Titleholder Arsenal and Real Madrid cruise into women’s Champions League quarterfinals

LONDON — Reigning champion Arsenal and Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid booked their places in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarterfinals with commanding home victories on Wednesday, setting the stage for two all-Spanish and all-English ties in the last eight.

At a rain-lashed Meadow Park in Boreham Wood, England forward Alessia Russo struck either side of halftime to lift Arsenal to a 3-1 win over Belgium’s OH Leuven and a 7-1 aggregate triumph. Rusmo’s double took her competition-leading tally to seven goals and ensured the Gunners will face domestic rivals Chelsea in the next round.

Russo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, swiveling smartly to dispatch a first-time shot, and sealed the tie in the 90th with an almost identical finish into the far corner. Hungary midfielder Sára Pusztai briefly levelled for Leuven in the 29th, but Mariona Caldentey restored Arsenal’s advantage from the penalty spot midway through the second half.

Arsenal, which captured the trophy in 2007 when it was known as the UEFA Women’s Super Cup, remains the only English side ever to lift Europe’s premier women’s club prize. Earlier this month the north Londoners added the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup to their honors list.

In the Spanish capital, Real Madrid defeated France’s Paris FC 2-0 at Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano, progressing 5-2 on aggregate and earning a quarterfinal Clásico showdown with three-time champion Barcelona.

France striker Naomie Feller broke the deadlock in the 54th minute, steering home a close-range volley after an inviting cross from right back Eva Navarro. Navarro was the architect again for Madrid’s second, her driven ball across the face of goal forcing Paris defender Melween N’Dongala to turn into her own net midway through the second half.

Paris’ uphill task became steeper after only five minutes when defender Théa Greboval was sent off for tugging back Feller as the striker raced through on goal. Madrid should have gone ahead in the 36th minute when Caroline Weir saw her penalty saved by former teammate Mylène Chavas after Océane Picard’s handball.

The revamped competition format mirrors the men’s event, with an 18-team league phase followed by playoffs. Barcelona, Lyon, Chelsea and Bayern Munich advanced directly to the quarters as top-four finishers, while sides placed fifth to 12th—including Arsenal and Real Madrid—entered the two-legged playoffs.

The remaining last-16 ties conclude Thursday, when Juventus welcomes two-time champion Wolfsburg with the score level at 2-2 and Manchester United defends a 3-0 lead at home to Atlético Madrid.