Arsenal knock out holders Real Madrid to reach Champions League semis

Arsenal dumped out holders Real Madrid as a 2-1 win in Spain on Wednesday completed a 5-1 aggregate victory for Mikel Arteta's side and set up a Champions League semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain.

Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead in the second half after having an early penalty saved before Vinicius Junior struck for Madrid.

Gabriel Martinelli scored a late winner on the night as the Gunners eased through to a first semifinal appearance in Europe's top club competition since 2009.

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— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 16, 2025

Los Blancos, far more brittle than when they won a Champions League and LaLiga double last season, were convinced they could turn the game around but created too little against Arsenal's tight defence.

The Premier League side held their nerve to reach the semifinals for only the third time in their history.

Kylian Mbappe chested home in the opening stages but was clearly offside, with the forward gesturing to the crowd to turn up the volume to create the fabled aura which helps Madrid pull off near-impossible feats at the Santiago Bernabeu.

David Alaba was booked for hacking down Saka as Madrid tried to add the grit they badly lacked in their first leg demolition in London, and the Arsenal winger also had a drive fielded well by Thibaut Courtois.

Arsenal were awarded a penalty seemingly out of the blue when the VAR booth instructed French referee Francois Letexier to review an incident from an earlier corner.

Raul Asencio pulled back Arsenal forward Mikel Merino in the area and Letexier pointed to the spot, to the bemusement of the home crowd.

SAKA PENALTY SAVED

Saka stepped up to take it but his poorly-executed Panenka, skewing off to the left, was saved by Courtois.

It spurred Real Madrid on and soon they had a penalty of their own, when Mbappe hit the turf after Declan Rice tussled with him.

However after a lengthy VAR review Letexier was called to take a second look and he then decided Arsenal's two-goal first leg hero Rice had not fouled the French superstar.

The breaks in play, along with Arsenal's dallying at every opportunity, disrupted Madrid's momentum and they struggled to threaten Gunners stopper David Raya.

For all of Madrid's bluster the goalkeeper did not need to make a save in the first half, while Courtois stopped three shots, including a Martinelli effort from a tight angle in added time, of which there was plenty after the VAR reviews.

On the hour mark Carlo Ancelotti took action with a triple change, including replacing the quiet Rodrygo with teen starlet Endrick, and bringing on Dani Ceballos against his former side.

Martin Odegaard, also facing his former employers whom he joined as a 'wonderkid' a decade ago, helped forge Arsenal's opening goal after 65 minutes.

The Norwegian linked with Merino, who slipped Saka in behind and the Englishman made amends for his penalty blunder with an ice-cool dinked finish.

Four goals ahead in the tie Arsenal thought their work was done, with defender William Saliba not concentrating on the edge of his box in possession.

Vinicius stole the ball away from him and beat the out-of-position Raya to level, two minutes after Saka's opener.

Madrid's increasingly slim hopes were dashed when Mbappe limped off with an ankle problem with 15 minutes remaining, and Martinelli made sure with a cool finish after Merino set him up.