Arsenal hero Alessia Russo enjoyed the “surreal” feeling of the astonishing women's comeback on Wednesday against Real Madrid after her race-winning turn.
Russo scored twice when Arsenal won 3-0 to cancel a 2-0 deficit from the first stage and to set up a semi-final collision with eight times champions Lyon.
The objectives of Arsenal came to the Emirates Stadium after the break in a 14 -minute Blitz, in which Russo ran on either side of Mariona Caldentey's header, giving Chloe Kelly two assists.
The Gunners have now come from behind to win successive knockout tires from the Champions League after they had done this against Bayern Munich in 2022-23, while they became the first English side to destroy a shortage of two goals in the competition in 2010-11.
Russo said to TNT Sports: “It was great. It still feels a bit surreal, I have not really had it sink in yet.
“We had a lot of conviction all week, we knew what we wanted to do, we knew what we were capable of as a team and we did.
“We knew we were doing well in the first half. We felt good. We had the feeling that we had momentum and we said we wanted to be more patient in the last third because we knew we had to score.
“Chloe has applied a number of great crosses that the first two goals set up and then we were persistent and probably should have had more to be honest.
“The week has been busy, but we are all locked up. [This] Is when you enjoy football. “
3-2-Arsenal is the first English side to cancel a first leg deficit with two goals in a UEFA Women's League knockout tie since Arsenal itself in the last 16 2010-11 against Rayo Vallecano (0-2 first leg, 4-1 second leg). Turnaround. pic.twitter.com/8p9dimkacs
– Optajoe (@Optajoe) March 26, 2025
Asked if this was her best victory while he was at Arsenal, Russo added: “Hopefully they can continue for a long time, but they can continue for a long time.”
Russo was twice a hat trick denied by VAR reviews, although her focus is now on how far Arsenal can go in the competition.
“I believe a lot in the entire team and the staff. We will go back to work and go again,” she said.
Arsenal only won four straight Champions League matches the second time, after he had done this earlier between September 2019 and November 2021.
“We have done really good things, who came back from setbacks and good versions to top teams,” said Renee Sleesers, who has transformed the Gunners since she took over from Jonas Eidevall.
“But this is definitely one of the clearest where you play an opponent, the game looks like it does, the result is what it is, then you have to do this version and result in.”
The focus of Arsenal will now focus on the Super League collision on Saturday with Crystal Palace. The Gunners are second, eight points behind leaders Chelsea.
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