UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE : REAL MADRID VS ARSENAL – 16/04/2025 (PHOTO – BUYAKO SAKA CELEBRATES)

WHAT AN EVENTFUL NIGHT IT WAS IN THE MATCH BETWEEN REAL MADRID VS ARSENAL YESTERDAY! THE POOR REF FRANCOIS LETEXIER SEEMED A LITTLE FLUMMOXED AT TIMES WITH HIS OFFICIATING, WITH THE RESULT OF ONE DECISION BEING TO DECIDE TO OVERRULE HIMSELF! HE MADE THE DECISION TO PUNISH DECLAN RICE FOR A PULL ON MBAPPE’S SHIRT, BUT AFTER AROUND 5 MINS., HE EVENTUALLY CONSULTED VAR OVER HIS DECISION, (WHICH OBVIOUSLY STOPPED THE MOMENTUM OF THE GAME) AND CHANGED HIS MIND! THERE WAS MORE ARGEY-BARGEY BETWEEN ALABA AND SAKA, WITH ALABA BEING AWARDED A YELLOW (WHICH SOME THOUGHT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RED) FOR A PARTICULARLY CLUMSY COMING-TOGETHER WITH SAKA, BUT THAT WOULD HAVE SEEN REAL MADRID DOWN TO 10 MEN. (WHO WOULD WANT TO BE IN HIS POSITION AT THAT MOMENT?😒) BUT HEY, HO, IT WAS A RIVETING MATCH, WITH BUKAYO SAKA MISSING A PENALTY IN THE FIRST HALF, AS THIBAUT COURTOIS (REAL’S GOALY) SAVED IT, (ALTHOUGH A FINER BUILD-UP TO THE SHOT YOU NEVER DID SEE), BUT IN THE SECOND-HALF (65 MINS.), SAKA LITERALLY LIFTED THE BALL OVER THE TOP OF COURTOIS AND INTO THE-BACK-OF-NET, WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PERSONAL REDEMPTION, AND SATISFACTION CLEAR FOR ALL TO SEE ON HIS CHEEKY FACE! SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, REAL MADRID’S VINICIUS JUNIOR NETTED A CORKER AT 67 MINS., BUT WITH GABRIEL MARTINELLI SCORING A STUNNING LATE FINISHER AT 90 +3 MINS., THE MATCH CONCLUDED IN AN EXCITING 2 – 1 WIN TO ARSENAL, (5 – 1 ON AGGREGATE) AND WITH THEM GOING THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINALS TO PLAY PSG NEXT!

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE : REAL MADRID VS ARSENAL – 16/04/2025