Real Madrid vs Arsenal LIVE!
Arsenal have it all to do in the Women’s Champions League after they fell to a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Real Madrid. The Gunners went into the clash in Madrid as favourites to progress, but they must now stage a rousing comeback at the Emirates Stadium, after they were punished on a frustrating evening.
In rainy conditions and on a terrible playing surface, Arsenal made a confident start, only to concede against the run of play midway through the first-half. The ball was lost in midfield, Leah Williamson failed to cut out a through ball and Linda Caicedo took full advantage burst through and finish well. Again it was Arsenal pushing in the second-half, with Chloe Kelly and Caitlin Foord introduced at the break, and they had a successions of set-pieces, but struggled to create much in the way of clear-cut chances.
The Gunners were on top in the match as they pursued an equaliser, and yet it was at the other end that the second goal came. The visitors were too open in midfield, allowing Real to break into space, and Athenea del Castillo’s shot found a way past Manuela Zinsberger, who should have done better in goal.
Real Madrid vs Arsenal latest news
- GOAL! Del Castillo doubles advantage
- GOAL! Caicedo gives Real Madrid early lead
- Real Madrid team news: Weir features against former club
- Arsenal team news: Blackstenius and Mead start
FT: Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal
19:39 , Matt VerriArsenal have it all to do.
They were the better side for large periods tonight, but there was no clinical edge, and they were twice punished by Real.
Big comeback needed at the Emirates.
Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal
19:37 , Matt Verri90+4 mins: Misa booked for dissent, after Arsenal are awarded yet another corner.
Both sets of players stood right on top of the goalkeeper for this. Drops for Little, slices an effort well over the bar as she loses her footing.
Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal
19:35 , Matt Verri90+2 mins: Five minutes added on.
Carmona shown a yellow card. Got the ball first, but then clattered into Fox. Another Arsenal free-kick, defenders are up again.
McCabe... Williamson wins the header and appeals for handball. Nothing given.
Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal
19:32 , Matt Verri89 mins: Kelly shown a yellow card for a frustrated hack.
Real Madrid doing a very professional job of ticking away these seconds.
Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal
19:29 , Matt Verri86 mins: So many set pieces for Arsenal.
McCabe swings in the latest, Misa off her line to punch away the latest of them.
Hurtig and Maanum on for Caldentey and Russo.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal | Athenea del Castillo 83'
19:26 , Matt VerriReal double their lead!
How have Arsenal found a way to be 2-0 down in this match?
So open in midfield and Real can stroll forward. Nobody closes Del Castillo down, shot from the edge of the box is a decent one, but it’s poor from Zinsberger.
Should have saved it.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
19:25 , Matt Verri82 mins: Foord has definitely added something since coming on at half-time.
Direct running, she’s got into good positions a few times, but the final ball hasn’t been there yet.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
19:23 , Matt Verri80 mins: Another Arsenal corner. Definitely on top now.
McCabe to swing this one in, again Real deal with it though. Walti then puts a brilliant ball back in, Williamson looks to have got there above the goalkeeper but can’t direct the header.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
19:20 , Matt Verri77 mins: Couple of signs of Arsenal frustration.
Williamson has a go at Weir, after a lunging tackle she didn’t like, before Foord voices her annoyance with the referee.
McCabe, though, doesn’t bother to argue about that handball decision. Near enough caught it.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
19:17 , Matt Verri74 mins: Walti has replaced Cooney-Cross in midfield for Arsenal.
Interesting decision for the Gunners in these final 15 minutes. They’re still in the tie at 1-0 down heading back to London - do they push for an equaliser and risk conceding a second?
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
19:1370 mins: Replays suggest no penalty was probably just about the right decision. A bit of ball, a bit of player.
Arsenal having a good spell, corner creates problems in the Real box. Misa not convincing it palming a ball away, but nobody there on the rebound.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
19:11 , Matt Verri68 mins: Huuuuge Arsenal appeals for a penalty - waved away!
Russo flicked the ball through to Kelly, she was in on goal and went down in the box. Looked to be a clumsy challenged.
Referee not interested.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
19:07 , Matt Verri63 mins: Not sure why Leupolz is having to walk around the entire pitch, rather than being stretchered off. She’s still limping her way back to the dugout.
Dorado, who is only 16, on to replace her.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
19:05 , Matt Verri62 mins: Leupolz is in tears, but she’s up on her feet and walks to the touchline without any assistance.
Fingers crossed it’s not as serious as it first looked.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
19:04 , Matt Verri60 mins: Real concern here. Leupolz goes down and immediately her team-mates are calling for the medical staff to come on.
She cleared the ball under no real pressure and immediately screamed in pain. Went down holding her right knee.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
19:00 , Matt Verri57 mins: Brilliant defending from Lakrar.
Cross is stood up to the back post, Russo appears to be favourite to nod in from close range, but the defender flicks the header away to safety.
All for nothing, though... offside flag eventually goes up.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
18:57 , Matt Verri53 mins: Bit shaky at the back from Arsenal.
Great cross whipped in from the right, Zinsberger not convincing in palming it straight out.
Ball bobbles around before Little eventually completes the clearing job.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
18:55 , Matt Verri51 mins: Arsenal win a free-kick out wide, chance for Cooney-Cross to swing something in.
Up come the defenders... and they best hurry up and get back, because the cross doesn’t even make it into the area.
Caicedo can break, so quick as she drives into the area. Delays getting the shot away, though, and Fox gets back to poke the ball away.
Caicedo wanted a penalty... never getting that.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
18:51 , Matt Verri48 mins: Rain continues to fall in Madrid. Miserable evening.
Arsenal now have Kelly on the right, Foord on the opposite flank, and Mariona central behind Russo,
Back underway!
18:48 , Matt VerriUp and running in the second-half!
Two changes for Arsenal at the break. Foord and Kelly on for Mead and Blackstenius.
How Real Madrid took the lead...
18:43 , Matt VerriArsenal lost it in midfield, and from there they were in trouble.
Weir’s pass should have been cut out by Williamson, even on a poor pitch, and Caicedo was there to make the Gunners pay.
✨ Working with the elements, Real Madrid break through the Arsenal defense and Linda Caicedo gives them a superb opening goal!
— DAZN Women's Football (@DAZNWFootball) March 18, 2025
Watch the game live on DAZN & join the DAZN FanZone ▶️ https://t.co/dIfKpURfZv#UWCLonDAZN #UWCL pic.twitter.com/KhtCO58Hmw
HT: Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
18:33 , Matt VerriThat’s half-time in Madrid.
Arsenal started well, but a bit of sloppy defending was enough for Real Madrid to punish them and take the lead through Linda Caicedo.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
18:31 , Matt Verri45+1 mins: Nearly!
As close as Arsenal have come. Mariona flicks the ball to Mead, who lashes a strike at goal from just outside the area.
Goalkeeper was getting nowhere near it, but the ball skids just wide.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
18:29 , Matt Verri43 mins: Sheila slides in on Mariona, can only knock the ball behind for an Arsenal corner.
Swung to the back post, Catley throws herself at it and is demanding another corner... goal-kick given.
Catley should probably have made more of a really good delivery from Mead.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
18:27 , Matt Verri41 mins: Weir in space in midfield, she can turn and drive at the Arsenal defence.
Tries to slide a pass inside Fox for Caicedo to get in behind, but the full-back reads it and intercepts.
Fox has done well on the whole so far.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
18:24 , Matt Verri38 mins: Carmona swings in a cross from deep into the Arsenal box.
Bruun gets up above the Arsenal defenders, but the header just loops into Zinsberger’s arms.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
18:19 , Matt Verri34 mins: Arsenal win a corner in front of the away fans. Chance for them to get back on the front foot.
Taken short, before McCabe then clips a cross to the back post. Falls for Cooney-Cross, not enough power on the shot.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
18:16 , Matt Verri30 mins: Arsenal win it back high up the pitch, chance for Russo to play Mead in.
Not enough pace on the pass, though, and probably not helped by the pitch. Mead has to turn back and the opportunity goes.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
18:13 , Matt Verri27 mins: That goal has completely changed the momentum.
Arsenal were on top, but Real now seeing much more of the ball. Gunners need to get themselves going again.
Hosts starting to dominate possession.
Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal
18:11 , Matt Verri25 mins: Tackles are flying in now - this pitch is encouraging the players to slide at every opportunity.
Very much not encouraging slick, passing forward.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Arsenal | Linda Caicedo 22'
18:08 , Matt VerriCompletely against the run of play!
Cooney-Cross loses it in midfield and Real can break.
Weir plays a pass forward, Williamson should cut it out but she lets the ball slide under her, and Caicedo is away.
Nobody going to catch her and it’s a composed finish.
Real Madrid 0-0 Arsenal
18:05 , Matt Verri19 mins: First chance... big chance.
Russo with a brilliant ball through to Blackstenius and she’s clean through on goal.
Tries to go across the goalkeeper, but it’s a smart save from Misa to parry the ball away.
Real Madrid 0-0 Arsenal
18:03 , Matt Verri17 mins: Caicedo in a foot race with Fox - not really where the full-back wants to be.
Into the Arsenal box, Fox does so well to stick with the winger and not give a foul. Great defending.
Real Madrid 0-0 Arsenal
18:01 , Matt Verri15 mins: Nothing yet in terms of clear-cut chances.
Arsenal have settled well, though. Russo whips in a brilliant cross, Blackstenius can’t quite get there on the stretch.
She was offside anyway.
Real Madrid 0-0 Arsenal
17:57 , Matt Verri11 mins: Russo gets away down the left, low ball into the middle is hacked away by Mendez.
Blackstenius hadn’t really made a run, wasn’t much in the way of options for Russo.
Real Madrid 0-0 Arsenal
17:53 , Matt Verri7 mins: Ball over the top of the Real defence and Blackstenius is interested.
Briefly looks to have the pace to get past Mendez, but the centre-back does well to get there first and knock it back to the goalkeeper.
Real Madrid 0-0 Arsenal
17:50 , Matt Verri4 mins: Rain is falling, the pitch is looking muddier by the second.
Lakrar takes full advantage and absolutely flies into a challenge on Russo. Arsenal striker told to get up by the referee.
Real Madrid 0-0 Arsenal
17:49 , Matt Verri3 mins: Williamson takes the goal kick and tries to go long, but it’s not a great clearance and it comes straight back.
Caicedo with her first chance to run, but Weir then can’t take the ball in her stride, against her former club.
KICK-OFF!
17:47 , Matt VerriUnderway in Madrid!
Here we go!
17:43 , Matt VerriTeams are out onto the pitch.
Speaking of the pitch... it doesn’t look like it’s been cut. Not exactly the best surface you’ll ever see.
Road to the final
17:40Winner of this tie will face either Bayern Munich or Lyon in the semi-finals.
Chelsea and Barcelona among those on the other side of the draw, so they would wait until the final.
Arsenal and Real Madrid will both be delighted that a clash against Barcelona is as far away as possible...
Not long now!
17:30 , Matt VerriWarm-ups coming to an end in Madrid.
Around 15 minutes to go until kick-off in the first leg of this quarter-final tie.
These two clubs meet in the quarter-finals of the men’s Champions League too next month - chance for one of them to land the first blow!
⚡ ¡CONCENTRADAS! ⚡ pic.twitter.com/NlTgTzKaet
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadridfem) March 18, 2025
How they got here...
17:18 , Matt VerriArsenal finished top of Group C, ahead of Bayern Munich, to safely book their place in the knockout stages.
Real Madrid were twice beaten by Chelsea, but came second in Group B and therefore had to face one of the group winners.
Going on the form in this competition earlier this season, Arsenal have reason to be confident.
Slegers shuffles pack
17:04 , Matt VerriArsenal make three changes from the win over Everton last time out.
Stina Blackstenius and Beth Mead come into the start in attack, as Frida Maanum and Chloe Kelly drop to the bench.
There’s also a change in midfield, with Kyra Cooney-Cross preferred to Lia Walti.
In the building!
16:52 , Matt VerriThe hosts have arrived at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano...
🚌🎒👋 ¡Hola equipo!
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadridfem) March 18, 2025
📍 Alfredo Di Stéfano pic.twitter.com/cGIu14SKay
Real Madrid team news
16:43Real Madrid XI: Misa, Shei, Lakrar, Mendez, Olga, Toletti, Leupolz, Weir, Angeldahl, Linda, Bruun
Subs: Laia, Sofia, Antonia, Redondo, Yasmim, Moller, Camacho, Navarro, Feller, Athenea, Noe, Irune
Arsenal team news
16:33 , Matt VerriArsenal XI: Zinsberger, Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe, Cooney-Cross, Little, Mariona, Mead, Russo, Blackstenius
Subs: Williams, Codina, Ilestedt, Nighswonger, Reid, Walti, Pelova, Maanum, Kelly, Foord, Kafaji, Hurtig
Standard Sport prediction
16:20 , Matt VerriChelsea scored five goals across their two group-stage matches with Real Madrid earlier this season, so the Spanish side can be got at defensively.
Arsenal have, overall, been impressive under Slegers, and we’re going for them to take a narrow lead back to London.
Arsenal to win, 2-1.
Arsenal team news
16:04 , Matt VerriLotte Wubben-Moy and Daphne van Domselaar have not made the trip to Madrid.
It is otherwise a fit squad for Renee Slegers to choose from, though the Arsenal boss did reveal that Laia Codina has been contending with some “minor” fitness issues.
How to watch Real Madrid vs Arsenal
15:50 , Matt VerriTV channel: The game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1. Coverage starts at 5.30pm GMT ahead of an 5.45pm kick-off.
Live stream: Fans can catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website. The game will be broadcast for free on the DAZN Women’s Football YouTube channel.
Live blog: You can follow all the action right here with us!
Good afternoon!
15:35 , Matt VerriHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Real Madrid vs Arsenal in the Women’s Champions League!
It’s the first leg of this huge quarter-final tie, with the Gunners looking for a positive result to take back to north London.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 5:45pm GMT from the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano.
