17 April 2025
Arsenal stripped Real Madrid of their Champions League title, defeating them 2-1 at home in the second leg of the quarter-finals on Wednesday. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 65th minute, capitalizing on a silky pass from teammate Mikel Merino. Saka had missed a penalty earlier in the match. Vinicius Junior equalized for Real Madrid a minute later, capitalizing on a horrific error by Arsenal defender William Saliba.
As the game drew to a close, Merino set up the London club's second goal, providing a brilliant pass to teammate Gabriel Martinelli, who easily slotted the ball past Thibaut Courtois. Despite Real Madrid's best efforts, all attempts to equalize the score failed, leaving the club, whose history it has mastered and whose record number of titles it has won, behind it memories of struggle and greatness.
Arsenal qualified for the semi-finals with a 5-1 aggregate win over the 15-time European champions after defeating the first leg 3-0 last Tuesday.
Arsenal will now face Paris Saint-Germain, who advanced at the expense of Aston Villa.
