Arsenal Women completed an impressive second-half comeback as they beat Real Madrid Femenino 3-2 on aggregate to advance to the semi-finals of the UEFA Women's Champions League.
The Gunners dominated the first half but proved unable to convert possession and chances into goals.
This changed within seconds of the second half when Alessia Russo volleyed past Misa from a Chloe Kelly cross.
Just three minutes later, it was Mariona Caldentey who was the beneficiary of a Kelly cross - the Spaniard heading home from the penalty spot to draw Arsenal level on aggregate.
The comeback was complete in the 59th minute when Katie McCabe's free-kick found its way to Russo in the penalty area, where she scored her brace with a powerful close-range finish.
Story of the game
Renee Slegers named an unchanged starting lineup from the side who beat Liverpool 4-0 at the weekend, as the Gunners sought a way back into the tie.
Las Blancas boss Alberto Toril opted for five changes from his side's resounding 3-1 away win in El Clásico at the weekend, with substitute brace-scorer Caroline Weir earning a starting place in London.
Arsenal made a positive start as they looked to change their fortunes in the Women’s Champions League, dominating the possession in the opening exchanges.
During a promising move down the right, Emily Fox did excellently to keep the ball in play before great interplay with Maanum saw the Gunners break into the box, but the visitors were eventually able to scramble it out for a throw.
An inviting cross from Chloe Kelly in the eighth minute saw some fans rise from their seats in anticipation, but the ball was fractionally too close to Misa, who was able to collect with relative ease.
A defence-splitting ball to Alessia Russo two minutes later looked even more threatening, but the 26-year-old’s awkward first touch allowed Maëlle Lakrar to slide in and clear it behind for a corner.
The corner almost proved more costly than the initial chance as Mariona Caldentey was gifted a free header at the far post, but the Spaniard guided her effort agonisingly over the bar.
Arsenal again came close just five minutes later when Mariona’s touch from a simple Caitlin Foord pass played her behind Las Blancas’ defence - but on the touchline she could only speculatively drag it back across the box, where there was nobody waiting.
In the 33rd minute, Fox played a ball down the line to Russo, who dragged it back across the box in a similar fashion to Foord’s earlier in the game.
On this occasion, it was the Australian who was able to connect with the cross, though after making contact with Sheila Garcia mid-air, her header rocketed well off target.
Spirits remained high at the Emirates as the first half neared its conclusion, the Gunners’ efforts undeniable despite having nothing to show for it thus far.
At the death of the half, however, nerves filled the north London air as the visitors enjoyed their first significant chances of the game.
The ball fell for Filippa Angeldahl on the edge of the area but her powerful effort was equally matched by a strong Daphne van Domselaar stop. Linda Caicedo saw a follow-up denied by the post but was quickly adjourned to be offside anyway.
Caicedo saw another glancing effort just moments later whistle across the face of goal, but the Colombian’s blushes were spared when she was again judged to have been offside - ensuring both sides entered the break level - although Las Blancas remained ahead on aggregate.
An electric start to the second half saw Arsenal take the lead after less than a minute, courtesy of Russo.
Kelly had whipped a cross towards Russo inside the six-yard box and the 26-year-old made no mistake with the finish as she opened Arsenal’s account in the tie from point-blank range.
(Photo by Vince Mignott/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
(Photo by Vince Mignott/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
And by the 49th minute, the Gunners were level, after Kelly’s cross was met at the penalty spot by Mariona, whose header had the beating of Misa despite her delicate touch on its way into the net.
Perhaps high on confidence from her two quick-fire assists, Kelly teed off a speculative effort from outside the box moments later, but it blazed well over the bar - a short-lived reprieve for the visitors.
A McCabe free-kick in the 59th minute was headed into the six-yard box by Steph Catley, where Russo was on hand to rocket it beyond the reach of Misa - completing the Gunners’ comeback just 14 minutes into the second half.
The Irish defender was again involved as her corner towards the back post was met by Russo, although on this occasion she could not get her effort on target.
Arsenal thought that they had found a fourth in the 71st minute when they worked the ball out to Maanum on the right.
Russo slid in to meet the Norwegian’s cross, and poked it beyond Misa - but the VAR adjudged Maanum to have been offside in the build-up, disallowing the goal.
Russo had another goal ruled out in the closing stages, her hat-trick agonisingly elusive - although the Gunners will little care given their progression.
Arsenal saw out the remainder of the game with relative ease, eliminating Las Blancas and booking their tie against Lyon in the next round.
A performance of the highest level and agonisingly close to a historic hat-trick, Russo did little wrong in this game.
Her goal-scoring performance was not a selfish one, however, her all-around play creating plenty of chances for her teammates throughout the eventual comeback.