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.