Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal (1-5 agg): Player ratings as mature Gunners book place in semi-finals
Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal (1-5 agg): Player ratings as mature Gunners book place in semi-finals
- Arsenal confirmed spot in Champions League semi-finals
- Bukayo Saka atoned for penalty miss by dinking Gunners into lead
- PSG now await Mikel Arteta’s side in the last four
By James Cormack | Apr 16, 2025
Arsenal booked their place in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday night, with a 2-1 victory in Madrid seeing them convincingly bypass the holders 5-1 on aggregate
The Gunners’ job was clear as a result of their heroics last Tuesday, although confidence was seemingly rife within Real Madrid quarters that Carlo Ancelotti’s side would complete ‘La Remontada’.
However, it looked like their task was going to be made even tougher when Arsenal were awarded a penalty following VAR intervention for Raul Asencio’s pull on Mikel Merino’s shirt from a set-piece. Bukayo Saka stepped up for the Gunners, but his attempted panenka was saved by Thibaut Courtois.
Ten minutes later, it looked like Madrid’s comeback was being manufactured into action by the French referee, who awarded the softest of spot-kicks for Declan Rice’s supposed foul on Kylian Mbappe. Following a lengthy stoppage, the decision was overturned and Arsenal were able to see out the remainder of the first half with relative comfort.
Madrid’s frustration permeated into the second period, and the Gunners’ stellar defensive effort was rewarded when Saka dinked the visitors ahead on the night after the hour mark. That lead lasted just a couple of minutes as a result of William Saliba’s costly error, which allowed Vinicius Junior to pounce and equalise, but Arsenal stemmed Madrid’s flow in the aftermath.
The Santiago Bernabeu was starting to empty before full-time, with not even the most optimistic of Madrid supporters envisaging a late comeback of the required magnitude. Arsenal were superb and their night was capped off in some style by Gabriel Martinelli, who rounded off a slick counter in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win on the night for the visitors.
PSG await in the last four.
Real Madrid player ratings vs Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
|
Player |
Rating |
|---|---|
|
GK: Thibaut Courtois |
7.0/10 |
|
RB: Lucas Vazquez (c) |
6.7/10 |
|
CB: Raul Asencio |
6.5/10 |
|
CB: Antonio Rudiger |
6.0/10 |
|
LB: David Alaba |
6.2/10 |
|
CM: Aurelien Tchouameni |
6.9/10 |
|
CM: Federico Valverde |
7.5/10 |
|
RW: Rodrygo |
6.8/10 |
|
AM: Jude Bellingham |
6.8/10 |
|
LW: Vinicius Junior |
8.0/10 |
|
ST: Kylian Mbappe |
7.0/10 |
|
SUB: Endrick (61′ for Vazquez) |
5.9/10 |
|
SUB: Fran Garcia (61′ for Alaba) |
6.0/10 |
|
SUB: Dani Ceballos (61′ for Rodrygo) |
6.9/10 |
|
SUB: Luka Modric (74′ for Asencio) |
6.3/10 |
|
SUB: Brahim Diaz (75′ for Mbappe) |
6.4/10 |
Subs not used: Fran Gonzalez (GK), Sergio Mestre (GK), Jesus Vallejo, Arda Guler.
Arsenal player ratings vs Real Madrid (4-3-3)
|
Player |
Rating |
|---|---|
|
GK: David Raya |
7.5/10 |
|
RB: Jurrien Timber |
6.2/10 |
|
CB: William Saliba |
6.3/10 |
|
CB: Jakub Kiwior |
6.8/10 |
|
LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly |
7.5/10 |
|
CM: Martin Odegaard (c) |
7.0/10 |
|
CM: Thomas Partey |
7.0/10 |
|
CM: Declan Rice |
7.4/10 |
|
RW: Bukayo Saka |
7.6/10 |
|
ST: Mikel Merino |
8.7/10 |
|
LW: Gabriel Martinelli |
7.8/10 |
|
SUB: Leandro Trossard (77′ for Saka) |
5.8/10 |
|
SUB: Kieran Tierney (80′ for Rice) |
N/A |
|
SUB: Ben White (90′ for Timber) |
N/A |
|
SUB: Oleksandr Zinchenko (90′ for Martinelli) |
N/A |
Subs not used: Neto (GK), Tommy Setford (GK), Jack Henry-Francis, Michal Rosiak, Jimi Gower, Ethan Nwaneri, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, Raheem Sterling.
Player of the match – Mikel Merino (Arsenal)
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