Arsenal Pulls Off Stunning Comeback Against Madrid, Lyon Dominates Bayern in Women’s Champions League Quarters
Arsenal staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Real Madrid 3-0, overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit and securing a spot in the semifinals against eight-time champions Lyon. The match, held at the Emirates Stadium, drew a lively crowd of 22,517 fans.
Alessia Russo was the star for the Gunners, scoring twice, while Mariona Caldentey added another goal to complete the turnaround. The Spanish side arrived in London buoyed by their historic victory over Barcelona in a recent women’s Clasico but found themselves under pressure from the outset.
Despite a strong start by Madrid, which included a crucial save by Arsenal’s goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar to deny Filippa Angeldahl, the tide turned dramatically in the second half. Just seconds after the restart, Russo capitalized on a dangerous cross from Chloe Kelly to pull one back. Caldentey doubled the score just three minutes later with a well-placed header.
Russo then showcased her acrobatic skills, completing the comeback with a stunning finish on the hour mark. Although she thought she had secured a hat-trick shortly after, VAR intervened to rule out a fourth goal for offside. Nonetheless, Arsenal held firm to secure their place in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, in another quarterfinal clash, Lyon made quick work of Bayern Munich, thrashing them 4-1 at home and advancing 6-1 on aggregate. Klara Buehl initially gave Bayern hope with a first-half goal, but Lyon responded emphatically. Melchie Dumornay equalized early in the second half, followed by Kadidiatou Diani taking advantage of a defensive error to put Lyon ahead.
Malawi international Tabitha Chawinga added a third for Lyon, and former Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg capped off the scoring in stoppage time. With their dominant performance, Lyon continues their pursuit of a record-extending ninth title..
