Walti, Pelova, Maanum, Kelly, Foord, Kafaji, Hurtig
Preamble
Good afternoon and welcome to Real Madrid v Arsenal in the Women’s Champions League. The Gunners will be favourites to progress to the semi-finals but Real Madrid have an abundance of stars to put a cat among the pigeons.
The most notable big game player in Real Madrid’s squad is Caroline Weir. She has turned up just when her current and previous club’s have needed her in crunch moments. They will be depending on her to come through once again today.
While Arsenal have experienced a great run of form since manager Renee Slegers came into the job last October. They topped their group with the final group game seeing them defeat Bayern Munich. The Women’s Champions League and Women’s Super League are the only two bits of silverware available to the Gunners this season and so there will be even more onus on this two-leg tie.
The team news will be announced shortly so stay tuned for all the updates before kick-off at 5.45pm GMT.
