Arsenal’s Resilience Shines in Champions League Victory Over Real Madrid

Renee Slegers expressed pride in her Arsenal team after they staged a comeback to secure a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League. She noted their composure under pressure as a key factor in the match.

Entering the game amid a challenging spell, including a recent 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, Arsenal faced an uphill battle. Real Madrid took the lead with a spectacular volley by Caroline Weir just before halftime, but Arsenal responded with two headers from Alessia Russo in the second half.

Reflecting on the match, Slegers stated, “While it wasn’t ideal to go 1-0 down from a set piece at the end of the first half, we maintained our calm. The coaches, technical staff, and players discussed some details in the changing room. I am very pleased with how composed the players remained on the pitch during the second half, especially given the pressure we faced ahead of this match.”

Goalscorer Alessia Russo expressed her joy at returning to winning form in the competition, saying, “This was a crucial victory for us. We haven’t achieved the results we desired recently, so it was essential to secure a result in the Champions League. We are very happy with this win.”

Conversely, Weir conveyed her disappointment with Real Madrid’s performance, marking their first loss in the competition. “While I was pleased to score, one goal wasn’t sufficient. We needed more in the second half,” the Scotland international remarked. “We did create some additional chances, but Arsenal remained competitive and capitalized on their opportunities in the second half.”

The outcome positions Arsenal in ninth place in the league phase table with six points, while Real Madrid is in sixth with seven points.