The hope of Arsenal’s Champions League hangs on a thread after leading to a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their quarterfinals at Real Madrid.
A goal in each half of Linda Caicedo and Athenea del Castillo condemned the Gunners to only their fourth defeat in 23 games under Baas Renee.
With Arsenal eight points behind leaders Chelsea in the Women’s Super League and from both domestic cups, Europe is their last realistic chance to win a trophy this season.
But they have a lot of work to do in the Northern London’s return to the return to the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium after a disappointing performance in the North London.
Before about 300 traveling fans daring the wretched Madrid weather, the visitors created the first clear chance after 19 minutes when Alessia Russo controlled the ball and spun just within the right half.
The English striker went through a perfectly weighted passage to Stina Blackstenius, whose lap was well rescued by Misa Rodriguez.
But two minutes later, an error of Gunners defender Leah Williamson gave the opening goal to Real.
The English captain was probably not helped by the Soden surface because she slipped a harmless ball of signs of brown under her foot.
Colombian forward Caicedo bars and keeps Emily Fox off before burying her final in the corner for a fourth goal in the competition this season.
Arsenal was close to equality just before halftime after Russo won a free kick 30 meters.
The cross is on her way to Beth Mead at the edge of the box, but her lap just whistles wide.
Slides shake her wrong front line to the break and send Chloe Kelly and Caitlin Foord to Blackstenius and Mead.
Caicedo almost came in again when she hit the wrong pass and charged past Fox on the left, but the Gunners’ full-back returned to take out the danger.
Real had a blow when Melanie Leupolz held her knee after playing a pass, with the Germany midfielder leaving in tears.
The players of Arsenal had a penalty after Kelly went down under a challenge from Maria Mendez, but referee Frida Mia Klarlund said no.
Kelly and Kyra Cooney-Cross saw shots widely averted and substitute Lia Walti forced a rescue from Rodriguez when the Gunners dried to an equalizer.
But their hopes in a place in the semi -finals took a big dive with eight minutes left when goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger could only push Athenea’s lap over the purpose in the net.
However, for a second time in a few days after the league final at Pride Park, the field was in the spotlight with former Arsenal striker Ian Wright among those to criticize the conditions.
“If the Champions League quarterfinals watch Real Madrid field, it’s worse than Derby’s field the other day,” Wright said on social media. “It’s off ****** The shame of the stands that these girls should play.”
DAD
