Actual Madrid 2 Arsenal 0
Ian Wright completely summed up Arsenal’s night time in Madrid.
Whereas Renée Slegers’ aspect suffered a harmful defeat within the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, with targets from Linda Caicedo and Athenea del Castillo giving Actual Madrid a 2-0 victory, the largest speaking level was not the sport, however the state of the pitch.
At half-time, an indignant Wright took to Instagram to share his ideas on the abysmal enjoying floor on the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium.
“Watching the Champions League quarter-final Actual Madrid pitch, that is worse than Derby’s pitch the opposite day,” Wright stated.
“It is a f—— shame the pitches these ladies must play on.”
Wright shouldn’t be flawed. Three days previous to this sport, Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis had performed the League Cup ultimate at Derby’s Delight Park. Their pitch was described as “not match for a ultimate” by Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert.
This Actual Madrid floor was barely acceptable for a Sunday League match. It was partly accountable for their first purpose, with Leah Williamson failing to regulate the ball as a result of situations, which allowed Caicedo to pounce and end.
It was additionally guilty for the harm Actual Madrid’s Melanie Leupolz suffered within the second half, with the midfielder getting her studs caught within the mud as she tried to play a go forwards.
Arsenal couldn’t blame the pitch for Del Castillo’s purpose, which was a mixture of poor defending and goalkeeping from Manuela Zinsberger. They should be higher after they face Actual Madrid within the second leg subsequent week. Not less than they are often sure the floor on the Emirates might be as much as customary.
Full report back to comply with…
07:58 PM GMTArsenal to begin 2-0 down
On the Emirates subsequent Wednesday night time at 8pm. It’s not irretrievable however they’ve accomplished important harm to their probabilities tonight.
07:56 PM GMTThere’s lots of anger concerning the pitch at Alfredo Di Stéfano
This pitch is barely sufficient for Sunday League by no means thoughts a Champions League quarter ultimate.
Pondering it is okay sends the next message:
– We do not care about participant security – We do not care concerning the high quality of the game- Truly, we simply do not care
Pitch situations are past unacceptable – simply shouldn’t be occurring. A danger on participant’s well being, how the sport progresses and results the extent of soccer performed. Significantly unhealthy.
It is a UWCL quarter-final fixture.
I did not assume I might see a horrible pitch after the league cup ultimate however this Actual Madrid pitch is even worse.
07:40 PM GMTFull time: Actual Madrid 2 Arsenal 0
Actual Madrid deserved that. They coped with the lavatory of a pitch a lot better than Arsenal and hit them twice on the break, each of them assisted by errors, first by Williamson failing to make a routine entice of a go after which by Zinzberger letting a shot burst by way of her fingers.
07:38 PM GMT90+5 min: Actual Madrid 2 Arsenal 0
Final throw of the cube with an Arsenal nook, earlier than which Misa is booked for grappling. Arsenal are crowded out on the field and compelled to take a speculative shot from miles out.
07:36 PM GMT90+3 min: Actual Madrid 2 Arsenal 0
McCabe crosses it in and Williamson’s header strikes a Actual Madrid hand however from shut vary and never in an unnatural place, VAR confirms.
07:34 PM GMT90+1 min: Actual Madrid 2 Arsenal 0
The primary of 5 minutes of stoppage time finish with Arsenal awarded a free-kick when Carmona slid in on Fox and the pitch took her additional than she meant. Yellow card, too.
07:32 PM GMT90 min: Actual Madrid 2 Arsenal 0
Yellow card for Elthorne Park Excessive Faculty’s best, Chloe Kelly, for blocking Carmona as she tried to run up the left touchline.
07:30 PM GMT88 min: Actual Madrid 2 Arsenal 0
Fox, in a good taking pictures place 20 yards out, goes as a substitute to face up a diagonal to the far submit that Misa grabs simply.
07:29 PM GMT86 min: Actual Madrid 2 Arsenal 0
Actual Madrid defend an Arsenal free-kick on the best, bent in by McCabe. safely with a mixture of the keeper’s agency punch and hustling the ball upfield.
07:25 PM GMTGOAL!
Actual Madrid 2 Arsenal 0 (Del Castillo) Poor defending. Arsenal retreat, run again in direction of their purpose as Athenea del Castillo drives down the indie-left. Given the invitation to shoot she RSVPs by placing her laces by way of it and Zinsberger, at full stretch, will get each fingers to it however spills it.
07:24 PM GMT83 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
The corners have been universally poor at selecting out Arsenal gamers and the newest isn’t any exception.
07:24 PM GMT81 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Williamson has an opportunity from a again submit header however the keeper’s slight contact tousled her connection. Foord drives again up the wing and her shot is blocked and turned behind.
07:22 PM GMT79 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Caldentey and Foord make good progress up the left however the go meant for Russo from the Australian shouldn’t be ok. Kelly manages to salvage a nook.
07:20 PM GMT77 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
McCabe meets a run into the field to satisfy Little’s cute headed go nevertheless it bounces off her chest on to her arm and the ref blows for a free-kick.
07:19 PM GMT75 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Little’s positioning to thwart Feller is ideal once more because the ball squirts concerning the Arsenal field.
07:18 PM GMT73 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Walti → Cooney-Cross
Del Castillo → BruunFeller → Caicedo
The commentators appear to assume that Arsenal wouldn’t need to take a deficit again to the Emirates subsequent week. I believe 1-0 wouldn’t faze then too badly. Two and they might have an issue.
07:15 PM GMT71 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Higher from Arsenal who pepper the Actual field with crosses from Caldentey and Little however the scraps they hope would fall to the ft of Kelly and Russo maintain spinning away.
07:14 PM GMT69 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Actual break and Weir thunders a right-foot shot that Zinsberger saves with a parry. Bruun tries to capitalise on the rebound and goes down when challenged by McCabe who makes a diving movement. The ref simply awards the goal-kick.
07:12 PM GMT66 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Massive penalty shout from Arsenal after Williamson mops up on the again as Caicedo tried to run on to a unfastened ball. She strikes it up the best after which in to Russo who bends a go with the surface of her foot up the within proper. Kelly runs on to it, chased by Mendez who manages to toe it away earlier than Kelly may shoot.
07:07 PM GMT63 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Irune → Leupolz
Actual Madrid defend an Arsenal nook on the left solidly regardless of good work from Foord.
It’s a Champions League debut for Irune on the age of 16.
I’m assuming Leupolz is strolling around the pitch as a result of it’s not as critical as first thought quite than there isn’t any stretcher. I hope the previous…
07:04 PM GMT61 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Leupolz goes down in agony after placing her foot by way of the ball and holds her proper knee. She yells and bursts into tears. Appears a nasty one… however after therapy she manages to get to her ft and goes to the touchline to stroll again to the dugout.
07:01 PM GMT59 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Arsenal nook after McCabe joined Foord’s assault on the overlap and her cross was bundled behind. Angeldal boots the nook away after a team-mate had gained the primary header.
07:00 PM GMT57 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
A goalmouth scramble from an Arsenal cross raises the away followers’ blood till the ref blows for offside.
06:59 PM GMT55 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Panic within the Arsenal field when Zinsberger dives to gather a cross nevertheless it bursts by way of her fingers and Little and Fox scramble it away by the seat of their pants earlier than Caicedo may gobble it up.
06:57 PM GMT53 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Kelly makes an attempt an up and beneath of a cross/shot that Misa drops beneath the crossbar however manages to sit down on it. Foord, who was the closest Arsenal participant, had turned to run again in direction of her personal purpose anticipating that she would make a clear catch.
06:55 PM GMT51 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Arsenal free-kick on the left after a foul on Foord. Cooney-Cross takes it once more and it’s garbage from right here once more, straight to the primary defensive sentries. Actual Madrid shift it upfield quickly to Caicedo who skates into the field, shimmies to attempt to get it on her left however Fox manages to get again and telescope a leg spherical to make the sort out.
06:53 PM GMT50 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Kelly tries a speculative diagonal together with her left from the best rouchline by way of the center for Russo to chase however Mendez, who has been terrific tonight, is there first once more.
06:51 PM GMT48 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Kelly is on the best with Russo up high, Mariona behind her and Foord on the left.
Carmona’s lengthy throw is picked off and Caldentey drives up the best earlier than she is stopped with a foul. Arsenal work it up the toychline to Russo who spins elegantly to cross however can not beat the primary defender.
Virtually as if Renee Slegers was studying this weblog… Chloe Kelly on a half-time. Arsenal want an injection of life, maybe she will be able to carry it? Caitlin Foord on too…
Ian Wright is watching this sport and he’s taken to Instagram to share his ideas on the pitch. It’s truthful to say he’s not impressed…
Wright: “Watching the Champions League quarter-final Actual Madrid pitch, that is worse than Derby’s pitch the opposite day. It is a f—— shame the pitches these ladies must play on.”
06:49 PM GMT46 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
A lot of the gamers have contemporary package on however not Angeldal who seems to be like a Baseball Floor mudlark of yore.
Arsenal make two adjustments:
Kelly → BlacksteniusFoord → Mead.
06:34 PM GMTHalf-time verdict
Properly, that was not an awesome half for Arsenal. They have been the favourites coming into this tie however a defensive lapse leaves them with all of it to do within the second half. Renee Slegers would most likely take a draw, with the goal of getting the job accomplished on the Emirates subsequent week. She gained’t need to go into that second leg with a 1-0 deficit.
The situations and the poor state of the pitch has made it actually tough for each groups to play any soccer. Actual Madrid are dealing with it higher than Arsenal. Stina Blackstenius most likely had their greatest likelihood, which Misa Rodriguez saved. Beth Mead then despatched a great volley extensive simply earlier than half-time. They might do with getting Mariona Caldentey extra concerned within the second half. I may additionally see Chloe Kelly approaching sooner or later as Arsenal have been missing a little bit of tempo and ability on the wing.
06:32 PM GMTHalf-time: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Not a lot in it other than a giant mistake from Williamson which gift-wrapped a purpose for the wonderful Caicedo.
06:31 PM GMT45 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Arsenal free-kick for Angeldal’s foul on Russo, 35 yards out proper of centre. Cooney-Cross’s diagonal is headed out to the best of the D and Mead met it sweetly on the half-volley to ship it whistling a foot extensive of the left submit.
06:29 PM GMT44 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Sheila slides in to sort out Mariona and concedes a nook on the left. Mead takes it, bending it to the far submit the place Russo scrambles it down when nicely marked and Catley, again to purpose, tries one thing spectacular however drags it behind.
06:28 PM GMT42 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Mariona is given one other hopeful ball to chase. As Lucy Ward factors out. She wants it to ft not forward of her, particularly with Sheila García sitting off her to mop up something hit in entrance of the winger.
06:26 PM GMT40 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Little comes again to assist Fox cope with the slippery Caicedo who’s clearly the dangerwoman.
06:25 PM GMT38 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Carmona floats a deep cross in direction of the penalty spot. Bruun, neatly sandwiched, meets it with the highest of her head quite than her brow and loops it up and extensive of purpose for Zinsberger to pat down and attempt to begin a fast counter.
06:23 PM GMT36 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Mariona and McCabe hyperlink up on the left for the Spain ahead to whip a cross in that’s bludgeoned away and Russo can not management the ball that’s fired beneath her ft.
06:20 PM GMT34 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Arsenal take the nook brief to McCabe who whips a cross in from the 90 diploma angle of the field. Cooney-Cross shovels it in direction of purpose however she will be able to’t beat the blockade of white shirts.
06:19 PM GMT32 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Arsenal nook on the best after Toletti goes out to that aspect to assist Carmona cope with Russo.
06:17 PM GMT29 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Actual Madrid create a half likelihood for Angeldal slicing into the field off the best wing to satisfy the cross from the left however McCabe had tracked the run and obtained her foot to the ball first earlier than being trodden on by the right-sided ahead.
06:16 PM GMT27 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Weir wastes a free-kick that Russo defends simply.
06:13 PM GMT25 min: Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0
Uncharacteristically sloppy from Williamson and she or he might nicely level to the pitch however that’s no excuse after 20 minutes.
Oh that’s a horrible mistake from Leah Williamson, simply appeared to utterly misjudge the load of the ball. Linda Caicedo, who was at all times going to be Actual Madrid’s most harmful participant together with Caroline Weir, produced a improbable end. A terrific go from Weir too to ship her by way of.
06:07 PM GMTGOAL!
Actual Madrid 1 Arsenal 0 (Caicedo) Garcia picks off Russo’s go on the sting of her personal field and shifts it as much as Weir who drives ahead and arrows a low go up the inside-left channel that Williamson tries to entice however lets the ball graze her studs and squirt by way of to Caicedo. The Colombia ahead pounces on to the present, holds off Fox and calmly slots it previous Zinsberger into the underside left from 16 yards.
06:06 PM GMT20 min: Actual Madrid 0 Arsenal 0
McCabe takes the nook on the best together with her left and bends it on to the roof of the online.
06:06 PM GMT18 min: Actual Madrid 0 Arsenal 0
Mariona tries an extended shot that goes nowhere however Arsenal win the primary problem from the goal-kick and Russo slides Blackstenius by way of on purpose down the inside-left. She hammers a shot throughout purpose, searching for the best nook together with her left instep and Misa dives to slap it behind.
06:04 PM GMT16 min: Actual Madrid 0 Arsenal 0
Fox wants all her tenacity and diligence to stay with the slippery and harmful Caicedo who was dribbling down the left, taking her a technique then the opposite however was then compelled again to face her personal purpose and lay it off.
A reminder that Actual Madrid’s girls’s group have by no means performed on the Bernabéu, which is sitting empty throughout the males’s worldwide break. I’m certain that pitch would have been in a position to cope with the rain situations higher than the Alfredo Di Stéfano – which is barely getting worse by the minute.
06:01 PM GMT14 min: Actual Madrid 0 Arsenal 0
The Arsenal followers are in quite a lot of rainwear, from these large wild swimmer’s capes to ponchos. No Gannex so far as I can inform. Fox slips when passing to Mead who skims a diagonal into the field simply past Blackstenius.
05:59 PM GMT12 min: Actual Madrid 0 Arsenal 0
Russo finds some area down the best after good work from Fox and she or he clips a cross to the close to submit however Blackstenius was on her heels and favouring the far-post cut up. Would have taken a hell of a cross to beat all of the white shirts and ick out the only black one on the again stick.
05:55 PM GMT10 min: Actual Madrid 0 Arsenal 0
Arsenal maintain in search of Blackstenius, this time with an extended throw, and once more Mendez is nicely positioned to cease her operating by way of. Absolute porridge of a pitch, which is why Arsenal try to bypass it with the aerial route for lengthy balls.
05:53 PM GMT8 min: Actual Madrid 0 Arsenal 0
Mendez stays with Blackstenius as Arsenal attempt one other lengthy ball excessive for the Sweden striker to chase. Mendez retains up together with her and shepherds it again to her keeper.
05:52 PM GMT6 min: Actual Madrid 0 Arsenal 0
Weir has a while on the ball on the best of midfield, attempting to open a path to purpose for a left-foot strike however is compelled additional on to her weaker foot and she or he lays it off to Angeldal.
Actual Madrid’s pitch seems to be nothing wanting abysmal. There’s been lots of rain in Madrid, we’re instructed. I do know Derby’s pitch was unhealthy on the weekend however this seems to be so much worse. Undecided it is going to play into Arsenal’s fingers
05:50 PM GMT4 min: Actual Madrid 0 Arsenal 0
Actual Madrid press excessive to attempt to pressure Arsenal in addition it lengthy however they’re assured sufficient to play by way of it. Little strides ahead and threads a go down the inside-right for Blackstenius who’s cleaned out pretty in a sliding problem for Mendez abetted by the slick pitch.
05:48 PM GMT3 min: Actual Madrid 0 Arsenal 0
The pitch is correctly sodden, the ball hitting the turf kicks up a sprig of water. Angeldal tries to drift a deep cross from the best past the again submit that Fox offers with simply.
05:47 PM GMT1 min: Actual Madrid 0 Arsenal 0
The pitch seems to be very heavy after all of the rain. Now we have VAR, which is paid for by Uefa, however no goal-line know-how, which must be funded by the house aspect, in the event that they so select. Arsenal kick off, attacking from proper to left, and work the ball all the best way again to Williamson who pops it off up the best. The ball will get away from Mead and Actual Madrid mop it up and play it throughout their again 4 till they lose it in midfield and Arsenal give Blackstenius one to chase up the center that she will be able to’t attain.
05:43 PM GMTThe groups come out
Sparse crowd ion the rain. 300 Arsenal followers have travelled. Actual Madrid in all white, Arsenal of their pan-African flag away package.
05:39 PM GMTThe boss joins in with the warm-up05:31 PM GMTTNT Sports activities
Doesn’t trouble with a lot build-up for these matches. Straight in and straight out which contrasts with their elephantine preview reveals earlier than the boys’s match. I a lot want the minimalist strategy.
05:15 PM GMTLook who’s again
05:06 PM GMTYour groups in black and white
Actual Madrid Misa Rodrígues; Shei García, Lakrar, Mendez, Carmona; Toletti, Leupolz, Angeldal; Caicedo, Weir; Bruun.Subtitutes Laia, Sofia, Antonia, Redondo, Yasmin, Moller, Carmacho, Navarro, Feller, Del Castillo, Noe, Irune.
Arsenal Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Cooney-Cross; Mariona, Russo, Mead; Blackstenius.Subtitutes Williams, Codina, Ilestedt, Nighswonger, Reid, Walti, Pelova, Maanum, Kelly, Foord, Kafaji, Hurtig.
Referee Frida Klarlun (Denmark)
05:01 PM GMTFox on the run
An enormous plus for Arsenal that Emily Fox is match to begin at proper again after limping off towards Everton. Chloe Kelly drops to the bench, as does Frida Maanum, with Kyra Cooney-Cross and Stina Blackstenius changing them. It’s an attacking line-up from Renée Slegers.
04:46 PM GMTArsenal group information
⚫️ 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🔴
🎯 Cooney-Cross within the centre⚡ Mead and Mariona up high🏎️ Blackstenius leads the road
COME ON YOU GUNNERS 👊
04:45 PM GMTReal Madrid group news04:39 PM GMTSign up for one of the best of our information, options and analysis04:37 PM GMTPreview: Second likelihood
Good afternoon and welcome to reside protection of the primary leg of the 2024-25 Ladies’s Champions League quarter-final between Actual Madrid Femenino and Arsenal Ladies from Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano. Either side are second of their home leagues, Actual Madrid seven factors behind Barcelona and Arsenal eight behind Chelsea who, coincidentally, beat Actual twice within the group stage and Arsenal twice within the WSL.
Renée Slegers took over as Arsenal head coach, initially as caretaker, a few days after their 5-2 away defeat by Bayern Munich of their opening group sport, changing Jonas Eidevall. Below her management, Arsenal gained their remaining 5 group video games, scoring 15 and conceding solely 4, a revival that earned her a full-time if solely 1½-year contract in January. Actual managed to park their twin defeats by Chelsea to batter Twente and Celtic house and away to bag qualification for the knockout rounds comfortably in second place and now are striving to make the semi-finals for the primary time of their historical past.
Arsenal, winners in 2006-07, have by no means performed Actual Madrid earlier than however the gamers might be fairly acquainted from battles on the worldwide stage and Spain’s World Cup-winning wingers, Mariona Caldentey and Alba Redondo line up on reverse sides whereas the captain and matchwinner from that defeat of England within the 2023 ultimate in Australia, Olga Carmona, will lead Las Blancas out tonight.
The house aspect won’t be able to name on Teresa Abelleira, the anchor of the world champions’ midfield, is out with an ACL harm however Scotland and former Arsenal and Man Metropolis midfielder, who sat out Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Deportivo Abanca, must be match to return. Slegers’ aspect have travelled with out the injured defender Lotte Wubben-Moy and may carry again Beth Mead and Caitlin Foord who began Friday’s 3-1 victory over Everton on the bench. First selection Dutch keeper Daphne van Domselaar sat out that match with concussion and will nicely must let Austria’s and the previous Gunners’ No 1 Manuela Zinsberger deputise for her once more.