Real Madrid's women's team competed in London but lost 2-1 to Arsenal, the European champions, in the fourth matchday of the Champions League. Pau Quesada's side took the lead with a goal from Caroline Weir, but Alessia Russo turned the game around with two headers in the second half. This defeat leaves Madrid with seven points in the tournament.
Pau Quesada's Real Madrid showed signs of progress in the Women's Champions League but suffered a setback with a 2-1 loss to Arsenal on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Under intense cold in London, the white team competed against the current European champions, who had only won one previous match in the competition after losses to Lyon and Bayern.
Quesada lined up Feller as a false nine to exploit her speed, with Filippa Angeldahl and Sara Däbritz in the double pivot, and Caroline Weir, Linda Caicedo, and Athenea del Castillo supporting the attack. Madrid appeared compact in the first half, frustrating Arsenal's ideas under coach Renée Slegers. Norwegian Manaum had the clearest chance, but her header from a Chloe Kelly corner went just wide of Misa Rodríguez's post.
The whites found the goal just before halftime: Weir smashed a fantastic right-footed volley after a free kick from Däbritz. In the second half, Madrid pressed high, with shots from Caicedo and Weir that didn't pay off. However, Arsenal turned it around quickly. Alessia Russo equalized with a header from a Chloe Kelly cross that bounced off María Méndez and beat Misa. Minutes later, Russo sealed the comeback with another comfortable header from a corner, despite Angeldahl's protests over minimal contact.
Quesada responded with substitutions: Sheila, Keukelaar, Alba Redondo, Irene Dorado, and Iris Ashley came on, but it wasn't enough to level. This marks Madrid's first Champions League defeat this season, four days after losing the Clásico to Barça. They beat Paris a month ago, but it revives bitter memories of last season's 3-0 quarterfinal elimination in London. The team will fight for its league phase position against Wolfsburg and Twente, with seven points after four matchdays.