Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal: the Whites say goodbye to the Champions League and continue in free fall

There was no epic comeback, no comeback, no refereeing favors. Real Madrid fell again to Arsenal, this time by the minimum (1-2) in a Santiago Bernabéu that very little lasted the illusion of staying alive in the Champions League. With a global of 5-1, Mikel Arteta's team will face Paris Saint-Germanin for a place in the Munich final, where FC Barcelona or Inter Milan will also be.

Carlo Ancelotti's team never managed to find solutions in attack. Without a creative midfielder, Madrid was a totally predictable team, betting again and again on long balls to find Vinicius and Rodrygo on the flanks. Also with crosses into the area, without a natural '9' inside the area. With an erratic Kylian Mbappé and a disappeared Jude Bellingham, there was never a feeling of a comeback in Chamartín.

When the VAR complies, Madrid suffers

In the first half, the VAR was the protagonist with two controversial but correct decisions. The French referee Jérôme Brisard, from the VOR room, warned his compatriot François Letexier in two decisive actions inside the area. First in the 9th minute, he sanctioned a foul by Raúl Asensio on Mikel Merino after a corner in favor of the 'gunners'.

The play, in principle, went totally unnoticed, but the images of the broadcast showed the clear grab of the central defender on the midfielder. Letexier sanctioned the foul, cautioning the defender, but Bukayo Saka missed the penalty with an overly nonchalant shot. The forward wanted to chip it and Courtois guessed the side, clearing the ball easily.

The Belgian was again the best of Madrid, with at least four key interventions to keep his goal at zero. The 'merengues' reacted timidly after the first quarter of an hour and found a penalty in their favor in the 22nd minute. Mbappé let himself fall after a slight hold by Declan Rice, initially deceiving the main judge.

However, Brisard, from the VAR, called him to reverse his initial decision, as it was evident that 'Kiki' simulated the foul. After 5 minutes of review, the Bernabéu, incredulous, saw the impossible: there was no penalty for Madrid. Yes, when the VAR does its job, it is more difficult for Ancelotti's team to win matches and titles.

Ancelotti's team, without gunpowder against Arsenal

The first half was long due to the reviews and there was no other option than to add seven minutes. In added time, Gabriel Martinelli demanded Courtois with a powerful cross shot, while the locals continued without disturbing David Raya. Beyond having possession, the Whites could not reach the rival area with danger.

What's more, they didn't even shoot on goal in the first 45 minutes. Some crosses from Lucas from the right were the most outstanding of a team without ideas, football or encouragement to generate fear in their rival. Much less to believe in the epic.

Already in the complement, Ancelotti pulled from the bench with the entry of Fran García, Dani Ceballos and Endrick to look for some reaction from his players. Alaba, Lucas and Rodrygo came out for them, the latter perhaps going through his worst moment since his arrival in 2019. While Madrid was looking to readjust, the opening of the scoring and the sentence of the tie arrived.

Saka and Vinicius broke the zero

In the 65th minute, Arsenal opened the game with a great collective play. Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard combined to find Merino free on the edge of the area. The Spaniard, with one touch, filtered for Saka, who this time did not fail in the one-on-one against Courtois.

A great goal to silence the Bernabéu, although the English advantage would last little. Two minutes after 0-1, Saliba committed a childish error in the exit, receiving a low pass from Raya. The central defender wanted to leave with the ball under control, without realizing the presence of Vinicius behind him.

The Brazilian stole the leather and, with an empty goal, was able to define at will so that Madrid, at least, did not leave again without goals from a tie against Arsenal. In 2006, in the round of 16, the global was 1-0 favorable to the 'gunners'.

Despite the tie, the 'merengues' continued in the same tone. To make matters worse, Mbappé came out touched 15' from the end, although the Frenchman did not contribute absolutely anything in the entire tie. Brahim entered in his place, while Luka Modric did the same for Asencio.

Martinelli liquidated Madrid in added time

In added time, Madrid came close to the second with a cross shot from Endrick, but it was Arsenal who found the winning goal. In the 90+3', a perfect counterattack from the 'gunners', again with Mikel Merino as assistant, left Gabriel Martinelli alone to go one-on-one against Courtois. The Brazilian defined perfectly against the Belgian, sealing Arsenal's victory.

The global summarizes the tie: 5-1 favorable to Mikel Arteta's team, widely superior against a Madrid physically and emotionally liquidated. Ancelotti's team now only have LaLiga and the Cup ahead, waiting for a miracle against an implacable Barcelona.

Match data sheet: Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal

• Real Madrid, 0: Courtois; Lucas Vázquez (Endrick, min. 60), Rüdiger, Asencio (Modric, min. 75), Alaba (Fran García, min. 60); Fede Valverde, Tchouaméni, Bellingham; Rodrygo (Dani Ceballos, min 60), Vinicius and Mbappé (Brahim, min. 75).
• Arsenal, 0: David Raya; Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Saliba, Timber (White, min. 90+5); Declan Rice (Zinchenko, min. 90+5), Thomas, Odegaard; Martinelli (Tierney, min. 90+5), Bukayo Saka (Trossard, min. 77) and Mikel Merino.
• Goals: 0-1, Bukayo Saka (min. 65); 1-1, Vinicius Jr. (min. 67); 1-2, Gabriel Martinelli (90+3).
• Referee: François Letexier (France). He cautioned Asencio and Alaba for Madrid. He whistled a penalty by Asencio on Mikel Merino. He annulled another non-existent one by Declan Rice on Kylian Mbappé, both after the call of the VAR. For Arsenal, he warned David Raya.
• Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu.
• Incidents: match corresponding to the return of the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25.