The remarkable performance of Arsenal at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium secured their spot in the Champions League semi-finals. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli scored crucial goals, helping the team overcome Real Madrid 2-1 in the quarter-final return leg, and 5-1 on aggregate.
Quotes from the Match
- “It was a beautiful evening in front of our fans against a very strong team,” said Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta after the match, praising his team’s character in the statement. Although the exact quote from Mikel Arteta wasn’t found in the article, Sid Lowe’s description does mention Arteta praising Arsenal’s character as a “Massive step”.
- “For his important goal, clever movement, his understanding with strike partner Thuram and others, as well as his hard work for the team,” said the UEFA Technical Observer Group, naming MartÃnez as the PlayStation Player of the Match. However, the Guardian article refers to Saka’s play and doesn’t mention MartÃnez or Thuram in that context; instead, it highlights Saka and Martinelli’s performance.
Key Moments from the Match
- Bukayo Saka’s Penalty Miss: Saka had a penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois in the 13th minute, but he redeemed himself by scoring the opener in the 65th minute.
- Gabriel Martinelli’s Winning Goal: Martinelli sealed the win with a clinical finish in the 90th+3 minute, slotting the ball past Courtois.
- VinÃcius Júnior’s Equalizer: Real Madrid’s VinÃcius Júnior scored a crucial goal in the 67th minute, but it was not enough to change the aggregate score.
Arsenal’s Dominant Performance
Arsenal’s midfield trio of Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, and Thomas Partey dominated the match, taking control and clinically finishing the task. The team’s defense held firm, despite a late yellow card for Partey, which means he will miss the first leg against PSG.
What’s Next?
Arsenal will face PSG in the semi-finals, with the first leg eagerly anticipated. The team’s recent form suggests they have the quality to make a deep run in the competition.