Real Madrid vs. Arsenal score: Champions League result, stats as Saka, Martinelli slay Los Blancos at the Bernabeu
Led by second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal completed the task and downed European giants Real Madrid, qualifying for the Champions League semifinals with a 2-1 win at the Bernabeu to advance 5-1 on aggregate.
Sakaâs strike largely did the business, atoning for an earlier penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois as he successfully chipped the Belgian star. Martinelli finished the job deep into stoppage time, putting Real Madrid’s feeble comeback attempt officially to bed.
Vinicius Jr. took advantage of a William Saliba mistake moments later, but Los Blancos never had enough to truly challenge the aggregate deficit at any point. Kylian Mbappe and Vini were quieted throughout the match just as they had been at the Emirates a week ago, and Mbappe exited with an ankle injury to add injury to Madridâs insult.
Following his starring role in the first leg, Declan Rice put forth another midfield masterclass, cropping up everywhere on the ball while simultaneously pocketing Real Madrid’s playmakers up and down the pitch. The only blemish for the England star was a first-half penalty conceded when he wrapped his arms around Mbappe’s waist, but VAR would correctly overturn the questionable decision on the grounds of minimal contact.
Arsenal are now through to the semifinals, where they will face a formidable PSG side, while Real Madrid must be content chasing Barcelona for both the La Liga and Copa del Rey trophies the rest of the season.
The Sporting News followed the Real Madrid vs. Arsenal match live, providing score updates, commentary.
Latest live updates | Team news and lineups | Final match stats
Real Madrid vs. Arsenal final score ScoreAggregateGoal scorersReal Madrid11Vinicius Jr. (67′)Arsenal25Saka (65′),
Martinelli (90+3′)Location: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium (Madrid, Spain)
Referee: Francois Letexier
Starting lineups:
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1, right to left):Â 1. Courtois (GK) â 17. Vazquez (Ceballos, 61′), 35. Asensio (Modric, 75′), 22. Rudiger, 4. Alaba (F. Garcia, 61′) â 8. Valverde, 14. Tchouameni â 11. Rodrygo (Endrick, 61′), 5. Bellingham, 7. Vinicius Jr. â 9. Mbappe (B. Diaz, 75′).
Arsenal (4-3-3, right to left):Â 22. Raya (GK) â 12. Timber, 2. Saliba, 15. Kiwior, 49. Lewis-Skelly â 8. Odegaard, 5. Partey, 41. Rice â 7. Saka (Trossard, 77′), 23. Merino, 11. Martinelli.
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Real Madrid vs. Arsenal statsReal MadridStatArsenal18Shots113Shots on target61.50Expected goals2.0566%Possession34%371Accurate passes17810Corners418Fouls153Yellow cards2Real Madrid vs. Arsenal live updates, highlights from Champions LeagueFULLTIME: Real Madrid 1 (1-5) 2 Arsenal
THERE’S THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE! ARSENAL ARE THROUGH AND REAL MADRID ARE OUT!
Not only have the Gunners successfully defended their first leg lead at the famed Bernabeu, they did so in style as they secure a famous win.
Real Madrid will be licking the wounds of this defeat for some time, as Kylian Mbappe was quiet through both legs and found himself injured to boot. Vinicius Jr. couldn’t conjure up a miracle for his Spanish giants, and Carlo Ancelotti will have some reflecting to do.
93rd min: GOAL! ARSENAL! GABRIEL MARTINELLI WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK!
Real Madrid are committed too far forward, and Arsenal take advantage as Martinelli is fed through down the other end to give the Gunners an emphatic win!
VIDEO:Â Watch Martinelli goal in USA | Watch in UK | Watch in Canada
90th min:Â Chance, Real Madrid! ENDRICK MISSES WITH A HUGE CHANCE! Vinicius Jr. finds his fellow Brazilian with a lateral cross, but the youngster’s quick turn is off-balance, and he rifles the ball into the stands!
Five minutes of stoppage time are shown, and it feels just about over at this point.
85th min:Â Thomas Partey receives a late yellow card, bumping Dani Ceballos late, and he will be suspended for the first leg of the semifinal. Antonio Rudiger also gets a booking for his angry reaction as he faces up to Partey.
82nd min:Â Arsenal have anticipated every single Real Madrid pass forward in the last 10 minutes, as they have done exceedingly well to put a lid on the match.
Myles Lewis-Skelly makes an exceptional intervention to pick off a Federico Valverde pass moments before a great tackle by William Saliba dispossesses Vinicius Jr. on the counter. What a defensive performance this has been from Arsenal.
74th min:Â Oh no, Real Madrid fans will be holding their breaths as Kylian Mbappe is down receiving treatment for a twisted ankle under a challenge from Declan Rice. Thankfully, the replay doesn’t look too bad, but he’s certainly in some pain and discomfort.
The French superstar cannot continue, and he is replaced by Brahim Diaz. Luka Modric also enters for Raul Asensio, with Madrid’s Champions League standing on life support.
Arsenal counter with Leandro Trossard coming on to replace Bukayo Saka, who looks to be struggling with fitness as well as he limps off.
67th min: GOAL! REAL MADRID! Oh no William Saliba!!!!! The French defender has his pocket picked by Vinicius Jr. out of nowhere, and the Brazilian finishes the chance for an immediate response!
Had it not been for Saka’s goal moments earlier, that would have given Real Madrid hope, but is there really a way back for them still down three goals on aggregate?? It’s still very hard to imagine…
VIDEO:Â Watch Bukayo Saka goal in USA | Watch in UKÂ | Watch in Canada
65th min: GOAL! ARSENAL! BUKAYO SAKA PUTS THE TIE TO BED, AND PUTS ARSENAL IN THE SEMIFINAL!
He’s played in by Mikel Merino shaded just to the left at the top of the six-yard box, and he does what he failed to do in the first half by chipping Thibaut Courtois!!!!! That’s all she wrote!!
VIDEO:Â Watch Bukayo Saka goal in USA | Watch in UKÂ | Watch in Canada
Same BernabĂ©u energy đ€« pic.twitter.com/RrxkEIcARS
â B/R Football (@brfootball) April 16, 202558th min:Â Raul Asencio returns the favour and makes an exceptional last-man tackle of his own on Bukayo Saka, who was clean through on goal before the intervention. Moments later, Antonio Rudiger fells Myles Lewis-Skelly and stamps all over his chest in the disengage, but it isn’t noticed by the referee.
Carlo Ancelotti will make his first substitutions, calling upon Endrick, Fran Garcia, and former Arsenal player Dani Ceballos who enter in place of Rodrygo, David Alaba, and Lucas Vazquez. That moves Fede Valverde from midfield to right-back. These changes should have been made at halftime.
54th min:Â An exceptional tackle by Declan Rice sends Jude Bellingham tumbling to the ground in the penalty area but the referee denies the shouts for a foul! It’s the right call, WHAT an intervention from behind, a textbook last-gasp tackle! Rice has had an incredible match yet again.
Declan Rice has got Jude Bellingham in his pocket tonight. đźâđšđźâđš pic.twitter.com/OO8dbFOB9m
â Football Tweet âœîš (@Football__Tweet) April 16, 202551st min: Mikel Merino gets his head to a deep free-kick but was hounded by a defender and got the contact wrong, heading miles over the crossbar.
2nd half kickoff:Â They’re back under way in Madrid, and there are no changes for either side. With Real Madrid failing to produce a single shot on target across the first half, it’s quite surprising to see Carlo Ancelotti refuse to make any halftime substitutions.
Apparently Dani Carvajal and Bukayo Saka got into it at halftime. What is the injured Madrid defender doing? The hosts seem well and truly rattled.
Dani Carvajal had words for Bukayo Saka right before heading down the tunnel for the half. pic.twitter.com/4cpRhnBbHG
â ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 16, 2025HALFTIME: Real Madrid 0 (0-3) 0 Arsenal
An exhaustingly long first half comes to a close, and even as it finishes scoreless, it would take nearly all 15 minutes of the break to sum it up.
Thibaut Courtois’ penalty save on Bukayo Saka is the highlight, as Arsenal absorbed pressure as best they could. Mikel Arteta’s side was largely organised throughout the half, even as Real Madrid came close to creating strong opportunities. The 0.11 xG generated by the hosts doesn’t quite do them justice, as they were inches from threatening more, but it does lay bare the urgency needed over the rest of the match.
Still a thrilling 45 minutes to come, and certainly this one won’t end scoreless!
45+5 min: Chance, Arsenal! Despite barely sniffing the ball in the last 10 minutes, Arsenal create one of the best chances of the half as Gabriel Martinelli tests the near post of Thibaut Courtois from a tight angle! As you’d imagine, the Belgian is up to the task and makes the save, but it proves Arsenal are in control even as they don’t command possession.
45th min:Â Seven minutes of added time are shown, and it feels as if Real Madrid need to capitalise on their strong spell of pressure and score one here before the halftime whistle blows.
42nd min: Chance, Real Madrid! A diagonal delivery to the far post from Lucas Vazquez deflects off the head of an Arsenal defender and nearly falls in the lap of Antonio Rudiger, but the German can’t quite reach it as he slides to meet the ball!
The hosts are beginning to wrest control of this match and generate successive chances. They are likely to have significant first-half stoppage time to work with.
36th min:Â David Raya has been booked for time wasting while standing over a goal kick. The referee certainly has been front and centre of this match narrative so far!
35th min: Chance, Arsenal! In the middle of a scrum, Jurrien Timber fires a volley over the crossbar! You’d never know Arsenal had a 3-0 lead by the back-and-forth run of play, which is probably how Mikel Arteta wants it.
23rd min: PENALTY, REAL MADRID! Declan Rice topples Kylian Mbappe and the referee points to the spot! In addition, Rice is booked which means he’ll be suspended for the first leg of the semifinal should Arsenal advance!
With a free-kick sent in, there’s slight contact between the two players, but Mbappe certainly seems to flop under a very slight hug! VAR is having a long look…a VERY, VERY long look…and now the referee will go to the monitor for a review! That’s surprising, because while the contact was slight and the call soft, Rice’s arms around Mbappe’s waist means there could be enough of a reason to stick with the original call.
He’s had his look, and…OVERTURNED! That’s both the right call and controversial! While it’s most certainly the right decision, was it really clear and obvious enough for VAR to intervene? And in a double boost for Arsenal, Rice’s yellow card has been rescinded!
VIDEO:Â Watch overturned penalty decision in UK
21st min:Â There’s a huge penalty shout from the home fans as Thomas Partey tackles Vinicius Jr just inside the top of the penalty area, and you can see why…he’s gone for upper-body contact to dispossess the Brazilian, but the referee says play on.
19th min: Chance, Real Madrid! Jude Bellingham cooks down the left edge of the six-yard box and delivers a fizzed cross dangerously along the face of goal, but there’s nobody there to poke it home! A great move by the England international, but it goes unfulfilled!
10th min:Â Well well…the referee has been told to review the VAR monitor for an Arsenal penalty from way back on the Arsenal corner, and it appears Mikel Merino was hooked and felled by Raul Asensio while making a late run. It had no bearing on the move, as the corner was claimed by Thibaut Courtois, but there’s absolutely enough contact for a potential call.
And sure enough…PENALTY, ARSENAL! This is a brutal one for Real Madrid to swallow, because it’s so cheap to give away, but you can understand why the referee’s given it! Asensio is booked for his tackle, which had no bearing on the play but was certainly physical enough for a whistle.
Up steps Bukayo Saka, and…SAVED!!!! The Real Madrid goalkeeper shows why he’s the best in the world! It’s an UNBELIEVABLE stop, as he dove to his right and stuck his arm up back behind his body movement to palm away Saka’s deft little chip!
VIDEO:Â Watch Thibaut Courtois penalty save in USAÂ | Watch in UK
â ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 16, 20258th min: Chance, Arsenal! Bukayo Saka forces a strong save from Thibaut Courtois! It’s given away cheaply by Lucas Vazquez and Saka picks up the ball outside the top-right corner of the penalty area. He cuts onto his left and rifles one low towards the centre of the net, and it’s turned around for a corner by the world-class Real Madrid goalkeeper.
6th min:Â Bukayo Saka sends in a shot from a tight angle on the right, but it’s not a threatening effort. Thibaut Courtois dives to his right but the ball sails well wide of the far post.
4th min:Â David Alaba has already picked up a yellow card for a wild and reckless sliding challenge on Bukayo Saka, with the Real Madrid defender flying in late and low. It would be difficult for Alaba to make it 90 minutes now, as he’ll have to navigate the rest of his appearance on a booking.
David Alaba has got to play 86 minutes on a yellow card against Bukayo Saka. Wow.
Long night in store for him. pic.twitter.com/G2N8erzzqR
â Football Tweet âœîš (@Football__Tweet) April 16, 20252nd min: Chance, Real Madrid! Kylian Mbappe has the ball in the net but the flag goes for offside! He’s miles over the line as he chests the ball in off a cross from Vinicius Jr, as the Frenchman was completely unaware that his international teammate William Saliba had stepped forward. No wonder he was so wide open!
Kickoff:Â After a minute of remembrance for a pair of Real Madrid figures who recently passed, French referee Francois Letexier gets the match under way at the famed Santiago Bernabeu! Arsenal will want to keep this match from becoming a Champions League classic, and render Real Madrid as an afterthought in this season’s competition.
Right before kickoff the home fans unveiled a stunning tifo detailing their ambitions of a turnaround today.
âThe factory of dreams. Make ours real.â pic.twitter.com/ab4fhaStuj
â Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) April 16, 2025Real Madrid vs. Arsenal: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more15 mins to kickoff:Â Arsenal have never been beaten by Real Madrid in three all-time meetings. The hosts tonight would have to flip that script in order to have a chance of progressing to the semifinals.
Here’s a full look at the head-to-head meetings between the two European giants, who have met far fewer times than one might have imagined.
30 mins to kickoff:Â Carlo Ancelotti is hoping for “a little bit of magic” for Real Madrid today. While he knows that will stem from the atmosphere first and foremost, he is telling his squad they are the ones who will make the magic happen.
Don Carlo has seen everything in football, if anyone is capable of a turnaround it will be the Italian mastermind. Although, according to recent reports, a certain Jurgen Klopp could be keeping an eye on things…
âIt will be a special atmosphereâ đą
Carlo Ancelotti remains calm and optimistic despite the 3-goal deficit đ pic.twitter.com/XYXvQINti5
â Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 202545 mins to kickoff:Â This match means everything for Real Madrid, as they have little left to play for other than the Champions League. They’re in the Copa del Rey final but are heavy underdogs to Barcelona, and face a relatively significant point deficit in the league as well.
Rodrygo’s father took the opportunity early this morning to request divine intervention for his son’s side in the competition. This is what a “remontada” would mean to Los Blancos, who are the most successful club in the history of the competition but crave more victories each and every year.
“Power of prayer” đ
Rodrygo’s father was outside the Santiago Bernabeu in the wee hours of the morning putting in a prayer for Real Madrid and his son, Rodrygo.
Doing everything they can for a Remontada đ
(đž ericgoesrde/IG) pic.twitter.com/tmom9iFrh7
â ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 16, 20251 hour to kickoff:Â The Arsenal lineup is in, and there are no surprises as Mikel Arteta makes no changes from the first leg XI. The Gunners are here to avoid disaster, which judging by yesterday’s matches, is still a realistic threat.
1 hour 15 mins to kick:Â Thomas Partey has developed into an important piece in Arsenal’s midfield this season. That was a bit of an unexpected outcome, since Partey seemed to have lost his place at The Emirates the year before.
Still, there are some questions about his place in the squad long-term, with rumours of an exit this summer. Will he play a big role down the stretch in their Champions League pursuit? He could start by avoiding a booking today, as he’s one of four Arsenal players along with Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice, and Gabriel Martinelli who are one yellow card away from a suspension in the first leg of the semifinals.
1 hour 30 mins to kick:Â The Real Madrid faithful at The Bernabeu will be targeting “La Remontada” today. It’s quite the venue for such a possible occurrence.
Roof closed. For all the issues with the club hierarchy, there is no stadium like it in football, especially on nights like this pic.twitter.com/mkO1qQKKSS
â Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) April 16, 20251 hour 45 mins to kick:Â As per usual, Real Madrid’s lineup is out early, and there’s no real major quirks other than Carlo Ancelotti’s decision at the left-back position. The Blancos boss has made the bold decision to put David Alaba at left-back instead of Fran Garcia, a risky choice given Alaba is still recently off his return from an ACL tear and may not possess the pace to defend Bukayo Saka on that flank.
2 hours to kickoff:Â There is a report that Carlo Ancelotti is eyeing a number of radical lineup changes to account for the defensive issues the team has faced. We will know soon, because Real Madrid regularly releases their starting lineup early.
đš Carlo Ancelotti will start Ceballos in midfield, with TchouamĂ©ni at CB and Asencio playing RB. @diarioas pic.twitter.com/xkzUybaL9O
â Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) April 16, 2025Real Madrid vs. Arsenal kick off timeThis Champions League quarterfinal second leg kicks off from the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, April 16, at 9 p.m. local time in Madrid, Spain. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
 DateKickoff timeUSA/CanadaTue, Apr. 163 p.m. ETUSA/CanadaTue, Apr. 1612 p.m. PTUKTue, Apr. 168 p.m. BSTAustraliaWed, Apr. 177 a.m. AESTIndiaWed, Apr. 171:30 a.m. ISTReal Madrid vs. Arsenal lineups, team newsThe left-back position has given Carlo Ancelotti a headache all season. Ferland Mendy has been in and out of the lineup with injuries and will miss out here, and Fran Garcia has not proven a capable backup.
Eduardo Camavinga could have moved out wide to fill the hole, but he is suspended for yellow card accumulation, so instead, centre-back David Alaba is deployed out on the left. That leaves Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni to pair at the base of midfield.
Otherwise, the rest of the Real Madrid starters are fully healthy. It’s unclear whether Andriy Lunin will be available off the bench to back up goalkeeping superstar Thibaut Courtois, while Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are long-term absentees.
Real Madrid starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Courtois (GK) â Vazquez, Asensio, Rudiger, Alaba â Valverde, Tchouameni â Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr. â Mbappe.
Real Madrid subs:Â F. Gonzalez (GK), Mestre (GK), Vallejo, F. Garcia, Modric, Ceballos, B. Diaz, Guler, Endrick.
Arsenal have Bukayo Saka back from his long-term hamstring injury, and the star forward was rested over the weekend, playing 27 minutes off the bench in the Premier League draw with Brentford. So too were starters Martin Odegaard, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jurrien Timber, and Mikel Merino all who rotate back in.
The Gunners are still without long-term absentees Gabriel, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, while Riccardo Calafiori still needs a bit longer to return from his knee injury suffered on international duty.
The status of Ben White and Jorginho was to be monitored ahead of the match, and only the former appears amongst the substitutes. Thomas Partey is available in full despite picking up a niggle on the weekend.
Arsenal starting lineup (4-3-3): Raya (GK) â Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly â Odegaard, Partey, Rice â Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Arsenal subs:Â Neto (GK), Setford (GK), Tierney, White, Zinchenko, Trossard, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Henry-Francis, Nwaneri, Rosiak.
Real Madrid vs. Arsenal live stream, TV channelHere is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions:
RegionTV channelStreamingUSATUDN, UnivisionParamount+, Fubo, ViXCanada âDAZNUKTNT Sports 1discovery+Australia âStan SportIndiaSony TEN 2, 3, 4Sony LIV, JioTV
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