Out of the quarterfinals the reigning champions: after the 3-0 success in the first leg, the Gunners win 2-1 also at the Santiago Bernabeu and return to the top four in Europe for the first time since 2009
No Remontada, no magical night. The party at Bernabeu has made the Arsenal, who conquers his first Champions League semifinal since 2009 even winning 2-1 (decides Martinelli on the counterattack in the 93 ‘) in the den of that Real Madrid who had promised to pieces after the 3-0 of the first leg. The Arte team will find the PSG in the semifinal, with the first leg on April 29 to be faced with the belief of being able to win the cup, with the level touched in this double comparison with the reigning champions as proof. Real comes out of his Champions League with two heavy defeats, with a single goal found by taking advantage of the only of the gift granted by Arsenal in 180 ‘. Ancelotti’s team disappointed: instead of fabulous it was flat, instead of Galactic it was disappointing. It will not do at least the Champions League semifinal after 4 consecutive appearances, with this elimination that risks transforming itself into the prologue of the divorce from Carlo Ancelotti.
The keys
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Real’s fury has never been. That word, Remontada, that Jude Bellingham had sworn was the only one heard in the locker room of the Blanca house on the eve never even started materializing. Merit of the Arsenal: determined as in the first leg to the Emrates, careful and well arranged around that defense that made Tilt only when Saliba gave the same. The Gunners have come to pass the turn as they deserved the victory in this return match: at the Emrates show, all determination and character, this test of maturity was followed at Bernabeu, closed with Martinelli who puts the seal to another capital performance. Do not worry from the stage for the team of Arte, no out of control emotions: the Gunners have shown, dragged by the double dominant performance of Declan Rice, to be the best team of this double comparison, to have matured and ready for the big leap, to do the only thing that is missing in the last years of maturation with Arte: winning. What Real failed: the Fab Four, the devastating 119 attack between goals and assists combined this season, has never really been a threat, like that team in pieces made in the last half hour of the first leg and never really resumed. For once, Ancelotti was unable to find the right words or the right moves for what would have been an impossible comeback: his future will be the biggest question at Bernabeu in the coming weeks. Those in which Arsenal will try to become even bigger than what has been in this double challenge with the former queen of Europe.
The game
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First half without goals but at very high tension. Courtois at 13 ‘must save Real, parrying the penalty kicked badly by Saka and granted after VAR revision of a contact between Asencio and Merino, escaped everyone but not to the electronic eye. The same electronic eye shortly after convinces the referee Letexier, after 5 ‘of reflection, not to give a penalty to Real (alleged deduction of Rice on Mbappé) that he had initially granted. Ancelotti after an hour revolutionizes the team with three changes, but it is Arsenal who finds the goal: ball inside Merino, touch under Saka and Courtois beaten. While the British fans are still exulting, Raya serves the distraction at the edge of the area Saliba, to whom Vinicius takes away the ball for that goal that Bernabeu waited. It is the 67 ‘: instead of the siege of Real, it is the maturity of the Arsenal that makes the difference. So much that Martinelli on the counterattack at 93 ‘does 2-1. A Champions Semifinal is worth.
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