Real Madrid stunned Arsenal at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano to put themselves in control of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final tie. Goals in either half from Linda Caicedo and Athenea del Castillo earned the Spanish side victory in the first leg against Renée Slegers’ team.
This was the first competitive encounter between these sides and of the two the Gunners are the more experienced in European football. This is their 16th appearance at this stage of the competition (a joint record with Lyon) and they remain the only English winners. Real Madrid, in contrast, are in only their second Champions League quarter-final, a 8-3 aggregate loss to Barcelona back in 2022 their other showing in the knockouts.
There was renewed belief among the Arsenal squad after a strong finish at Everton on Friday moved them up to second in the Women’s Super League. Slegers handed starts to three of the players – Beth Mead, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Stina Blackstenius – who had made such an impact off the bench. It meant a deeper role for Alessia Russo while Manuela Zinsberger remained in goal due to the continued absence of the concussed Daphne van Domselaar.
Alberto Toril opted for seven changes to the side that had drawn 2-2 with Deportivo at the weekend. In came Sandie Toletti, Melanie Leupolz and Filippa Angeldahl to strengthen the central midfield area while Caicedo made her first start for several weeks after injury.
The state of the pitches chosen to stage high-profile women’s games has been a major talking point in England in recent days, thanks to the poor surface at Pride Park for the League Cup final, and it seems there is the same issue in the game in Spain. The condition of the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano turf was abysmal before a ball was kicked. Water and mud flew off the sodden surface every time a player so much as moved. Questions will have to be asked of Real Madrid’s hierarchy who continue to refuse to stage a women’s game at the Bernabéu, which is sitting empty this week due to the men’s international break.
“It’s not on me to criticise,” said Slegers of the venue. “It’s obviously a club decision and I’m sure that Uefa is trying to create the best conditions for the tournament. Of course, the weather is not always in our control. But I think we’ve seen a couple of games lately where the pitch conditions haven’t been great and I think that’s the next step for women’s football to take.”
The conditions led to a scrappy opening with neither side able to take control. It was always going to be a question of who could adapt quicker and it was not long before the hosts looked the more comfortable. The work rate of Signe Bruun up front was emblematic of the intensity of Toril’s side’s pressing game.
On one such occasion, she slid 10 yards to block a clearing pass from Steph Catley before standing up, her pristine white Madrid kit covered in mud, some of which she also spent the next few minutes trying to extract from her hair.
While Blackstenius stung Misa Rodríguez’s gloves first, it was the hosts who were rewarded for their early efforts. The breakthrough came thanks in no small part to a catalogue of errors from their opponents.
When Cooney-Cross tried to thread an eye-of-the-needle pass, Madrid cut it out with ease. Bruun sent a low ball forward that bobbled awkwardly along the turf before bouncing off Leah Williamson’s toe into the path of Caicedo, who had slipped in behind. The Colombian confidently beat Zinsberger from close range.
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Arsenal’s struggles continued after the break despite Slegers bringing on Chloe Kelly and Caitlin Foord at half-time. Kelly looked initially bright, driving down the right to cause Misa some problems while Lia Wälti almost made an immediate impact when she entered the game with 20 minutes to play.
Truthfully, however, the visitors were second best in the key moments and their problems intensified when they conceded a second. Madrid’s counterattack was a threat throughout and, with Arsenal pushing higher in search of an equaliser, they once again took the opportunity that came their way. Athenea, on the field for mere minutes, broke into space 20 yards from goal before unleashing a superb strike that beat Zinsberger.
There was delight in the Real Madrid ranks at the final whistle. This is only their third win in 11 matches against English opposition and puts them in a strong position to secure a historic place in the semi-finals.
Arsenal, on the other hand, know they must improve in next Wednesday’s second leg at the Emirates Stadium if they are to find a way back into this tie.
