Arsenal beat Real Madrid, 2-1, in the second leg of its Champions League quarterfinal. The result, coupled with its impressive 3-0 victory in Game 1, eliminated Madrid and pushed Arsenal into the semifinals of the tournament for the first time since 2009.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. Madrid has built a solid reputation for itself a Champions League escape artist, and there is no first leg result it cannot overturn. Madridistas have a word for it: remontada, Spanish for "comeback."
Madrid's famous modern Champions League remontada came in 2017, when the team fell 4-0 to Paris Saint Germain only to beat it 6-1 in the second leg and eliminate it on aggregate. Dozens of Champions League remontadas have come for Madrid since then. In 2021-22, Madrid managed three in a row — against Paris, Chelsea and finally Manchester City — en route to lifting the Champions League trophy. The feeling across Europe has always been than Madrid is unbeatable in a two-legged tie.
“We have had previous experiences. These feelings are contagious," said Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti after his team's humiliating 3-0 loss to Arsenal in Game 1. "It was almost immediate, on the bus, even though we weren’t like we are now.”
Arsenal lined up for this game as if it had no advantage whatsoever; from coach Mikel Arteta's perspective, Madrid's remontada spirit nullified Arsenal's 3-0 lead.
"It is part of their history and I understand it,” Arteta said of Madrid's taste for comeback victories. “They have the right to think of that scenario.
"Our mindset has to be different. We try to repeat the opposite message to what they have in the last 72 hours."
That's precisely what Arsenal did. From the very first minute, the team was aggressive, purposeful and unafraid. It bullied Madrid on and off the ball and worked hard to make the game frenetic and physical. Madrid earned its first yellow card after just four minutes; many more would follow as the game devolved into chaos.
The first half was a tale of two penalties that weren't. Arsenal's came first when Raul Asencio took down Mikel Merino in the box; wunderkind Bukayo Saka flubbed his shot directly at goalkeeper Thibault Courtois and wasted the opportunity.
Real Madrid's came moments later, when Declan Rice pulled Kylian Mbappe down on the other end of the field. Rice's challenge was near-identical to Asencio's moments before, and the referee duly awarded Real Madrid a penalty. An interminable six-minute VAR check followed — and after much deliberation, the penalty was overturned. Madrid was rightly furious, and the half ended at 0-0.
Arsenal struck first in the second half, with Saka making up for his penalty miss by finishing off a gorgeous team passing move. But Madrid leveled almost immediately when Arsenal defender William Saliba misplayed the ball inside his own penalty box.
Vini Jr. — Madrid's talented, controversial winger — seized the opportunity and fired the ball into the net. For a moment, it felt like the remontada was on.
As the minutes ticked down, though, Arsenal kept Madrid quiet — and kept the score at 1-1.
Polish defender Jakub Kiwior, in the starting eleven due to a handful of injuries, was a big part of how Arsenal pulled if off. He isn't exactly beloved among the Arsenal fandom, but the stats don't lie: Arsenal hasn't lost a single game this season that Kiwior has started
The energy slowly drained out of the Bernabeu as Arsenal's confidence grew. With the final whistle just seconds away, Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli found a winner. It was the perfect way to cap off one of Arsenal's biggest and best European results of all time: the team advanced with a bang, not a whimper.
Questions will be asked about Real Madrid's commitment and competitiveness, and rightfully so. This is a team capable of the sport's greatest remontadas, but it simply wasn't able to pull one off today. Has Ancelotti lost his magic touch? Or was this Arsenal side simply too strong for Madrid to overcome?
Arsenal fans will hope it's the latter. The club has never won the Champions League and hasn't appeared in the final since 2006. If this Arsenal side can flip the script on Madrid and its famous remontadas, then surely it can flip the script on its own Champions League history.
Arsenal will continue its Champions League journey with a two-legged semifinal against Paris Saint Germain starting on April 29.
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The Alexander Isak transfer saga has intensified over the past 24 hours, with the Newcastle United striker making his position unmistakably clear. “When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue," the Swedish international posted on Instagram. He added that his desire to leave St. James’ Park was communicated long ago and insisted a move is “in the best interests of everyone.” The growing rift was further underlined when Isak skipped the PFA Team of the Season ceremony despite being named in the XI. Newcastle responded with a firm statement of its own, denying that any assurances had been made to sanction his exit. The club stressed that Isak remains under contract and that a sale would only be considered if certain conditions, like securing an adequate replacement, are met. Liverpool, meanwhile, continues to circle. An opening bid of around £110M ($148.3M) was rejected, but reports now suggest the Premier League champions are preparing an offer closer to £130M ($175.3M). Such a figure would eclipse the British transfer record, though Newcastle is reportedly holding out for closer to £150M ($202.2M). The stand-off is beginning to take its toll internally. Isak has refused to take part in preseason, sat out the opening league fixture and has been training away from the first-team group, clear signals of his frustration. Captain Bruno Guimaraes, in contrast, appeared to show solidarity with the club by posting an image of himself in Newcastle colors on social media. All eyes now turn to Aug. 25, when Newcastle hosts Liverpool in what is shaping up to be a pivotal fixture both on and off the pitch. The outcome of that contest, and the negotiations leading into it, could determine whether Newcastle dig in or relent under the weight of Liverpool’s record-breaking intent. For Newcastle, the decision is stark. It could bank a huge fee that could reshape the squad, or risk prolonging a damaging standoff with its star striker. For Isak, the next steps may finally decide whether his future lies on Tyneside or elsewhere.
The Pittsburgh Steelers surprisingly had a few quality undrafted free agents during 2025 training camp and preseason, as many of them have put up an actual fight to make it to the 53-man roster. Unfortunately, there is very little room on the team, so some very tough decisions will have to be made on that front. Guys like Max Hurleman and JJ Galbreath have been stating their case throughout camp and into gameday, giving the coaching staff a good problem. One decision was surprisingly easy, however. During his weekly Q A chat, insider Ray Fittipaldo was asked about undrafted rookie Roc Taylor and why he was let go right after the preseason Week 2 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spoke about something that happened right before that contest. "[Roc Taylor] actually got in Tomlin's doghouse at the joint practice," Fittipaldo said. "Not sure if that's the sole reason he was cut, but maybe part of it." Fittipaldo would not expand on what happened, but head coach Mike Tomlin saw enough of the rookie before gameday. It looked like Taylor would at least get first dibs on a practice-squad spot if he was released on roster cutdown day, but now, it seems like his chance of developing in Pittsburgh is gone entirely. Now, he is just hoping someone gives him a call for a chance to be on a practice squad elsewhere. It seemed like Taylor's stock was rising after preseason Week 2. Hurleman had a very rough game, and the former Memphis Tigers standout had three receptions for 39 yards against the Bucs. He was the second-leading receiver on the team, only behind Roman Wilson. It looked like he was forcing himself onto a roster spot, but apparently, Tomlin might have just been waiting until after the game to tell him to pack his bags and try again somewhere else. Steelers' recent receiver issues make Taylor cut even more concerning What makes this decision even more rough is the fact that the Steelers have three receivers who are not healthy at all. Calvin Austin III is trying to return after missing multiple weeks of practice with an injury, Ben Skowronek recently developed a toe issue and utility man Jonnu Smith has barely participated in practice since July. Spots were opening up for undrafted rookies to take, but Taylor may have said or done something inexcusable enough to lose that chance. The Steelers entered training camp with questionable wide receiver depth, and now it's only more concerning. Wilson's recent development has been the bright spot of the preseason at that position, as Scotty Miller has been taking over the role of WR3 since the game against Tampa Bay. That's why they brought in another possibly injured veteran, Gabe Davis, for a visit, and now they may be hoping that he does not sign elsewhere. Instead of Taylor taking the opportunity to push for a roster spot, guys like Hurleman and Brandon Johnson will be looking to make the team and stick around as numerous players recover from their injuries. With Davis having another visit on Wednesday and the Steelers playing in the preseason finale on Thursday, he most likely will not be signed until after that game. That means the bubble players can prove to the team that they don't need him. It's not public in regards to what Taylor did to get himself in trouble, but he could have had this prime opportunity to be on an active roster as an undrafted rookie. He could have easily been above Hurleman and Johnson on the depth chart. Instead, he is just hoping he makes any team's practice squad now.
Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard patched things up Sunday after years of feuding. But even while describing their rapprochement, O'Neal couldn't keep from teasing his longtime nemesis. The "Big Aristotle" was at the BIG3 playoffs Sunday to watch Howard's L.A. Riot play the Chicago Triplets. In the middle of describing to Rachel Nichols how he and Howard had made peace, O'Neal broke off his explanation to make fun of Howard for missing a dunk. The two Hall of Fame centers had sparred for years, despite their common ground as former members of the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers. Some of the tension seemed to be due to Howard adopting O'Neal's "Superman" nickname, though O'Neal claimed to Nichols that he was simply being tough on Howard to motivate him. That explanation doesn't account for the time O'Neal mocked Howard for playing basketball in the Taiwanese league or the decade-plus he's spent roasting Howard on his podcast, in public appearances and on "Inside the NBA." Still, it appears that the two have made peace. Despite O'Neal being left off the original list of presenters, he insisted that he'll be among a group of Hall of Famers inducting Howard Sept. 6, including Dominique Wilkins, Robert Parish, Dennis Rodman and Patrick Ewing. It means that two of the most dominant big men of their eras have finally buried the hatchet. It's added a new level of interest to the Hall of Fame ceremonies, and it should be a sweet moment between O'Neal and Howard. As long as Howard doesn't mention Superman.
The St. Louis Cardinals have seemingly waved the white flag on the season and the fan base is already preparing to riot for the call up and big league debut of top prospect JJ Wetherholt. Wetherholt is slashing .310/.403/.670 with nine home runs, a triple, and seven doubles in less than 30 games at the Triple-A level. Thomas Gauvain of Redbird Rants recently suggested that Wetherholt wasn't in the big leagues because he is blocked from receiving consistent playing time. Why hasn't JJ Wetherholt been called up yet? "Even with third baseman Nolan Arenado and second baseman Brendan Donovan on the IL, St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol is trying to squeeze in playing time for Masyn Winn, Nolan Gorman, and Thomas Saggese," Gauvain wrote. "Alec Burleson and Ivan Herrera are rotating between corner outfield duties and designated hitter appearances. There's not much time or space for Wetherholt on the major-league roster as things currently stand. "You don't promote a prospect of Wetherholt's caliber unless you intend on playing him every day. There's an argument that you make the roster work around JJ Wetherholt rather than the other way around, but the focus throughout the 2025 season in the majors has been to give young players full runway to prove their value or lack thereof. Bumping down Thomas Saggese, who is still only 23 and is 11 for his last 41, and Nolan Gorman, who has a .936 OPS over his last 11 games, for Wetherholt is a difficult argument to make." Every player listed who is supposedly blocking Wetherholt from receiving consistent playing time is under contract for next season, too. Would that mean the Cardinals would leave their top prospect in Triple-A next year? This doesn't make too much sense, as Wetherholt is the level of prospect that a team builds around. If he was the team's fifth or sixth ranked prospect, this argument would make sense. But he's the fifth or sixth ranked prospect in all of baseball. The star infielder has proved he can dominate at Triple-A. It's time for the Cardinals to bring him up to the big leagues to see what he can do. The rest of the roster can form around him.