Arsenal defeated Real Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium to sensationally overturn a first-leg deficit in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, but how did they execute their gameplan? We look at the key stats from the Gunners’ victory.
Arsenal needed a special performance to make the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals, but a magical night at the Emirates Stadium saw them complete a historic comeback.
With three-quarters of their tie against Real Madrid played, Arsenal waited until the second half of the second leg to complete their task. Two goals from the excellent Alessia Russo and another from Mariona Caldentey put Arsenal into the semis for the first time since 2023, where they’ll face eight-time UWCL champions Lyon over two legs.
History suggested a second-leg comeback would be tough. Not since Arsenal themselves in 2004 had a team overturned a first-leg deficit of two or more goals in a knockout tie in a premier women’s European competition. Back then, Arsenal lost 2-0 away to Italian side Torres in the UEFA Women’s Cup quarter-finals before winning the return leg 4-1 in England.
But, following a disappointing first-leg defeat on a heavy pitch in Madrid that suited the home side, there was always a feeling Arsenal had the quality to turn the tie on its head when playing on a more suitable surface at the Emirates a week later.
A goalless first half saw Arsenal take the game to Madrid but without much reward. They attempted just five shots before the interval, with only one hitting the target, as Real Madrid sat deep to hold on to their first-leg lead in the tie.
Despite the lack of goals, it was an intense first-half performance from Renée Slegers’ side. They made 26 high turnovers on the night, with 17 of those coming in the first period – only three teams have made more in a single half of UWCL football this season. Their pressing was at a level not seen in the WSL or Champions League this campaign, with their first-half tally of 17 only five fewer than the most they’d previously made in a complete match across both competitions in 2024-25.
Arsenal Pressing vs Real Madrid UWCL
Slegers revealed post-match that she’d instructed her side to take the game to Madrid from the off, and they executed it perfectly. She said: “We wanted to keep on going with our game plan – stay aggressive, stay high-pressing and go for another one.”
Arsenal’s intensity meant Real Madrid struggled to get out of their own half. That wasn’t a major issue while the Spanish side still led by two goals on aggregate, but it became a serious problem when Arsenal struck immediately after the restart.
The timing of Arsenal’s first goal changed everything. It took just 42 seconds into the second period for Russo to score her first of the night, giving Arsenal belief and striking fear into Madrid. Less than three minutes later, former Barcelona star Caldentey levelled the aggregate score at 2-2. From that moment, there was only one likely winner.
Madrid managed just 204 completed passes across the entire second leg, with only 65 of those (32.0%) coming in the attacking half. It was a level of dominance they have rarely faced this season, either in Liga F or the Champions League, and they struggled to cope with Arsenal pinning them back deep.
Real Madrid Passing vs Arsenal UWCL
Arsenal vs Real Madrid Control UWCL
That total of 65 successful passes in the opposition’s half was the second fewest they’ve managed in any other UWCL or Liga F match this season, while only in the 4-0 league defeat to Barcelona in mid-November (23%) have they seen a lower proportion of their completed passes come in the attacking half.
Russo was the star on the night, adding a tie-winning second goal in the 59th minute. She attempted eight shots overall (not including her two disallowed goals ruled out for marginal offside calls); no player on record has had more in a UWCL game for the club.
Over the two legs, there’s little doubt that the best team won. Real Madrid only attempted nine shots over two games, while Arsenal had 31. The difference in attacking intent was stark, with Arsenal – admittedly chasing for over half the tie – accumulating 77 touches in the opposition’s box compared to just 18 from Madrid.
Arsenal Shots vs Real Madrid UWCL
Real Madrid Shots vs Arsenal UWCL
Arsenal are now two games away from reaching the Women’s Champions League/Women’s Cup final for only the second time in their history.
Back in 2007, they beat Brøndby over two legs in the semi-finals before winning 1-0 in the final over Swedish side Umeå thanks to a dramatic late goal from Alex Scott. That remains the sole occasion an English side have won the competition. Chelsea are the only other English side to have made the final of the UWCL since then, losing in 2021 to Barcelona.
Arsenal will now play Lyon for a place in the final. The eight-time winners comfortably beat Bayern Munich to progress. Joe Montemurro’s side are a different prospect to Real Madrid entirely, but if Arsenal play like they did on Wednesday, they’ve got every chance of springing a surprise.
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