The Women of Arsenal beat Real Madrid to reach the Champions League semifinal: what it means for the WSL side

The Women of Arsenal convincingly beat Real Madrid 3-0 to reach the UEFA Champions League semifinal.

Before the first leg of last week, North London’s team had won the last five games in a row in all competitions, but still fell to a 2-0 defeat in Spain.

However, a goal by Mariona Caldentey, in addition to a guy by Alessia Russo, gained the Arsenal victory at the Emirates stadium and has obtained their journey to the semifinal where they will meet eight times Lyon winners.

Ensure our place in the semifinal! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ofjtzrw70g

– Arsenal Women (@Arsenalwfc) March 26, 2025

Arsenal fought to cope with the conditions bathed in the Spanish capital in the first stage last week. The game was played in an ecdy Alfredo Di Stefano (the stadium used by Real Madrid Femenino and Real Madrid Castilla) and goal by Linda Caicedo and Athena Del Castillo obtained Leg-Leg’s victory for Real Madrid.

Arsenal played the second stage in front of 22,517 at the Emirates Stadium, a new record for a quarter final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League in the United Kingdom.

Renee Slegers’ team checked most of the first half, but the objectives arrived in the second half. Russo, who appointed the game player, was denied twice the possibility of scoring a hat -trick by a flag on the offside.

They will face Lyon of the former head coach of Arsenal Joe Montemurro in the semifinal.

“The best performance of the Arsenal of the season”

Analysis of Art de Roche

Arsenal’s turnaround could go down as the best performance of the season so far.

Although they went in half time, they had already put Real Madrid on the ropes. In a few minutes, Chloe Kelly and Mariona Caldente were constant threats, with the only thing missing was the final action.

Bringing the momentum they had generated in the second half was vital, and that’s exactly what happened.

Alessia Russo was unfortunate not to have four goals for her name, but showed an excellent awareness and reactions to mark the two that were given to her. Daphne Van Domselaar also deserves merit for vital savings during the second half to ensure that Real Madrid has not brought the game to extra time.

The qualifications for the semifinals will have importance to Arsenal for some reasons. Eight points behind Chelsea in the championship and outside the Cup of England, the Champions League is their only way to the silverware this season.

It is also added to their status on the European phase, having previously reversed a deficit of a goal against Bayern Munich to reach the semifinals in the 2022-23 season.

Hit with an accident crisis that year, will probably have more optimism in the semifinal in this term, even if it is against the dominant force of the competition, Olympique Lyonnais.

The financial aspect of this company will not even be lost on the Arsenal. When they qualified for the group phases in September, it was seen as a must for the size of the team talents. It was a team built to compete in the Champions League.

If they had replicated their 2022-23 race in the semifinal this year, they would have had to receive at least € 640,000 (£ 540,000; $ 710,000)-and perhaps more once they had been added bonuses related to performance.

Now Focus will go to the largest Arsenal test in recent years.

(Catherine Ulill – Ama/Getty Images)