Caicedo Kicks Real Into Gear As Arsenal Suffer Pitch Problems

Real Madrid stunned Arsenal at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano to take control of their Women's Champions League quarter-final tie.

- Sophie Downey

Goals in either half from Linda Caicedo and Athenea del Castillo secured victory for the Spanish side in the first leg against Renée Slegers's team.

This was the first competitive encounter between these sides and of the two, the Gunners are the more experienced in European football. This is their 16th appearance at this stage of the competition (a joint record with Lyon) and they remain the only English winners.

Real Madrid, in contrast, are in only their second Champions League quarter-final, an 8-3 aggregate defeat against Barcelona in 2022 their other showing in the knockouts.

There was renewed belief among the Arsenal squad after a strong finish at Everton on Friday moved them up to second in the Women's Super League. Slegers handed starts to three of the players – Beth Mead, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Stina Blackstenius – who had made such an impact off the bench. It meant a deeper role for Alessia Russo while Manuela Zinsberger remained in goal with the continued absence of the concussed Daphne van Domselaar.

Alberto Toril opted for seven changes to the side that had drawn 2-2 with Deportivo at the weekend, with Caicedo making her first start for several weeks after injury.