Real Madrid vs Arsenal LIVE: Women’s Champions League result and reaction as hosts secure first-leg lead
Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal: Goals from Linda Caicedo and Athenea mean the Spanish side take a two-goal advantage to the Emirates next week
Real Madrid secured a two-goal first-leg advantage as Arsenal struggled in on a sodden surface in their Women’s Champions League quarter-final.
A wretched night and poor playing conditions in the Spanish capital made it far from an evening for fluent football, but the hosts struck twice on the counter-attack to take a strong lead to the Emirates Stadium next week. Colombian Linda Caicedo capitalised on a poor error from Leah Williamson - the Lionesses captain miscontrolling a skidding ball - to put Real ahead in a first half of few chances.
Arsenal improved after the break with both Caitlin Foord and Chloe Kelly introduced at the interval, though could not beat impressive home goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez. That allowed Athenea to extend the lead late on, firing past Manuela Zinsberger, to leave the Spanish side in control of the tie as they prepare to travel to London next week. Much of the focus, though, will be on another substandard surface, which was branded a “disgrace” by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright.
Re-live all of the action from Madrid in our live blog below:
Real Madrid vs Arsenal
Kick off fast approaching in Madrid. The winner of this two-legged tie will set up a semi-final meeting with either Bayern Munich or previous competition powerhouses Lyon. The first leg of that encounter kicks off a little later.
Arsenal striker Alessia Russo speaks ahead of first leg
Alessia Russo has expressed her confidence that the Arsenal squad are well set as they target last-eight success over the next two weeks.
"The squad's in a good place,” the England striker said. “We had a positive result [against Everton] on Friday and we’ve seen a lot of each other this week with the travelling and playing games; we’re in a good place as a team.
“I'm really excited. I was just saying to Renée {Slegers] that it’s my first quarter-final in the Champions League, so I’m really looking forward to it."
Independent football regulator could cover women’s game, minister says
The independent football regulator, which is set to govern the men’s game in England, could one day be expanded to include women’s football, a Government peer has said.
Baroness Twycross said the body, which the focal point of the Football Governance Bill, will not oversee the women’s game – despite its recent surge in popularity.
Lady Twycross said the sport’s ongoing development meant the regulator, which will have responsibility for the top five divisions of the men’s game, would be unsuitable and could instead hold the women’s game back.
Independent football regulator could cover women’s game, minister says
Real Madrid vs Arsenal
This is Arsenal’s 16th appearance in the last eight of this competition, a record tally that they share with Lyon. Can this group emulate the achievement of the 2007 side by going all the way?
Real Madrid boss Alberto Toril expecting tough test
"I anticipate an evenly-matched contest between two teams that are doing really well,” the Real Madrid manager said yesterday. “We're very excited about the quarter-finals, it's our second time in this round, and reaching the semi-finals would be an important step in our progress, I think we're ready for it.
“We have to understand the moments of each match, of the tie, there are going to be a lot of games within the match itself. We have to control it and take the game where it suits us."
Renee Slegers turns to Spanish pair for advice on Real Madrid
Arsenal boss Renee Slegers has been counting on a pair of Spaniards in her squad to provide a little bit of extra insight into Real Madrid.
"I have been talking to Laia Codina and Mariona [Caldentey] to get information because they have played against them many times,” Slegers revealed this week. “They know what the circumstances are, what kind of stadium it is, the style of play. Real Madrid have a strong identity, they are disciplined in their play and they like possession."
Team news - Arsenal
Emily Fox is cleared and ready to go at right back for Arsenal, who promote Kyra Cooney-Cross, Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius into a strong starting side.
Arsenal XI: Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Cooney-Cross; Mead, Russo, Caldentey; Blackstenius.
Team news - Real Madrid
Linda Caicedo is fit to start in Real Madrid’s front three.
Real Madrid XI: Misa; Garcia, Lakrar, Mendez, Carmona; Toletti, Leupolz, Angeldahl; Caicedo, Weir; Bruun.
Team news on the way...
We should have team news from Madrid shortly. We know that it will again be Manuela Zinsberger in goal for Arsenal with Daphne van Domselaar still dealing with the impacts of a concussion, but will Emily Fox be fit to return having limped off against Everton?
‘A shame’: Women’s League Cup final pitch criticised as Chelsea beat Man City
There was disappointment, though, over the surface at Derby, which did not at all appear fit for a cup final:
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