Arsenal Stuns Real Madrid to Reach Champions League Semifinals for First Time Since 2009

Arsenal secured a historic victory against defending champion Real Madrid, winning 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu and advancing to the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2009, Al Jazeera reports.

The Gunners’ dominant performance, coupled with a 3-0 first-leg win in London, resulted in a 5-1 aggregate victory, dashing Real Madrid’s hopes of a third Champions League title in four seasons.

The match was marked by crucial VAR decisions, including two penalty calls that heavily influenced the outcome.

Real Madrid’s hopes of a comeback, a hallmark of their recent Champions League campaigns, were dealt a significant blow in the first half. A lengthy five-minute VAR review overturned a penalty initially awarded for a foul on Kylian Mbappe. Earlier in the match, Arsenal had been granted a penalty after their own video review, but Bukayo Saka’s attempt was unsuccessful.

Saka redeemed himself in the 65th minute, putting Arsenal ahead with a well-placed shot from inside the penalty area. While Vinicius Junior managed to equalize for Madrid just minutes later, capitalizing on a defensive error by William Saliba, Arsenal remained resilient.

Gabriel Martinelli sealed the victory for Arsenal with a breakaway goal in stoppage time, silencing the Bernabeu crowd and securing the Gunners’ place in the semifinals.

The loss marks Real Madrid’s first exit from the Champions League before the semifinals since 2020. This also marks their 12th defeat of the season, a stark contrast to the mere two losses they suffered throughout the entirety of the previous campaign.