Key events
Half-time: Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid (0-2 on agg)
Well, Real Madrid have been impressive in defence and shown the danger they present when they get an attacking chance. Arsenal have tried absolutely everything but there’s no joy yet.
45 min: Arsenal take the ball all the way up to their end and Maanum gets an effort away but it skims across the front of goal. This game is opening up massively.
44 min: The amount of time the officials are taking to show offside is frustrating, Caicedo was clearly offside again there but they wait until she takes the shot to put the flag up. Her effort hit the bar.
43 min: My mouth is hanging open, that is the danger Real Madrid present. They break, get into the box with Angeldahl rifling in a shot but Van Domselaar saves well. The officials then pop up the offside flag but wow, that would have been quite something.
41 min: Linda Caicedo thinks she was pulled when she was on a run and on the replay she definitely was by Caldentey. The referee gives a free kick to the visitors but they will have to build from deep to come up with something. Possession then exchanges hands back and forth.
39 min: Real Madrid have one their first attacking stints with a good run from Carmona but it stalls and Arsenal clear.
37 min: Kelly crosses it in but it’s cleared for another corner. The England international is the taker once more, goes short but it comes in and Misa punches clear. Arsenal edging closer.
35 min: My goodness, Arsenal fans must be flabbergasted. the ball is pinballed around the box and Kelly gets a shot away but Misa does enough. Now Arsenal have won a corner, it is all the Gunners at the moment. They deserve a goal for all their efforts so far.
34 min: Oh my word, how have Arsenal not scored there? A beautiful ball in from Russo finds Caitlin Foord but her header is over the bar. Her landing looked painful and she is down for a moment but she is okay to continue.
32 min: Caldentey does well to win Arsenal a corner, the set piece has given the Gunners their best chances this evening. they take it short, McCabe puts it into the area but Weir clears easily.
31 min: Kelly again with a sumptuous cross, she is playing out of her skin tonight. But her teammates are not on her wavelength once more as another chance goes begging.
29 min: Arsenal are doing so well at covering potential counterattacks too, Caroline Weir was almost clear down the right but Williamson tracked back to defend.
27 min: What a delivery from Kelly as she launches a ball into the box but her teammates cannot connect, frustrating for the home side. They are continually creating chances but they just can’t finish them off.
25 min: McCabe takes the set piece but Misa plucks it out of the air. Williamson hits the deck and grabs her head but she is shortly back to her feet.
24 min: McCabe is standing over the set piece and the delivery is deep which sees Del Castillo launch it clear. It isn’t long though until the ball is back in the box but Maelle Lakrar clears but concedes a corner.
23 min: Real Madrid are growing into this one but they keep losing the ball high up and every time this Emirates crowd lights up. The fans cheer now as Arsenal win a free kick, can they score here?
21 min: Arsenal are knocking and knocking on the door but it is yet to open, Real Madrid have been impressive but the Gunners feel like they will be the first to score in this encounter.
19 min: If Real Madrid can see out this tie they will secure a slice of history as they would reach their first-ever Women’s Champions League semi-final. But there is a lot more football to play before then.
17 min: Another cross in from Kelly but again it has too much power for another chance to come and go. The Gunners just need to not rush their final pass and they will be right back in this tie.
15 min: Chloe Kelly sends it in but it’s straight out for another corner, the England international crosses it in again but it has too much on it and it’s straight out for a goal kick.
14 min: Some back and forth on possession but Arsenal still looking the much stronger side so far. Just as I type that the hosts win another corner.
12 min: It comes in and Mariona Caldentey has a header but it’s over the bar. Her head is in her hands at that miss.
11 min: Some really nice build-up play from Arsenal and Russo gets herself in a good bit of space in the box but it’s cut out, Arsenal win a corner though.
9 min: Signe Bruun gives away a cheap free kick for a foul on Katie McCabe. The Republic of Ireland international takes it herself and it eventually comes into the box, Misa reads it well though and collects.
8 min: Alessia Russo tries to pick out Fox down the right but the pass has too much on it and it’s out for a goal kick. We haven’t seen too much of Real Madrid on the ball so far, will their game plan be to park to bus and keep Arsenal out? Or to try and extend their lead? We’re yet to see a clear picture.
6 min: Adam has got in touch and said:
I hope you’re well! I just landed in Boston, USA after flying out from London earlier today, and so my snack of choice is a brioche grilled cheese with roast beef in (delicious) to hopefully stay awake…I’m hoping that the game will do that for me! What do you have on the go food-wise?
I am well thank you, I hope you are too and that your flight was smooth. The snack you have is elite and I am so jealous. I have some salted popcorn on the go right now, this game the perfect entertainment for it. Arsenal still pushing for that early goal so far but Olga Carmona is absolutely everywhere preventing chances coming in.
4 min: It is clear Arsenal want an early goal as they have been pressing in these first stages but the visitors are dealing with the attacking questions the Gunners are asking at the moment. Emily Fox so far playing so slickly.
2 min: A reminder that not only did Real Madrid beat Arsenal last week but they also beat Barcelona at the weekend in the Liga F. Yes Arsenal will be playing their hearts out tonight but they face tricky opposition.
Kick-off: Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid (0-2 on agg)
Here we go.
It would be great to hear from you so drop me an email. If that’s snack chat, thoughts on the game or anything else, get in touch.
Whoever is the winner this evening between Real Madrid and Arsenal, they will face eight-time winners Lyon in the semi-final. They beat Bayern Munich 4-1 this evening and 6-1 across both legs. A strong performance from the French giants.
A great interview here with Mariona Caldentey:
Arsenal’s Leah Williamson has said: “It’s the biggest month we’ve had in terms of knockout competitions. This game is no different. I think the work that we’ve done, you can see the direction that we’re going in. We need to make results matter and count for us always, as a football club, so the focus never shifts. But we can’t think about those sorts of things. We just focus on the task at hand in the next game. And we’re always trying to win, obviously.”
Here’s a recap of last week’s action if you need a reminder:
The team news is here! Arsenal make no changes to their line-up who beat Liverpool 4-0 in the women’s Super League at the weekend.
Arsenal: Van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson, Catley, Mariona, Little (C), McCabe, Maanum, Foord, Kelly, Russo
Subs: Zinsberger, Williams, Codina, Ilestedt, Nighswonger, Reid, Walti, Cooney-Cross, Pelova, Mead, Kafaji, Blackstenius
Real Madrid, meanwhile, are without Melanie Leupolz after she was taken off injured in the first leg.
Real Madrid: Misa, Garcia, Mendez, Lakrar, Carmona, Toletti, Angeldahl, Caicedo, Bruun, Del Castillo
Subs: Laia, Sofia, Antonia, REdondo, Yasmim, Moller, Camacho, Navarro, Feller, Noemi, Dorado, Elsa.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the second leg of the Women’s Champions League quarter-final between Arsenal and Real Madrid. It is the Gunners with all the work to do this evening but they are at home so the Emirates atmosphere may see them through to the semis.
In the first leg, Real Madrid were spectacular on a horrid pitch to beat Arsenal 2-0. And although she didn’t get on the scoresheet, Caroline Weir was on form. The question will be if they can replicate the performance away from home.
Arsenal have a lot to overturn but if they score early it will rip the game wide open. We will be taking a look at what each club have said before this game and what the team news is.
The line-ups for this evening’s match will be revealed shortly so stay tuned before kick-off at 8pm GMT.
