well no doubt about it gunning for victory the home side tonight we're in north london the home
of arsenal i'm derek ray your match commentator and alongside providing all the tactical and
technical analysis it's stuart robson and what we have for you tonight is live champions league
group stage match day one action it's arsenal taking on real madrid yes cheers derek well what
an occasion it is for this club and its supporters these are the games that they dream of no doubting
they're the underdogs if they can frustrate their opponents stay in the game up until half time
you just never know hopefully we get a great cup tie and maybe even a massive surprise
and this is the arsenal starting eleven aaron ramsdale as the goalkeeper
thomas parte starts alongside martin erdogan
in central midfield and the starting role an attack is handed to alex lacazette
and the starting eleven for real madrid thibault courtois begins in goals
capra hal starts with fed lomendi in the fullback positions kylian mbappe starts with vinicius jr
in the wide areas and operating through the middle and attack today karim benzema
it's the opening match day champions league group stage match day one underway
promising sequence
always lost possession
and an astute piece of defending
modric
the ball with luka modric
ball's gone and the pass was just that little bit off nearly found its target
from vape
untidy in possession there an encouraging arsenal move
party
you could pick out a teammate the ball back with arsenal now
kieran tierney
and the goalkeeper has outdone himself with that same
and over it comes but into the keepers gloves
well it's a really poor challenge now what's the referee going to do about it and he does produce
the yellow card yeah it certainly deserved a yellow it's a poor challenge you have to say
oh
well he didn't miss by much fantastic effort especially from that sort of range
well it really is a good effort he's got such good technique that was a great strike
arsenal move it forward with purpose and control
well it was a promising avenue of attack but the momentum has been halted
you wouldn't be surprised to see they can't hand it out and yellow it is a booking yeah
he was too impatient to win the ball and probably deserved a yellow card
oh
and deep into the penalty area
casimiro
very comfortable when in possession
you can't really tackle like that and expect to get away with it booking
to come you would think well he's gone into the referee's notebook
and he can't be surprised that was a poor challenge you have to say
takes on the shots decent technique but the goalkeeper did his job
benzema takes it forward now
still pushing for that goal that would see them forge ahead can they forge ahead
they do and you've got to say they're good value for the lead
well here's the replay and it all starts with the delivery into the box just begging someone
to get on the end of it and he makes the finish look so easy what a good goal that is
so the game restarted by arsenal a wake-up call for the arsenal players perhaps
can they construct a response
arsenal's free kick here
it comes to absolutely nothing
while keeping hold of the ball is what it's all about for them
on to benzema
just cutting off the supply
and they'll get ready for the throw-in
benzema keeping it moving dynamically casimiro
now that's gone out and it is going to be a goal kick
loconga
showing patience looking for the equalizer well didn't go as a plan in the end
himself up the ball
delivering it still possibilities
and it will be an arsenal free kick
we will have three minutes of additional time at the end here
casimiro really sitting deep now that could be problematic benzema
the ball with luka modric
casimiro interception to snuff out the danger
well that's going to be all for the first half here at the home of arsenal
another verdict on kylian mbappe in a word positive well i thought he had a really effective
first half not only did he get the goal that gave him the lead but his general play was really good
he was a constant threat and i'm sure we'll see more of him in the second half
and so the second half of this champions league group stage match day one contest
commences happy just to retain the ball in their own half and throw out the opposition benzema
this is course benzema casimiro
onto benzema
and vape had a chance to whip it in here
and a throw in it's going to be
arsenal have given us away
benzema and benzema making a more than decent run vinicius casimiro
tommy yasuo arsenal pushing forward with options available
and return to aubameyang and a promising looking attack but comes to nothing in the end
danger here as he runs at them but quick thinking defensively
well we have 30 minutes to go for osaka it's with erdogan now he must favor the cross
party
how can they make one of these passes count and the keepers showing tremendous
command well just listen to the crowd they know this is a big chance to equalise
and they will make the change now
corner kick played in well no end products
advantage arsenal jacka tierney
moving the ball nicely trying to carve out the equalizer offside by a fraction and he
decided to let the play flow but now he's going to issue a yellow card yeah i think
that's good referee he tried to play the advantage substitution for real madrid
tony course david alaba this is course now casemiro
mendy of course great block well let's see what they have in store for them on the break
well just listen to these arsenal fans they're certainly driving their team forward here
it's a good looking bald and behind we wondered who was going to win the race
the answer the goalkeeper
well as you can see this catches everybody by surprise
look where he is when he strikes it that's a great goal
back underway level pegging one girl a piece in this game
before would they go again can they win this tony course now casimiro in strongly decisively
just 10 minutes remaining here
karine benzema
it might still be problematic
on a time for composure on the ball
martin erdogan
obama yang but really sticking to the task defensively counter attacking very much an option
setting off perhaps a little bit too much here
well nothing comes of it
aubameyang and a good looking ball
making sure it didn't get past him
and with that the 90 minutes have come to an end an even contest