Gunners progress as Saka atones for penalty miss and Martinelli seals victory
Bukayo Saka atoned for an early penalty miss by scoring a second-half goal as Arsenal won 2-1 against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu to secure their place in the Champions League semi-finals.
Saka had a Panenka spot-kick saved by Thibaut Courtois but made amends by finding the net on 65-minutes as the Gunners progressed 5-1 on aggregate against the reigning champions.
Vinicius Junior levelled for the hosts shortly after Saka’s strike but the much-talked about Real fightback never materialised.
Gabriel Martinelli then provided the icing in second-half stoppage time, stroking home to claim a memorable win for the visitors.
PSG now lie in wait for Mikel Arteta’s side, who enjoyed a tussle with Los Blancos over two legs that will live long in the memory of Gunners’ fans.
Writing the next chapter – TOGETHER 👊 pic.twitter.com/wnVxePE2sY
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 16, 2025
An eventful first half
‘Remontada’ was the word permeating from the Real camp in the days leading up to the game.
Spanish for ‘comeback’, Los Blancos’ habit of coming back from the dead felt, certainly for Arsenal fans, like a premonition.
And ominous signs were there from the off as Kylian Mbappe saw a goal chalked off for offside inside two minutes when he chested in Vinicius Junior’s cross.
Real were looking to unsettle their north London visitors, David Alaba sliding in recklessly on Saka and receiving a yellow card for his troubles.
But it only seemed to spur the England winger on. The 23-year-old saw a couple of early efforts fly narrowly wide before he was given a great chance to further tighten his side’s grip on the tie when the Gunners were awarded a penalty after Raul Asencio had hauled down Mikel Merino.
But amid a raucous chorus of whistles, Saka opted for the Panenka which Cortois read and palmed the tame effort round the post.
BUKAYO SAKA MISSES! ⛔
Real Madrid have a lifeline…
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/1meC2fURLC
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2025
It only seemed to raise the volume inside the Bernabeu. Arsenal had never conceded a goal against Madrid but, on 23-minutes, the hosts thought they had an opportunity to end that drought when they were awarded a spot-kick of their own after Mbappe tumbled to the turf under Declan Rice.
However, following a lengthy VAR check, the on-field decision was overturned and the Gunners were spared.
As the dramatic first 45 came to a close, Arsenal remained in a commanding position; the promise of the great Real fightback so far unfulfilled.
Blows exchanged after the break
Arteta’s men continued to be in control after the break, with Rice again impressing in the heart of the Arsenal midfield.
Meanwhile, Madrid’s hopes of an astonishing revival looked like they were slowly slipping away.
On the hour mark, Ancelotti rang the changes, introducing Endrick, Fran Garcia and Dani Ceballos as the hosts desperately tried to build some momentum.
ARSENAL HAVE THEIR GOAL! ⚽
Bukayo Saka keeps his composure as he lifts the ball over Courtois 🥶
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/RvGxtgl3EB
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2025
But it was the visitors who eventually broke the deadlock when Saka atoned for his earlier penalty miss by latching on to Merino’s pass before lifting the ball into the net.
With that, the tie seemed done and dusted but, just moments later, Real were given a lifeline as Vinicius Junior pinched the ball from a hesitant William Saliba before slotting in the equaliser.
But it was too little too late for the hosts. Thomas Partey then picked up a booking that will see the midfielder miss the first-leg of the semi-final before Martinelli fired home late on to seal the tie and give the visitors a memorable away win.
Mission accomplished for Arsenal as the Londoners march on to the last four.
