In a thrilling encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu, Arsenal defeated Real Madrid 2-1 on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, securing their place in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 16 years. The victory came after a commanding 3-0 win in the first leg, allowing the Gunners to advance with an aggregate score of 5-1.
Bukayo Saka, who had missed a penalty earlier in the match, redeemed himself by scoring the opening goal in the second half. Gabriel Martinelli sealed the win with a late goal in stoppage time, while Vinicius Júnior found the net for Real Madrid, providing a brief moment of hope for the home crowd.
The match started with high stakes as Arsenal was awarded a penalty just ten minutes in. Saka, however, opted for a delicate chip shot that was expertly saved by Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. This miss could have set the tone for the match, but Arsenal remained focused and composed.
As the first half progressed, Real Madrid was also awarded a penalty after Kylian Mbappé was brought down by Declan Rice in the box. However, after a VAR review, the referee overturned the decision, leaving the Madrid supporters frustrated.
In the second half, Arsenal took control of the match. Saka found the back of the net in the 65th minute after a well-worked team move, putting Arsenal ahead 1-0. Just two minutes later, Vinicius Júnior capitalized on a defensive error by Arsenal’s William Saliba to level the score at 1-1, igniting the hopes of the home fans.
Despite the equalizer, Real Madrid struggled to maintain momentum. Arsenal’s defense held firm, and as the match entered stoppage time, Martinelli struck decisively. He received a perfectly timed pass, outpaced the defenders, and calmly slotted the ball past Courtois to make it 2-1.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Arsenal, who last reached the semi-finals in the 2008-09 season. The Gunners are now set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the next round of the tournament, with the first leg scheduled for April 29 or 30, 2025, and the return leg on May 6 or 7, 2025. The Champions League final is set to take place on May 31, 2025, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
Both teams will be back in action on Sunday, April 20, 2025, with Real Madrid hosting Athletic de Bilbao in La Liga, while Arsenal travels to Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
