Arsenal had a golden opportunity to extend their lead against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, but Bukayo Saka`s penalty attempt was saved by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Coming into the second leg with a comfortable 3-0 aggregate advantage, Arsenal felt confident, especially considering their recent defensive record. They haven`t conceded three or more goals in a match since December 2023 and haven`t lost by a three-goal margin since May 2023.
The penalty was awarded to Arsenal after a VAR review in the 10th minute. Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio was seen holding Arsenal`s Mikel Merino in the box. While the first grab appeared permissible, a second, more overt grab resulted in the penalty call. Saka stepped up to take the penalty after Martin Odegaard protected the ball.
Saka has generally been reliable from the penalty spot, converting 13 out of 14 attempts prior to this match. However, in this crucial moment, he opted for a chipped penalty, which Courtois easily saved. This miss is a significant setback for Saka, reminiscent of his penalty miss in the 2020 Euros final shootout against Italy. Although he successfully converted a penalty in the Euro 2024 quarter-final shootout against Switzerland, high-stakes misses like this can be defining moments.
Shortly after, Real Madrid pushed forward and appealed for a penalty of their own. Declan Rice was initially yellow-carded for a challenge on Kylian Mbappe in the penalty area. But following a lengthy VAR review, the decision was overturned, the penalty was rescinded, and Rice`s yellow card was also cancelled. Rice would face suspension in Arsenal`s next Champions League match if he receives another yellow card and if Arsenal progresses further in the competition – a possibility that becomes more likely the longer Madrid fails to score.
The match remains finely balanced as they continue to compete for a place in the semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain.
