Arsenal Faces Crucial UEFA Clash Against Real Madrid Tonight

LONDON, England — Arsenal‘s women’s team goes into the second leg of its UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final tonight against Real Madrid, needing to overcome a 2-0 deficit from the first match. The Gunners will kick off at the Emirates Stadium at 9:00 PM local time on March 26, 2025.

Head coach Renee Slegers has chosen to keep the same starting lineup that defeated Liverpool 4-0 in the Women’s Super League last weekend. This means the starting XI features goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, defenders Lotte Wubben-Moy, Leah Williamson, Steph Catley, and Katie McCabe, alongside midfielders Kim Little (captain), Mariona Caldentey, and Frida Maanum, and forwards Caitlin Foord, Alessia Russo, and Kelly Smith.

However, Arsenal has included four substitutes for this match: Naomi Williams, Laia Codina, Amanda Ilestedt, and Rosa Kafaji, despite Wubben-Moy being sidelined due to a hamstring injury. The team faces a challenging task to progress, needing either a three-goal victory in regulation time or to go to extra time and possibly penalties.

Real Madrid enters the match with confidence after delivering a historic 3-1 defeat to Barcelona in La Liga. The Spanish team has seen key players return, including Linda Caicedo and Athenea del Castillo, both of whom are expected to start. Still, they will miss Rocio Galvez, Teresa Abelleira, and Melanie Leupolz, who are out for the season due to injury.

Jonas Eidevall, Arsenal’s head coach, acknowledged the uphill battle his team faces but emphasized the importance of home support in turning the tie around. “We need to produce something special against a resolute Madrid side. Our fans at the Emirates can make a significant difference,” he said before the match.

In their last encounter, Arsenal struggled against a strong Madrid side, but Eidevall expressed faith in his squad’s ability to bounce back. “We’ve shown resilience before in knockout competitions. This is our chance to prove it again,” he stated.

Arsenal’s lineup is as follows: van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little (C), Mariona; Foord, Maanum, Kelly; Russo.

The substitutes for tonight’s match include: Zinsberger, Williams, Codina, Ilestedt, Nighswonger, Reid, Walti, Cooney-Cross, Pelova, Mead, Kafaji, and Blackstenius.

As for Real Madrid, their expected starting XI will feature goalkeeper Misa; defenders García, Lakrar, Méndez, Carmona; midfielders Toletti, Angeldahl, and Caicedo; and forwards Weir, Bruun, and del Castillo.

Kickoff is set for 9:00 PM GMT, with both teams aware that history favors neither side, making this a thrilling matchup. The stakes are high as Arsenal aims to keep its Champions League dreams alive against formidable opponents in Real Madrid.