Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Cooney-Cross, Mariona; Smith, Maanum, Kelly; Russo
Substitutes: Borbe (GK), Liddiard (GK), Codina, Hinds, Nighswonger, Harwood, Pelova, Mead, Foord, Blackstenius
Arsenal have come from behind to beat Real Madrid 2-1 at Meadow Park in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Real Madrid took the lead through Caroline Weir but Alessia Russo, who scored twice against Madrid last season in the quarter-final, scored twice in the second half, placing Arsenal in a much better position in the Champions League table, with a top 4 finish not out of the question.
Renée Slegers made three changes to the team that drew the North London Derby on Sunday. Olivia Smith and Chloe Kelly returned to the starting lineup with Beth Mead and Caitlin Foord dropping to the bench, while Frida Maanum replaced Stina Blackstenius, with Alessia Russo moving to centre forward.
Good pressure from Mariona saw Arsenal win the ball back in the penalty box but Arsenal couldn’t work a clear angle.
Inside 5 minutes, Smith won a corner, and Kelly’s delivery found Maanum in the 6-yard box but she headed wide.
McCabe sloppily gave the ball away to Fuller in the Arsenal box, but Arsenal crowded her out.
Smith drove infield from the left and shot over the bar.
On 22 minutes, Kelly’s high cross came to Russo, who headed the ball on. It came to Maanum, but she couldn’t re-adjust and Misa gathered.
Smith, playing from the right now, drove into the Madrid penalty box and was physically halted by Däbritz, but the referee ignored muted appeals for a penalty.
Real Madrid took the lead on 43 minutes. Däbritz was fouled by Mariona, and she took the free kick from the right. The ball was played into the box, Catley cleared, but only as far as an unmarked Weir just beyond the penalty spot, and her right-footed volleyed shot flew past Van Domselaar. 0-1.
Madrid broke to start the second half, with Weir intercepting a loose pass and setting away Caicedo, who shot wide of Van Domselaar’s post. Weir then shot from range but Van Domselaar saved.
Smith got away from Navarro as she drove into the box, but her shot was blocked.
Arsenal equalised on 52 minutes. Kelly played another high cross, and Russo leapt above Mendez, and her header looped over Misa. 1-1.
On 61 minutes, a floated cross came to Smith, but she caught her volley wrong and Misa gathered.
On 63 minutes, Beth Mead replaced a just booked Chloe Kelly, while Caitlin Foord replaced Smith.
On 66 minutes, McCabe was slipped in down the left by Mariona and she smashed a cross that went behind for a corner. From the corner, Arsenal took the lead. Mead’s cross found a free Russo, who powered her header past Misa. 2-1.
On 74 minutes, Madrid came close to equalising after a fast break. Cooney-Cross dealt with the initial chance but Madrid kept the ball alive and Jazmin shot just wide of Van Domselaar’s.
Mead slipped Russo in behind on 77 minutes and with just Misa to beat, Russo slotted her shot but wide of the post. The flag went up to spare her blushes, with replays showing a tight decision.
A minute later, a loose deflection came to Russo. She drove and then from just outside the D shot across goal but just wide of the far post.
Russo had another chance on 80 minutes. Cooney-Cross slipped her in behind but this time Misa saved, with the flag going up again.
At 2-1, though, Arsenal were living dangerously. Garcia floated a cross from the right. Weir attacked and missed it but so did Van Domselaar, and the ball drifted across the goal line before Arsenal cleared. Replays showed Garcia was offside, but it was a reminder that the game was not done with 7 minutes to go.
On 88 minutes, Taylor Hinds replaced Katie McCabe and Stina Blackstenius replaced Russo.
On 89 minutes, Blackstenius and Foord combined in the centre before Foord played out to Mead. She slipped in Fox who looked for Maanum, but the cutback was put behind for a corner.
5 minutes were added on.
Weir slipped Redondo in down the left, but her shot was straight at Van Domselaar.
On 93 minutes Laia Codina replaced Cooney-Cross as Arsenal made their final change.
Mead drove into the box on 95 minutes, but Weir came across and prevented Mead from getting off a cross or shot. Madrid went long and Arsenal saw the ball out for a goal kick. Blackstenius found Mead, and rather than go for goal she went to the corner flag to see out the game.