Bukayo Saka went from zero to hero in Arsenal’s amazing Champions League quarter-final win at Real Madrid. He missed a “Panenka” penalty, was involved in a tunnel bust-up and then scored the his side’s opener in their 2-1 win on the night, sealing a 5-1 aggregate victory.
It had looked like the Panenka miss could be costly, as Thibaut Courtois read it easily and parried away. It meant Arsenal missed the chance to go 4-0 up on aggregate with an early goal at the Bernabéu. The Englishman was then confronted by injured Madrid defender Dani Carvajal at half-time, seemingly over the manner in which he had taken the spot-kick.
But with Saka it is never that simple and he bounced back with a brilliant chipped finish in the second half. Here is how it unfolded…
The ‘Panenka’
Decision
Getting a penalty was not even on Arsenal’s radar as Courtois caught Declan Rice’s corner and tried to get Real Madrid up the pitch. When play had stopped, some 90 seconds later, French referee François Letexier rushed over to the pitchside monitor on the request of VAR.
He watched as Mikel Merino was having his shirt pulled and being held by Real centre-back Raúl Asencio, who hauled the Arsenal midfielder to the ground as the corner came in. Champions League winner Rio Ferdinand commented on TNT Sports that it was “suicidal” defending. It was an easy decision to give the penalty.
Wait
It did take time for Letexier to trot over to the monitor, make his decision and then get back to the penalty area. The delay in play for a VAR decision was frustrating – and would get worse later in the game. But at the time Arsenal needed to protect Saka from Real players getting in his face and trying to get in his head with any comments as he prepared for the penalty.
Martin Odegaard took control of the ball and stood on the spot, waiting for the commotion to settle before Saka stepped forward to take the spot-kick. This all took time. And as is the trend with modern penalty-takers, they take their time after the whistle to show they are in control of the situation, rather than rushed.
Penalty kick
It takes nerve to even attempt a Panenka. But Saka got it all wrong on this occasion. There was no disguise in his run-up. He did not keep an eye on Courtois to see him move early and floated his chip in the direction of the Belgium keeper. Had it gone down the middle there would have been a chance of finding the net. Courtois easily got a glove on the effort and pushed it away.
BUKAYO SAKA MISSES! ⛔
Real Madrid have a lifeline…
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/1meC2fURLC
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2025
Reaction
Arsenal fans looked stunned into silence in the stands, while Courtois led the celebrations. The Real keeper roared in the face of his team-mates and whipped up the crowd behind him. TNT Sports broadcasters could not believe Saka tried such a penalty, rather than fire it into one of the corners.
After the game even Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted he could not believe what had happened. He said of Saka: “I didn’t want to die but maybe I wanted to slap him! He made that decision, he was bold enough to do it. I was more concerned about the emotional part, what it could do for us.”
Bust-up
The drama was not finished there, though, with injured Madrid full-back Carvajal – who would normally have been marking Saka – confronting him as the teams went in for half-time. Saka reacted angrily, with Carvajal pursuing him towards the tunnel. Arsenal defender Ben White was among those who intervened as the situation threatened to spiral out of control as Carvajal put his hand on the back of Saka’s neck.
🔥🔥🔥 ¡OJO! ¡Dani Carvajal se fue a por Saka en el descanso!
El capitán, que no puede jugar por lesión, recriminó al delantero su intento de colar un penalti a lo Panenka 🔥🔥🔥📹 @jdelriomuradaspic.twitter.com/zBscrXMg3e
— MARCA (@marca) April 16, 2025
The redemption goal
You cannot keep a good man down, and Saka bounced back in the best way possible with Arsenal’s first goal in the Bernabéu. In it, Saka actually plays a crucial role before his eventual finish. After David Raya’s punt forward, Declan Rice flicks the ball on as Real’s defenders are confused over who should be going for the header, with both of them leaving Arsenal’s winger free down the right flank.
ARSENAL HAVE THEIR GOAL! ⚽
Bukayo Saka keeps his composure as he lifts the ball over Courtois 🥶
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/RvGxtgl3EB
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2025
After holding the ball up and passing, Saka’s movement on the edge of the area is world class as Arsenal keep the ball. He moves behind Antonio Rüdiger and towards a central area, waiting for the moment to make his run. Rice sees his run and plays the perfect ball through. With just Courtois to beat, the finish is perfect. He chips his finish over the goalkeeper – showing that he can score with a delicate finish when necessary.
The ‘Starboy’ bounces back again
Saka is only 23 but has shown remarkable resilience during his career after missing a shoot-out spot-kick in the European Championship final four years ago. It led to horrendous racist abuse and a period he admits was difficult. But as he explained earlier this season: “I had a conversation with myself and said I can either go into a shell and hide and not express myself any more, or I can do the opposite, which is work even harder and become a better player in every other aspect.”
At the Bernabéu he bounced back in the very same game. While some players allow missed penalties to affect their game, Saka played a critical role in Arsenal having complete control of the tie despite the setback. This included his running behind Real’s full-backs and holding the ball up to retain possession.
This was another case of Saka shrugging off adversity to show the very best of himself, as he has also done for England.
A penalty for Real Madrid is overturned following a VAR review on Declan Rice’s challenge.
The deadlock is yet to be broken at the Bernabéu 🔐
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/i78Fon4BWn
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2025
Bukayo Saka went from zero to hero in Arsenal’s amazing Champions League quarter-final win at Real Madrid. He missed a “Panenka” penalty, was involved in a tunnel bust-up and then scored the his side’s opener in their 2-1 win on the night, sealing a 5-1 aggregate victory.
It had looked like the Panenka miss could be costly, as Thibaut Courtois read it easily and parried away. It meant Arsenal missed the chance to go 4-0 up on aggregate with an early goal at the Bernabéu. The Englishman was then confronted by injured Madrid defender Dani Carvajal at half-time, seemingly over the manner in which he had taken the spot-kick.
But with Saka it is never that simple and he bounced back with a brilliant chipped finish in the second half. Here is how it unfolded…
The ‘Panenka’
Decision
Getting a penalty was not even on Arsenal’s radar as Courtois caught Declan Rice’s corner and tried to get Real Madrid up the pitch. When play had stopped, some 90 seconds later, French referee François Letexier rushed over to the pitchside monitor on the request of VAR.
He watched as Mikel Merino was having his shirt pulled and being held by Real centre-back Raúl Asencio, who hauled the Arsenal midfielder to the ground as the corner came in. Champions League winner Rio Ferdinand commented on TNT Sports that it was “suicidal” defending. It was an easy decision to give the penalty.
Wait
It did take time for Letexier to trot over to the monitor, make his decision and then get back to the penalty area. The delay in play for a VAR decision was frustrating – and would get worse later in the game. But at the time Arsenal needed to protect Saka from Real players getting in his face and trying to get in his head with any comments as he prepared for the penalty.
Martin Odegaard took control of the ball and stood on the spot, waiting for the commotion to settle before Saka stepped forward to take the spot-kick. This all took time. And as is the trend with modern penalty-takers, they take their time after the whistle to show they are in control of the situation, rather than rushed.
Penalty kick
It takes nerve to even attempt a Panenka. But Saka got it all wrong on this occasion. There was no disguise in his run-up. He did not keep an eye on Courtois to see him move early and floated his chip in the direction of the Belgium keeper. Had it gone down the middle there would have been a chance of finding the net. Courtois easily got a glove on the effort and pushed it away.
BUKAYO SAKA MISSES! ⛔
Real Madrid have a lifeline…
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/1meC2fURLC
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2025
Reaction
Arsenal fans looked stunned into silence in the stands, while Courtois led the celebrations. The Real keeper roared in the face of his team-mates and whipped up the crowd behind him. TNT Sports broadcasters could not believe Saka tried such a penalty, rather than fire it into one of the corners.
After the game even Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted he could not believe what had happened. He said of Saka: “I didn’t want to die but maybe I wanted to slap him! He made that decision, he was bold enough to do it. I was more concerned about the emotional part, what it could do for us.”
Bust-up
The drama was not finished there, though, with injured Madrid full-back Carvajal – who would normally have been marking Saka – confronting him as the teams went in for half-time. Saka reacted angrily, with Carvajal pursuing him towards the tunnel. Arsenal defender Ben White was among those who intervened as the situation threatened to spiral out of control as Carvajal put his hand on the back of Saka’s neck.
🔥🔥🔥 ¡OJO! ¡Dani Carvajal se fue a por Saka en el descanso!
El capitán, que no puede jugar por lesión, recriminó al delantero su intento de colar un penalti a lo Panenka 🔥🔥🔥📹 @jdelriomuradaspic.twitter.com/zBscrXMg3e
— MARCA (@marca) April 16, 2025
The redemption goal
You cannot keep a good man down, and Saka bounced back in the best way possible with Arsenal’s first goal in the Bernabéu. In it, Saka actually plays a crucial role before his eventual finish. After David Raya’s punt forward, Declan Rice flicks the ball on as Real’s defenders are confused over who should be going for the header, with both of them leaving Arsenal’s winger free down the right flank.
ARSENAL HAVE THEIR GOAL! ⚽
Bukayo Saka keeps his composure as he lifts the ball over Courtois 🥶
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/RvGxtgl3EB
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2025
After holding the ball up and passing, Saka’s movement on the edge of the area is world class as Arsenal keep the ball. He moves behind Antonio Rüdiger and towards a central area, waiting for the moment to make his run. Rice sees his run and plays the perfect ball through. With just Courtois to beat, the finish is perfect. He chips his finish over the goalkeeper – showing that he can score with a delicate finish when necessary.
The ‘Starboy’ bounces back again
Saka is only 23 but has shown remarkable resilience during his career after missing a shoot-out spot-kick in the European Championship final four years ago. It led to horrendous racist abuse and a period he admits was difficult. But as he explained earlier this season: “I had a conversation with myself and said I can either go into a shell and hide and not express myself any more, or I can do the opposite, which is work even harder and become a better player in every other aspect.”
At the Bernabéu he bounced back in the very same game. While some players allow missed penalties to affect their game, Saka played a critical role in Arsenal having complete control of the tie despite the setback. This included his running behind Real’s full-backs and holding the ball up to retain possession.
This was another case of Saka shrugging off adversity to show the very best of himself, as he has also done for England.
A penalty for Real Madrid is overturned following a VAR review on Declan Rice’s challenge.
The deadlock is yet to be broken at the Bernabéu 🔐
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/i78Fon4BWn
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2025
