Arsenal deliver night to remember against Real Madrid in the Champions League | OneFootball

Arsenal produced a stunning Champions League comeback against Real Madrid, overturning a two-goal deficit to book their place in the semi-finals with style.

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Arsenal produced a night of stirring emotion and tactical brilliance at the Emirates Stadium, overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit to defeat Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate and reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

In front of more than 20,000 supporters, the Gunners were relentless, scoring three times in a dazzling 13-minute spell early in the second half to knock out the Spanish giants and set up a semi-final meeting with Lyon.

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Manager Renée Slegers praised the composure and commitment of her side: “I’m very happy for the girls. They invest a lot. Of course, coming back from the 2-0 in Madrid and then we played Liverpool last Saturday and then a big game with a lot of pressure on us, I think, to perform and to score at least three goals.

“…The players came out full of belief and executed the game plan with so much intensity today,” Renee added. “They energised each other and the crowd, all the fans in the stadium, they energised the players. We tried to do our duty and do the same thing back.

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“I think it was a great performance tonight and I’m very happy with the result, of course.”

Two goals from Alessia Russo and a header from Mariona Caldentey, with two assists from a resurgent Chloe Kelly, turned the tie around. “It was amazing,” Russo said. “I mean, obviously last week we were disappointed, but I think as soon as we knew we were coming home to the Emirates, we had a whole belief within the squad, within the team, that we could turn it around. ”

The England forward was denied a hat-trick by two marginal offside calls, but her impact was beyond dispute. “Champions League nights at Emirates is what it’s all about,” she added. “That’s what this club deserves.”

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Leah Williamson said the team never lost belief. “We just spoke about being one tiny bit calmer on the ball. We’re getting into great areas. Be calm, be composed, put the ball away. So we knew that we had that in our locker.”

Slegers was also effusive about the contribution of Daphne van Domselaar, whose double save in the first half kept the dream alive. “For Daphne to make that save in extra time is so important for the team,” she said.

The scenes at full-time, with players and staff singing North London Forever in a post-match huddle, underscored the unity and ambition driving this squad. “It’s just so special being a part of Arsenal,” Slegers said. “So many fans behind us, red and white all over.”

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The result is a significant moment in Slegers’ tenure and for a club seeking to reclaim supremacy. “You can prepare everything in theory but to actually do it and execute it in this moment where you’re under so much pressure I think is so strong of the girls,” she said.

As the Gunners now prepare to face former boss Joe Montemurro’s Lyon, the challenge intensifies. But with belief, a plan, and performances like this, Arsenal have made it clear they are a force again on Europe’s biggest stage.