Real Madrid 1–2 Arsenal (1–5 agg): Gunners oust holders to advance

Arsenal completed a 5-1 aggregate win over holders Real Madrid to end their 16-year wait for a Champions League semi-final appearance, Bukayo Saka recovering from having an early penalty saved to put the visitors on their way to a confident victory.

While Arsenal named an unchanged side from their 3-0 first-leg win in London, Madrid restored Aurélien Tchouaméni after a ban – replacing the suspended Eduardo Camavinga – and brought in Lucas Vázquez for Luka Modrić, allowing Federico Valverde to advance to midfield.

If the visitors’ selection reflected a desire to continue where they left off, their bright start answered that wish. Key creative presence Bukayo Saka proved their greatest threat, arrowing a fierce shot wide before forcing Thibaut Courtois to beat his drive from distance away.

Saka’s best chance of the half would arrive shortly afterwards when Raúl Asencio was adjudged to have impeded Mikel Merino inside the penalty area, only for Courtois to turn the England international’s chipped penalty behind and revive the chants of belief emanating from home fans who had been used to seeing their side secure sensational comebacks in the competition.

Canny Arsenal stopped Madrid from producing an attempt on target during the first half, testing Courtois again with the break approaching when Rice – scorer of two superb free-kicks during the first leg – fed Gabriel Martinelli inside the box on the left, the recipient responding with a powerful shot that stung the No1’s palms at his near post.

The holders made David Raya make a save when Vinícius Júnior curled a strike into the goalkeeper’s arms but Arsenal’s continuing comfort level tempted Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti to enact a triple substitution, including the introduction of 18-year-old striker Endrick.

Four minutes later, Arsenal had their fourth goal of the tie and Saka a measure of redemption courtesy of a slick move started by the forward, who set off inside the penalty area to collect Mikel Merino’s pass and chip a composed finish beyond Courtois following a beautiful exchange between Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard.