Arsenal left stuck in mud as Real Madrid take control of WCL quarter-final | OneFootball

Real Madrid stunned Arsenal at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano to take control of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final tie. Goals in either half from Linda Caicedo and Athenea del Castillo secured victory for the Spanish side in the first leg against Renée Slegers’s team.

It was a result that puts a dent in Arsenal’s final quest for a trophy this season, leaving them with work to do at the Emirates Stadium next week. Nevertheless, Slegers remained confident in her side’s ability to overturn the result: “It’s half-time,” she said.

“We are confident. I think it was an even game where both teams are battling. I think we had more of the ball and created more chances. They defended well and created one‑v‑one situations. Two of those actions; two goals. That’s something we want to do better. But it’s half-time and there is big belief and confidence. Maybe on another surface as well, we can move the ball a little quicker and create bigger spaces.”

Difficult conditions marred what was a clinical performance from Las Blancas who earned bragging rights in the first competitive encounter between the two teams. Arsenal are the more experienced side in European football. This is their 16th appearance at this stage of the competition (a joint record with Lyon) and they remain the only English winners.

Real Madrid, in contrast, are in only their second Champions League quarter-final, an 8-3 aggregate defeat against Barcelona in 2022 their other showing in the knockouts.

The state of the pitches chosen to stage high-profile women’s games has been a major talking point in England in recent days, after the poor surface at Pride Park for the League Cup final, and it seems there is the same issue in the game in Spain.

The condition of the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano turf was abysmal before a ball was kicked. Water and mud flew off the sodden surface every time a player so much as moved. Questions will have to be asked of Real Madrid’s hierarchy if they are to continue to refuse to stage a women’s game at the Bernabéu, which is sitting empty this week during the men’s international break.

“It’s not on me to criticise,” Slegers said of the venue. “It’s obviously a club decision and I’m sure that Uefa is trying to create the best conditions for the tournament. Of course, the weather is not always in our control. But I think we’ve seen a couple of games lately where the pitch conditions haven’t been great and I think that’s the next step for women’s football to take.”

The conditions led to a scrappy opening with neither side able to take control. It was always going to be a question of who could adapt quicker and it was not long before the hosts looked the more comfortable. The work rate of Signe Bruun up front was emblematic of the intensity in the pressing game of Alberto Toril’s side.

On one such occasion, she slid 10 yards to block a clearing pass from Steph Catley before standing up, her pristine white Madrid kit covered in mud, some of which she also spent the next few minutes trying to extract from her hair.

While Stina Blackstenius stung Misa Rodríguez’s gloves first, it was the hosts who were rewarded for their early efforts. The breakthrough came thanks in no small part to a catalogue of errors from their opponents.

When Kyra Cooney-Cross tried to thread an eye-of-the-needle pass, Madrid cut it out with ease. Bruun sent a low ball forward that bobbled awkwardly along the turf before bouncing off Leah Williamson’s toe into the path of Caicedo, who had slipped in behind. The Colombian confidently beat Manuela Zinsberger from close range.

Arsenal’s struggles continued after the break despite Slegers bringing on Chloe Kelly and Caitlin Foord. Kelly looked initially bright while Lia Wälti almost made an immediate impact when she entered the game.

Truthfully, however, the visitors were second best in the key moments and their problems intensified when they conceded a second. Madrid’s counterattack was a threat throughout and, with Arsenal pushing higher in search of an equaliser, they once again took the opportunity that came their way. Athenea, on the field for mere minutes, broke into space 20 yards from goal before unleashing a superb strike that beat Zinsberger.

There was delight in the Real ranks at the final whistle. This is only their third win in 11 games against English opposition and puts them in a strong position to secure a historic place in the semi-finals.

Arsenal, on the other hand, know they must improve in the second leg next Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium if they are to find a way back into this tie.

Header image: [Photograph: Susana Vera/Reuters]