On Tuesday, 18th March 2025, Real Madrid claimed a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of their encounter at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium. The match, which kicked off at 4:45 pm, was attended by 3,102 spectators who witnessed the home team take control despite challenging weather conditions. Heavy rain in Madrid left the pitch in a poor state, significantly affecting Arsenal's preferred passing style.
Linda Caicedo opened the scoring for Real Madrid in the 22nd minute. The goal came from a swift counter-attack after a loose pass from Arsenal's Kyra Cooney-Cross was intercepted. The error proved costly for Arsenal, leaving them trailing early in the match. Adding to Arsenal's woes, Real Madrid capitalized on their defensive lapses again later in the game.
Arsenal made strategic changes at halftime, with Chloe Kelly and Caitlin Foord replacing Beth Mead and Blackstenius. Despite these substitutions, Arsenal struggled to find their rhythm on the waterlogged pitch. The slow surface hampered their ability to execute their trademark passing game effectively.
Melanie Leupolz's injury compounded Arsenal's challenges as she was forced to leave the pitch in tears during the second half due to a knee injury. This setback further weakened Arsenal's midfield, impacting their attempts to mount a comeback.
Real Madrid doubled their lead in the 82nd minute through Athenea Del Castillo. Leah Williamson's misstep allowed Signe Bruun's pass to squirm through her legs, setting up Del Castillo's strike from the edge of the box. Manuela Zinsberger, Arsenal's goalkeeper, was unable to keep out the shot, sealing Real Madrid's 2-0 win.
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