It was the first meeting between these two sides and didn’t disappoint in an entertaining affair as Real were quick to take the lead.
Caicedo was the scorer after just 22 minutes when Kyra Cooney-Cross’ misplaced pass opened the door for the hosts to punish the Gunners on a lethal counter-attack.
And, even though they fought hard to get themselves back into the clash, Arsenal fell short with substitute Del Castillo doubling Real’s lead on 82 minutes.
Story of the Match
Perhaps what has been the most impressive part of Arsenal’s transformation under Renee Slegers is their efforts in adapting to different challenges, whether anticipated or not.
The Gunners have proved so often this season that they are worthy of winning another Champions League title – having won their first in 2007 – but will face an uphill battle at the Emirates after losing out on the chance to take an advantage from this tie.
The surface inside the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium was admittedly the challenge that Arsenal had to overcome if they wanted to get a result out of the first leg in Madrid, and it was partly down to the inconsistent ground that gifted the hosts their opening goal.
Initially, Cooney-Cross tried to play a ball through to Gunners captain Kim Little but, in a timely manner, she was intercepted by Signe Bruun, who found Caicedo running towards goal in the middle of the pitch.
From there, Bruun’s forward pass was too quick and, on the wet and unpredictable surface, found its way past Leah Williamson – who should have cleared the danger – before the Real forward steered the ball into the bottom left corner after 21 minutes.
Slegers’ efforts to reinvigorate her side’s chances of equalising came in the form of Chloe Kelly and Caitlin Foord being brought on as substitutes at the interval.
But, even though Real were forced into substitutions themselves – with Melanie Leupolz going off after looking to have suffered a severe injury to her knee – it was the hosts who doubled their advantage with eight minutes to go.
Del Castillo, who was introduced less than 10 minutes before the goal, received the ball on the left before cutting in from 19 yards out, sending a fierce, low effort into the bottom right corner.
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger did get a touch, but the shot was too forceful as it rippled the net at the bottom right corner.
Caido’s opener set the tone for a very entertaining tie come the half-time interval, with Arsenal displaying a much more attacking-
On the stroke of half-time, Former Real midfielder Mariona Caldentey, facing her old club, tapped the ball towards Beth Mead on the edge of the area before the England international dispatched a thunderous volley towards the bottom left corner, but slipped just wide at the foot of the left post.
Arsenal found themselves the much more deserving side for a goal in the opening stages and, if it wasn’t for Misa Rodriguez after 19 minutes, Arsenal would have taken a lead.
Alessia Russo spotted the run of Stina Blackstenius in-behind and supplied it with an inch-perfect pass, to which the forward found the space to unleash an effort on goal.
From the left side of the penalty area, Blackstenius dispatched a powerful strike that was on its way into the back of the net before Rodriguez pushed it aside emphatically.
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