Actual Madrid v Arsenal: Champions League quarter-final, second leg – stay | Champions League
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Key occasions
40 min Vinicius Jr. wins a nook off Timber. Earlier than it’s taken, Rudiger throws Timber into the Arsenal web. That doesn’t rely as a purpose, Antonio.
39 min “It appears apparent to me that the best way to hurry up VAR selections is to place VAR in cost,” writes Kim Thonger. “All the massive language mannequin must do is watch each sport Jurgen Klinsmann performed in to get a whole understanding of the arcane artwork of diving for a penalty.”
38 min Actual have been poor. They give the impression of being far too hyped-up, as in the event that they’ve had too many cups of remontada earlier than the sport. That mentioned, Arsenal have largely managed the sport beautifully.
37 min “I by no means usually assume this however thank god for VAR!!” writes Mikel Arteta Peter Crosby. “They took ages however it was a tough name, they usually ended up getting it proper. It’s properly disguised by Mbappe however completely a dive and simply by no means a penalty. That is what Madrid does – they discover some technique to get themselves via – it doesn’t matter what it takes. This may’ve been a brilliant annoying means for them to get again into the sport (and I’m a Spurs fan) and for as soon as I’m pleased for the VAR intervention.”
36 min David Raya is booked for timewasting. Thirty-six minutes down, 54 to go.
36 min “It’s clear what Actual is lacking is the world-class ba$tardry of Sergio Ramos,” says Graeme Neill, “primed to provide Stone Chilly Stunners to Odegaard and Saka and get away with them. (I’m undoubtedly not nonetheless bitter concerning the 2018 Champions League last.)”
35 min An Arsenal free-kick breaks for Timber, who shoots over from the sting of the realm.
34 min “I’m in a social membership in deepest Northumberland. It has eight TVs and each single one is tuned to the very important Premier League match that’s Newcastle v Palace,” says Nick Parish. “I’ve thought-about asking if only one might be turned over to the Arsenal, however one smooth southerner towards a few dozen passionate Geordies appears unhealthy odds. No less than I’ve acquired you to maintain me firm. No pistachios right here although, sadly.”
Have you ever seemed down the again of the couch?
32 min Saka finds Odegaard on the sting of the realm. He tries to return it to Saka, by now unmarked, however overhits a comparatively easy cross. That was an honest likelihood. Arsenal have an amazing likelihood to select Actual Madrid off right here; they’re in all places. However as we all know, a Actual purpose would change the whole lot. Arsenal ought to be trying to get this carried out earlier than half-time.
31 min Mbappe, 30 yards in the past, whistles a superb effort that swerves vast of the far publish. Actual have been far too emotional within the first half hour. The final 10-20 minutes are the time for that.
29 min “One of many US commentators is making a giant deal about the truth that Ødegaard was shaping as much as take the penalty earlier than handing it off to Saka,” says Joe Johnson. “To me, it learn as an try as a ‘thoughts sport’ on Courtois at greatest, and in any other case nothing a lot in any respect. What do you assume?”
Yeah, that’s commonplace as of late. Any individual else takes the ball to cease the deliberate taker being sledged or distracted. That mentioned, most groups know who the opposition penalty taker is so in concept Actual Madrid’s gamers may nonetheless have gotten in Saka’s grille.
No penalty!
28 min My phrase. This referee has metal in his b- properly by no means thoughts. Which means Rice’s yellow card is wiped off as properly.
27 min: The referee’s going to the monitor! That is chaos.
27 min They’ve been it for 3 minutes. They might even be checking an offside towards Mbappe.
26 min: VAR examine ongoing Rice does put two arms round Mbappe. And whereas Mbappe made essentially the most of it, I’m undecided this might be overturned.
25 min If the choice stands, Rice will miss the primary leg of the semi-final ought to Arsenal get there.
24 min The ball was tossed into the field and flicked on within the obscure route of Mbappe, who felt Rice’s arm round him and went over. It’s nowhere close to as clear as the primary one – I don’t assume it’s a penalty, in reality – and it’s being checked by VAR.
Penalty to Actual Madrid!
23 min Rice is livid, thinks Mbappe has dived, and it’s all kicking off. Rice has been booked as properly.
21 min Mbappe fronts Saliba up within the space, then tries to veer outdoors him. Saliba reads it, will get his physique between man and ball and permits it to run behind for a goalkick. That’s majestic defending. If there’s a greater centre-half on the earth, I’ve not seen him.
20 min Bellingham runs at Timber on the left and fizzes a terrific ball, proper throughout the face. Rodrygo stretches however can’t fairly attain it.
19 min “Effectively, I suppose it Retains It Alive As A Spectacle,” weeps Charles Antaki. “However Arsenal followers would moderately it didn’t, to be frank.”
Factor is, however for the penalty it’s been an excellent begin for Arsenal. Actual look frantic, even determined, and David Raya’s gloves stay unsullied.
18 min I do not know what occurred with the penalty, whether or not Saka mishit it or just had a brainfade. At first I assumed the previous – had it gone down the center he’d have scored – however it was a protracted technique to the left of centre. I’m undecided Bukayo Saka is able to miskicking the ball that far.
17 min Vinicius Jr runs at Timber and pokes the ball out of play. A nook is given to Actual, wrongly I believe, and it results in a spell of strain wherein Lucas Vazquez has two photographs blocked. The primary, a heatseeker from vary, virtually knocked the defender (presumably Kiwior) off his toes.
16 min Arsenal have to remind themselves {that a}) it’s nonetheless 3-0 and b) they’ve been the higher workforce to this point.
15 min “I really like Justin Kavanagh’s work as a lot as the following man,” writes Mac Millings, “however Jude Bellingham attempting to dominate the narrative may be counterproductive, Kylian Mbappe taking part in prefer it’s a World Cup Remaining is simply helpful if it’s the final 10 minutes, and as for Actual channeling their inside Luton City, properly, I suppose there are going to be some uncommon outdated nights on the likes of Oakwell and Bloomfield Highway subsequent season…”
14 min Now Rice is indicating that he’s been hit by one thing thrown from the gang. That was a horrible penalty from Saka. The road was about midway between the centre of the purpose and Courtois’ right-hand publish. Courtois virtually dived previous the ball however was in a position to slap it away along with his left hand.
Courtois saves Saka’s penalty!
13 min It was a poor penalty, a Panenka that didn’t go straight down the center, and Courtois slapped it around the publish for a nook.
12 min Bukayo Saka will take the penalty…
12 min Actual are fuming however they don’t actually have a case. He pulled Merino again, and in the event you do that you just’re asking for hassle.
Penalty to Arsenal!
11 min Raul Asencio pulled Merino again at a Rice nook a few minutes in the past. The referee was advised to go the monitor, and replays confirmed it was a transparent penalty. Asencio is booked.
10 min Pretty play from Rice, who reads after which nicks a cross from Bellingham on the sting of the Arsenal space. He surges ahead on the break and finds Saka, who is admittedly near wriggling away from Tchouameni within the space.
Hold on, there’s a VAR examine for an Arsenal penalty.
9 min By the way, that Saka shot within the sixth minute was loads nearer than I realised on the time. It will have been a screamer.
8 min Saka beats Alaba with contemptuous ease and curls a low shot from 20 yards that’s pushed away to his proper by the diving Courtois. That’s a reasonably good save, although it wasn’t proper within the nook.
Arsenal have began rather well, significantly their vast forwards Martinelli and Saka.
7 min Rodrygo beats Lewis-Skelly and crosses from the byline; Saliba heads away. He’s such an vital participant tonight.
6 min Saka, on the proper aspect of the realm, pings a cracking shot along with his proper foot that fades previous the far publish. Courtois was actually fearful, although I believe it was all the time going vast.
5 min “Greetings from California, the supply of 99% of the nation’s pistachio manufacturing,” writes Peter Oh. “I be part of Pistachio Peadar in Poland in being completely reliant in your protection, resulting from my life decisions and present circumstances.
“I’m about 79% assured that Arsenal will see this out, 89% certain that Actual Madrid will make it very fascinating, and 99% certain that it is going to be nuttier than a bowl of pistachios.”
4 min Alaba is booked for wiping out Saka; that’s an abysmal problem. Simply earlier than that Actual broke dangerously via Vinicius Jr, whose cross was booted away. Arsenal are urgent excessive, which is a) admirable and b) what they did on the Etihad in April 2023 when Kevin De Bruyne put them over his knee.
2 min: Mbappe purpose disallowed for offside He was miles off, so there’s nothing to see, however it was a neat chested end from Vinicius Jr’s cross/shot. The noise is unimaginable.
1 min They usually’re off, a few minutes later than marketed. Arsenal, of their black change strip, kick off from proper to left as we watch.
These gents are about to take the sector. The environment is spectacular.
Actual Madrid (4-3-3) Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Alaba; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
Substitutes: Fran Gonzalez, Sergio Mestre, Modric, Arda Guler, Endrick, Vallejo, Dani Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Brahim.
Arsenal (4-3-3) Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Substitutes: Neto, Setford, Tierney, White, Zinchenko, Trossard, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Henry-Francis, Nwaneri, Rosiak.
Referee Francois Letexier (France).
“Hello Rob,” writes Peadar de Burca. “I used to be actually wanting ahead to watching tonight’s sport right here in south-west Poland, however seeing as I don’t have a tv, I wanted my mates Marcin and Agata to ask me over. Factor is that they’re Man U and Arsenal followers respectively. He’s sore as hell over the massive pile of manure that’s United’s season and Agata is desperately fearful the Gooners are going to blow it and he or she doesn’t need me, a Liverpool fan, lording it over them.
“So no invite and right here’s me in my Bleak Home, sans beer and crisps, simply realizing that is going to be the sport of the season. However what? I don’t care. I’ve acquired the Guardian’s MBM. Rob Smyth on the wheel. And I believe there is likely to be one or two pistachios down the again of the sofa. Let’s do that.”
I believe that is likely to be the nicest factor anybody’s ever mentioned about my work. Shall I examine thee to a pistachio down the again of the sofa?
“If Actual can summon the spirit of the remontada,” begins Justin Kavanagh. “If Jude Bellingham can dominate the narrative; if Killian Mbappe can play prefer it’s a World Cup Remaining; if Actual can channel their inside Luton City. That’s lots of ifs. However… I’m trusting Arsenal to maintain the top when all about are shedding theirs ( you, Camavinga, final week), and belief themselves when all males doubt them. They’ll fill the unforgiving 90/120 minutes with 5400/7200 seconds price of distance run (for the stats followers) they usually’ll be males tonight, my son.”
Mikel Arteta’s pre-match ideas
The workforce are very focussed, very decided. We all know the problem and alternative forward; go and embrace it.
[On the first 15 minutes] It’s all the time essential to start out with a constructive vibe and to really feel like you’re controlling and dominating the sport. We’ll strive to do this. However it’s not solely concerning the begin.
At this degree each motion issues, each motion adjustments the momentum and the best way the sport is growing. We’re very focussed and really decided. Let’s go for it.
“Nonetheless keenly keep in mind listening to Derby County’s uncommon foray into European soccer after they travelled to Madrid for what was to be a fateful evening after the unimaginable 4-1 victory on the Baseball Floor,” writes Colum Fordham. “I nonetheless bear the scars. Hope for Arsenal followers that they don’t seem to be equally passionate about the remontada. Must be a cracker of a match.”
“Is there actually any level watching this sport?” asks Matt Dony. “I imply, is there actually any level even taking part in it within the first place? It’s Madrid in Europe. Everyone knows what’s going to occur. They’ll have a blindingly good 10-minute spell in direction of the tip of the primary half, the place they rating two targets. There’ll be a scruffy third purpose across the seventieth minute, then they’ll willpower a winner someday after the 87th minute. And there’s nothing Arsenal can do about it.”
The emergence of the Arsenal gamers for his or her warm-up is the cue for the house followers to pay tribute to Joe Root. The noise is sort of one thing, particularly as we’re nonetheless half an hour away from kick off.
Jude Bellingham on the duty forward
Tonight’s winners will play Paris Saint-Germain within the semi-finals, with the primary leg at house of 29 or 30 April and the second leg in Paris every week later.
The gamers on a yellow card
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Actual Madrid Lucas Vazquez, Rudiger, Vinicius Jr, Modric, Endrick.
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Arsenal Timber, Partey, Rice, Martinelli.
Sit back, Nicholas Jover
Group information: Arsenal unchanged from first leg
Carlo Ancelotti makes two adjustments from the primary leg on the Emirates. Lucas Vazquez and Aurelien Tchouameni substitute Luka Modric and the suspended Eduardo Camavinga. Which means Fede Valverde will transfer into midfield.
Arsenal, as you’d anticipate, are unchanged from the primary leg.
Actual Madrid (4-3-3) Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Alaba; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
Substitutes: Fran Gonzalez, Sergio Mestre, Modric, Arda Guler, Endrick, Vallejo, Dani Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Brahim.
Arsenal (4-3-3) Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Substitutes: Neto, Setford, Tierney, White, Zinchenko, Trossard, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Henry-Francis, Nwaneri, Rosiak.
Referee Francois Letexier.
Mikel Arteta on the problem awaiting Arsenal
The sensation is pleasure. We wish to create historical past. We are attempting to do one thing consistently, to begin to dominate European competitors. This can be a nice alternative. For certain, we’re satisfied.
‘So that you’re saying there’s an opportunity’
Preamble
Noventi minuti en el Bernabéu son molto longo.
These have been the phrases of Actual Madrid’s Juanito after his aspect misplaced 3-1 to Internazionale within the first leg of a Uefa Cup semi-final in 1985-86. Ninety minutes on the Bernabeu are very lengthy.
Seems 120 minutes have been even longer. Actual savaged a superb Inter aspect 5-1 after extra-time and went on to win the competitors. It was their fifth spectacular European comeback in simply two seasons, all on the Bernabeu, and cemented the legend of the remontada.
The workforce, the parable, the legend. Actual nonetheless dine out on it, and Jude Bellingham helped himself to seconds at yesterday’s press convention. You’ll be able to perceive why. Carlo Ancelotti’s workforce have produced some exceptional acts of escapology in recent times, however the aura of the Bernabeu has offered briefly durations of utter insanity moderately than throughout a full 90 or 120 minutes.
That 1985-86 season was the final time Actual overturned a first-leg deficit of at the least three targets. Their victims have been Borussia Monchengladbach, who received 5-1 in Germany however went out on away targets when Santillana scored within the 88th minute on the Bernabeu to make it 4-0. The final time Actual did within the European Cup was towards Derby in November 1975.
Actual will really feel a correct remontada is lengthy overdue; Arsenal’s will fancy that their defence, which hasn’t conceded three or extra in a sport since December 2023*, can take care of the cauldron. The prize – a primary Champions League semi-final since 2009 – is properly price struggling for.
Kick off 8pm.
*The final workforce to attain three towards Arsenal have been… Luton City, who misplaced a seven-goal thriller at Kenilworth Highway in December 2023. That was 79 video games in the past in all competitions.
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