Arsenal came from behind to beat Real Madrid 2-1 and get their Women’s Champions League campaign back on track.
An evenly balanced first half ended in Real Madrid’s favour as a moment of brilliance from Caroline Weir carved open the Gunners’ defence, the Scot volleying home against her former side late in the first half.
But two sublime headers by Alessia Russo lifted the mood at Meadow Park after the restart, with Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead providing the assists for their England teammate from two set-pieces.
The result leaves the title holders on two wins and two losses from their four league phase games. But it was a glum evening for Madrid again months on from their quarter-final defeat last season, as Arsenal completed another remarkable comeback on home turf to keep their hopes of defending their title alive.
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Arsenal 2-1 Real Madrid
Arsenal are back on top after a shaky start. Caroline Weir produced a moment of individual brilliance but Arsenal pulled things back in the second half, overwhelming the Real Madrid defence and just about hanging on.
Alessia Russo was superb all night and it’s her two headers that made the difference at Meadow Park.
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 2-1 Real Madrid
90+5 mins: A brilliant comeback by Arsenal is complete!
Arsenal 2-1 Real Madrid
90+3 mins: Arsenal counter – this is a breathless spell. A long, low ball finds Blackstenius, through on goal, but it runs away from her a little and her marker smothers.
Cooney-Cross comes off for Laia Codina as the hosts try to shore things up.
Arsenal 2-1 Real Madrid
90+2 mins: Redondo sprints down the left, latching onto Weir’s ball, but her shot is poor and van Domselaar lands on it gratefully. Good chance for Real Madrid, wasted.
Arsenal 2-1 Real Madrid
90 mins: FIVE minutes added on. Can Arsenal hold on?
Arsenal 2-1 Real Madrid
90 mins: Arsenal continue to push. Foord lays it off for Mead on the right flank, with Fox there to make a fine overlapping run… but her shot is blocked.
Mead takes the resulting corner, but it’s too deep. Hinds collects and finds Wubben-Moy; Arsenal clear but only as far as Caldentey.
Arsenal 2-1 Real Madrid
88 mins: McCabe is down on the deck and there’s a break in play for her to be attended to, using up some minutes nicely.
One of the Arsenal staff gets a yellow, not quite sure why.
McCabe will in fact come off, for Hinds, while Blackstenius replaces Russo. No hat-trick for her, but she gets the biggest cheer of the night as she goes off.
CHANCE! Arsenal 2-1 Real Madrid
83 mins: Definitely not out of the woods yet. Arsenal get a huge reprieve as Garcia flashes across the face of goal, and Caicedo isn’t near enough at the far post to turn it in.
Another change for the visitors: Yasmim is off for Santiago, a defender for a forward. Throwing the kitchen sink at this one.
