Arsenal have stormed into the UEFA Champions League semifinals for the first time in 16 years, knocking out 15-time champions Real Madrid with a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Second-Leg Brilliance of Arsenal
Despite Bukayo Saka missing a penalty early in the match, The Gunners defeated Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu in the second leg. With a 3-0 win already in the bag from the first leg, Arsenal secured a comfortable passage to the final four.
Saka made up for the missed penalty by scoring in the 65th minute. Just two minutes later, Vinícius Júnior responded with a goal for Real, hinting at a possible comeback. However, Gabriel Martinelli sealed the game for Arsenal with a goal in the third minute of injury time.
Inter Milan Also Advance
Italian giants Inter Milan have also secured their place in the semifinals by overcoming Bayern Munich. Despite a 2-2 draw in the second leg, Inter progressed with a 4-3 aggregate win, thanks to their 2-1 victory in the first leg.
Bayern initially took the lead through Harry Kane, but goals from Lautaro Martínez and Benjamin Pavard gave Inter the edge. Although Eric Dier equalized for Bayern, it wasn’t enough to overturn the aggregate score.
Semifinal Fixtures Confirmed
With Arsenal and Inter Milan joining Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals, the stage is now set:
- Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain
- Barcelona vs Inter Milan
The first-leg matches will take place on April 30 and May 1, with the second legs scheduled for May 8 and 7.
The final will be held on June 1 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
