Real Madrid has endured a terrible evening against Arsenal at the Emirates and is now about the elimination of Champions League, but all may not be lost for the ruling European champions
Cesc Fabregas has warned Arsenal not to write Real Madrid, with Carlo Ancelotti already a heroic comeback. The Gunners enjoyed a dream evening against the Spanish giants in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Two Declan Rice Free-Kicks and a further strike by Mikel Merino have put the North London side in solid control prior to the second stage of next week in the Bernabeu. It really leaves – the ruling European champions – who have to score three without answering to even answer the game.
But ex-Arsenale midfielder Fabregas does not believe that the draw was quite done and sprinkled, with multi-year winners who are still able to produce a stunning turnaround when they are on a home floor.
After the first leg he said: “I would like to say that it is over. But after the first goal I said they needed a second and after the second they needed a third. But Real Madrid's Real Madrid.”
Fabregas is not the only one who believes that Real could still claim. Baas Carlo Ancelotti has also suggested that their European family tree might seem to seem to be refusing to rule his side.
“If you look at the game tonight, there is no chance,” he said. “But football changes. Nobody expected rice to score two set pieces. That did tonight. Football, everything can happen. Often something happens in the Bernabeu.”
That is a view that is also shared in the dressing room, in which the English star Jude Bellingham also hinted that Arsenal could have a Kastendnond in Spain next week. “We were nowhere in the neighborhood,” Bellingham told Amazon Prime.
“That is the fact and Arsenal was really good. I know that two of their goals were free kicks, but they could have had much more. There is a second stage and that is what we hold. We need something very special, something crazy, but one place where crazy things happen is our house.
Who was Arsenal's man-of-the-match against Real Madrid? Share your thoughts in the comments below
“We still have 90 minutes at home to pull something out of the bag. We still live, we have 90 minutes of football and everything can happen in the Bernabeu.”
If Arsenal is holding and doing the job, she would reach the semi-final of the Champions League for the first time since the 2008/09 season when they were defeated by Premier League-rival Manchester United. Arsenal already knows their potential opponents when they are progressing, with a collision against Aston Villa or Paris Saint-Germain to come.
Become a member of our new WhatsApp community! Click on this link to receive your daily dose of mirror football content. We also deal with our members of the community on special offers, promotions and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can view every time you like. If you are curious, you can read our privacy statement.
Comments