Real Madrid’s Comeback Hopes Dashed as They Bid Farewell to the Champions League
Subtitle: Despite a spirited effort, Real Madrid falls short against Arsenal in a dramatic match, ending their Champions League journey.
Real Madrid’s hopes of a comeback were shattered as they lost 1-2 to Arsenal, in a match where they never seemed comfortable.
Despite rumors of significant lineup changes, some even wild, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti made no major surprises. He opted to place Valverde in midfield, shifting Lucas Vázquez to the right-back position and leaving Modric out of the starting lineup compared to the first leg. Tchouameni replaced the suspended Camavinga, while the rest of the lineup was as expected.
The match began at a furious pace, as anticipated. Real Madrid pressed well, sometimes lacking coordination, but they were more effective than in previous games. However, they soon encountered an unexpected guest—the referee, François Letexier, and the VAR.
Penalty for Arsenal
Letexier made headlines at the Bernabéu, thanks to VAR, awarding Arsenal a penalty for a foul by Asencio, who grabbed his opponent despite the ball being far from the action. A penalty for Madrid was also initially given after a lengthy VAR review, but it was eventually overturned.
Courtois Saves the Penalty
Arsenal’s penalty, initially set to be taken by Odegaard, was instead taken by Saka, who attempted a Panenka. Courtois, however, anticipated the shot perfectly, diving to his left and saving the ball, which caused the Bernabéu to erupt in celebration as if it were a goal. Madrid had survived.
VAR Overturns Madrid’s Penalty
Shortly after Courtois’ save, Madrid was awarded a penalty for a foul by Rice on Mbappé. The contact was clear, but after a four-minute VAR review, the penalty was canceled due to the contact being deemed too weak, and there were also concerns over a potential offside by Rodrygo.
Real Madrid, struggling to play well, saw the chance to take the lead slip away. It was like a child being handed a candy, only to have it taken away moments later without understanding why. At halftime, the score remained 0-0, with Madrid failing to break through Arsenal’s defensive setup despite some half-hearted attacks.
Ancelotti’s Triple Substitution
In the second half, the script remained the same. Real Madrid continued to lack creativity and opportunities. As is typical for Ancelotti, he waited until the 60th minute to make changes, bringing on Endrick, Fran García, and Ceballos. A drastic change was needed, and he had no choice but to try something different.
However, the triple substitution seemed to pave the way for Arsenal’s goal. Merino won a header and flicked the ball forward to Saka, who calmly chipped Courtois to give Arsenal the lead. The task of a comeback seemed almost impossible now.
Vinicius’ Equalizer
Real Madrid fought back with heart rather than skill. The equalizer, scored by Vinicius, came after Saliba misjudged a ball and allowed the Brazilian to steal it and finish past Arsenal’s goalkeeper. A glimmer of hope appeared for Madrid fans, but it was based more on memories of past comebacks than any solid display of football in the present.
Final Moments and Arsenal’s Second Goal
As the game wore on, little changed. The most notable moment was Mbappé’s ankle injury, forcing him off the field. Real Madrid kept pressing, with Endrick, Vinicius, and Brahim pushing forward, but they couldn’t find the breakthrough. In the dying minutes of the game, Arsenal’s Martinelli sealed the win with a goal in injury time.
Madrid’s hopes of a comeback were dashed, and they said goodbye to this season’s Champions League.
Match Details:
- Real Madrid: Courtois; Lucas Vázquez (Ceballos 60’), Asencio (Modric 74’), Rüdiger, Alaba (Fran García 60’); Tchouameni, Valverde, Bellingham; Rodrygo (Endrick 60’), Vinicius, and Mbappé (Brahim 74’).
- Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Thomas, Rice; Saka, Mikel Merino, and Martinelli.
Goals:
- 0-1: Saka (65’)
- 1-1: Vinicius (66’)
- 1-2: Martinelli (92’)
Referee: François Letexier. Yellow cards were issued to Alaba, Asencio, Raya, Rüdiger, and Thomas.
Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu.
