Actual Madrid Femenino dealt an enormous blow to Arsenal Girls’s Champions League desires with a 2-0 quarter-final first leg win on an underwhelming and irritating evening for Renée Slegers’ facet within the Spanish capital.
A giant second leg wanted for Arsenal
Arsenal Girls stay the one English facet to win a European trophy, with their triumph in 2007 being the final time they reached a European last. Chelsea’s lead within the WSL is exponentially rising by the week, leaving the UWCL Arsenal’s solely possible likelihood of silverware this season. Whereas many would have touted Renée Slegers’ facet as favourites coming into the encounter right here within the Spanish capital, the North London facet have been largely outplayed in as they conceded two objectives to depart themselves with a mountain to climb at The Emirates in subsequent Wednesday’s return leg. The North London facet should enhance towards an invigorated Madrid facet who will journey to London bursting on the seams with confidence. There is no such thing as a doubt the situations at The Emirates, when it comes to each help and pitch high quality, will likely be extra beneficial than they have been on the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano, however Arsenal have little question made life very tough for themselves following a beneath par efficiency.
A quiet day on the workplace for Russo
Alessia Russo is closing in on her best-ever season following her switch from Manchester United final July. The England worldwide has scored 15 objectives, 5 of which have come within the UWCL. Russo has rapidly turn out to be one of many first names on the staff sheet for Renée Slegers and would have absolutely been a trigger for concern for Alberto Toril forward of the North London facet’s go to to Madrid. Regardless of having fun with such a stellar season, Russo was feeding on scraps within the opening interval, and while she turned far more concerned within the sport within the second half, by no means actually appeared as if she would discover the again of the online. The 26-year-old’s high quality and work-rate are simple, and Slegers will likely be hoping for a giant efficiency from her in-form Lionesses within the return-leg.
Harmful duo strike once more
Actual Madrid’s Signe Bruun led the best way in objective involvements on this yr’s UWCL, coming into the match with 5 objectives and three assists – essentially the most of any Madrid participant ever within the competitors. Her associate in crime, Linda Caicedo, has registered 4 assists in her six European appearances to this point this season. It turned a story of roles reversed for Madrid’s dynamic duo for the opening objective of the sport, as Bruun’s neat by means of ball was emphatically smashed into the underside nook by Caiecedo to provide the Spanish facet a one-goal benefit. A second to overlook for Leah Williamson, who fell sufferer to the moist situations, with the ball slipping from below her foot and into Caicedo’s path leaving the Lionesses’ captain solely capable of look on from afar as she noticed her facet go behind.
No approach by means of
Actual Madrid have lengthy since performed second fiddle to FC Barcelona Femení in Spain, and Renée Slegers’ Arsenal facet may have been thought-about agency favourites when predicting the end result of this tie. Whereas all continues to be to play for within the second-leg, Arsenal have been scoring objectives for enjoyable this season and would have anticipated to depart Madrid with no less than a objective to their identify. However as an alternative there proved to be no approach by means of the resolute Las Blancas defence for the guests, whose attacking menace was largely nullified by Alberto Toril’s again line. A crunching deal with on Stina Blackstenius within the first couple of minutes largely set the tone for the sport, with each defensive motion leading to an equal if not better response from the Madridistas within the stands. It should undoubtedly be a better take a look at within the return-leg subsequent week with the North London outfit spurred on by the Arsenal devoted, however there isn’t a doubt Toril will likely be extraordinarily happy together with his facet’s efficiency on each the offensive and defensive ends of the sport.
Pitch not so excellent
The state of the pitch on Saturday’s League Cup Last turned a major speaking level when discussing Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Manchester Metropolis, and Arsenal’s go to to the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano proved to be an all too related story. The uncharacteristically moist situations within the Spanish capital coupled with the dire state of the taking part in subject noticed each side battle to settle into their most popular free-flowing soccer which has allowed them to progress by means of the competitors with relative ease to date.The return leg is about to be performed at The Emirates subsequent Wednesday, and it’ll definitely be a shock to the system for each side taking part in on the superbly preserved pitch of Arsenal’s residence following the situations within the Spanish capital.