Arsenal and Real Madrid Cruise to CL Quarterfinals
Arsenal and Real Madrid both secured comfortable home victories to advance to the UEFA Women's Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday. Arsenal's Alessia Russo opened the scoring against Oud-Heverlee Leuven in London, helping the defending champions book their spot in the next round alongside Real Madrid.
- Arsenal won the two-legged playoff against Oud-Heverlee Leuven with a dominant 7-1 aggregate score, following a 4-0 away win with a 3-1 victory at home. - Alessia Russo's two goals in the second-leg victory took her personal tally to seven in the tournament, making her the current top scorer in this season's UEFA Women's Champions League. - Real Madrid secured their quarterfinal spot by defeating Paris FC 5-2 on aggregate, with their 2-0 home victory featuring a goal from striker Naomie Feller and an own goal. - The quarter-final draw sets up a massive all-English tie between Arsenal and Chelsea, while Real Madrid will face their arch-rivals Barcelona in a European "El Clásico". - Paris FC's task in Madrid was made significantly harder after defender Théa Greboval received a red card just five minutes into the second-leg match. - Arsenal is the only English club to have won the UEFA Women's Champions League, having previously lifted the trophy in the 2006-07 season. - This marks Arsenal's 17th appearance in the Champions League quarter-finals, the most by any club. - Real Madrid's women's team, which was officially formed in 2020 after a merger with CD TACÓN, has now reached the quarterfinals for the third time in its young history.
