Arsenal revive Champions League hopes with Real Madrid win | OneFootball

Arsenal kept their Champions League campaign alive with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Real Madrid, sealed by a second-half comeback inspired by Alessia Russo.

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There was no disguising how much Renée Slegers needed this. After a flat derby draw and a bruising collapse in Munich, Arsenal entered their meeting with Real Madrid needing three points simply to keep their Champions League campaign alive. They got them through a second half that carried echoes of last season, and once again it was Alessia Russo who dragged the night in Arsenal’s favour.

Arsenal’s problems have been obvious all month. Slegers admitted her side were in “a difficult period” after failing to break down Tottenham and falling eight points behind the top of the Women’s Super League. In Europe, surrendering a 2-0 lead at Bayern Munich left Arsenal on the brink. They could not afford another misstep.

When Caroline Weir struck just before half-time, Arsenal looked on course for another costly night. They had controlled the ball without imposing themselves, a theme of their recent run, and were punished for their lack of incision. The anxiety around Meadow Park was familiar.

But so was the response. Arsenal’s season turned on a second-half comeback against Madrid last year and the same pattern unfolded here. Back then, they overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit with a 3-0 win at the Emirates. This time the stakes were different, yet the rhythm was similar. Once again, Russo was the difference.

After the break, Arsenal finally hit the pace the occasion demanded. Chloe Kelly’s delivery provided the equaliser, Russo steering a looping header into the far corner. Restored to her natural No 9 role after three matches spent deeper, her movement unsettled Madrid.

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13 minutes later, Beth Mead’s corner found Russo unmarked and she angled her header into the bottom right corner. Meadow Park shifted from relief to belief. Arsenal had the control they had lacked for weeks.

Slegers recognised what it meant. “We really needed the three points to be able to at least go to the play-offs,” she said. “The points were more important than the performance today. We were 1-0 down at half-time but the way the players responded under pressure was such a high level. I’m really proud of the group.”

Russo, who has made a habit of decisive European performances, reflected the mood. “It was a really important win tonight,” she said. “Tough conditions but our fans were amazing. They were with us through it all and it was really important that we won tonight and it was nice to score the goals as well.”

She added: “We were really dominant in our second half performance, now we want to build on that going forward. Look, we can score all we want but if we’re not defensively solid, I don’t believe you win championships and you win tournaments. I think our backline and our back four were really solid tonight.”

The backing of the crowd did not go unnoticed. “It was so nice,” Russo said. “Not an easy night to come out, it’s freezing and you’ve still got me here doing an interview. But it’s amazing to have their support. They’re so loud, they carry us through the tough moments. They’re really special.”

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For Slegers, the performance was a return to something more recognisable. “In the first half, not so many chances created,” she said. “They get the set-piece, the free-kick. We set up a bad situation for ourselves where we gave away the free-kick and they scored from the second phase. Of course we’re not happy with that going into half-time, 1-0 down, but the players were really calm.”

Arsenal’s plan for the second half was deliberate and direct. “We wanted to work with crosses today against Madrid,” Slegers said. “Alessia in the box is always so good. Not only in that final phase and the finishing, she scored two great goals for us today, but all the work that she does on the pitch.”

Defensively, Arsenal were firmer than of late, limiting Madrid to scraps in open play. “You want to limit them to even less because I think they got out on us a couple of times in behind,” Slegers admitted. “Overall, you’re playing against a really good team. Their front four are really good players. I’m happy that from open play we didn’t concede a goal today.”

The relief was palpable. “The players deserve it,” Slegers said. “It’s been a challenging block for us. We’re really happy that we finished it with a win. Every time we’ve had challenging times, they come back and they’ve done that today again. We’re really proud.”

A win at home against FC Twente after the international break will likely secure a play-off place. Suddenly, the picture looks a little brighter.