Arsenal Reach UCL Semifinals after
Defeating Real Madrid

Madrid, 17 Apr (ONA) — Arsenal
advanced 5-1 on aggregate after a 3-0 first-leg win at home in London last
week, keeping alive its chances of winning Europe’s top club competition for
the first time. It will face Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the semifinals.

Inter Milan advanced past Bayern
Munich in the other quarterfinal. It will meet Barcelona in the other
semifinal.

There was no historic comeback for
Madrid this time. No late goals, no high drama, no magic at the Santiago
Bernabeu stadium, the Spanish MARCA newspaper reported.

The defending champion and record
15-time European winner fell short of the last four for the first time since
2020. It was seeking its third UEFA Champions League (UCL) title in four
seasons.

Its hopes of staging another
comeback – like so many times before in recent years in the Champions League –
took a big hit when a five-minute VAR check overturned a penalty for a hold on
Kylian Mbappé in the first half with the game tied 0-0.

Arsenal earlier had been awarded a
penalty after a video review, but Bukayo Saka missed his spot kick.

Saka was able to put Arsenal ahead
from inside the area in the 65th minute, and Madrid couldn’t manage more than
an equalizer by Vinícius Júnior a couple of minutes later after a defensive
blunder by William Saliba.

Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal the
victory by scoring on a breakaway three minutes into stoppage time.

— Ends/Khalid