We came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Real Madrid in the UEFA Women’s Champions League on Wednesday night.

Caroline Weir volleyed in the opener but Alessia Russo pulled us level with a header from a Chloe Kelly cross. Russo then completed her brace with another header from a Beth Mead corner.

FIRST HALF

We had the first sight of goal when the ball was given away in a dangerous area and Kyra Cooney-Cross hit it from the edge of the 18-yard box, but the shot was blocked.

Kelly’s corner was then headed wide by Frida Maanum, before Caroline Weir’s shot was blocked by Lotte Wubben-Moy at the other end.

Russo turned in from the left wing and found Olivia Smith moments later, and she fired just over the bar from the edge of the area with power.

Kelly then played it forward for Maanum, who delivered a sumptuous cross around the backline for Russo, but her shot was straight at Misa Rodriguez and the flag was raised for offside.

We continued to hunt the opener as Smith dribbled into the 18-yard box and went down under pressure but the referee didn’t see enough to award a penalty.

Madrid had a chance when Naomie Feller got in behind and curled an effort straight at Daphne van Domselaar, only for the offside flag to go up.

But they did make the breakthrough on the brink of half-time, a free-kick cleared only as far as Weir, who volleyed it into the back of the net.

SECOND HALF

Linda Caicedo shot into the side netting in an early chance at the start of the second half for Madrid, before Weir fired straight into Van Domselaar’s gloves.

At the other end, Smith cut in from the left and saw her shot blocked, before we got the equaliser as Kelly’s cross was attacked by Russo and it looped over Rodriguez for 1-1.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper spilled our next powerful effort from Smith, but was able to regain possession. Van Domselaar looked more convincing as she got behind Yasmim’s flicked effort moments later.

Mariona Caldentey’s cross from the right then reached Smith at the far post but she shot too centrally on the volley to trouble Rodriguez.

We made our first changes in the 63rd minute with Caitlin Foord and Mead coming on for Smith and Kelly.

Mead made an instant impact, whipping a corner in for Russo to head us into a 2-1 lead.

Yasmim struck just wide of the bottom right in an effort to respond for Madrid, and we looked for our third when Mead put Russo through on goal, who cushioned it just wide as the offside flag was raised.

Hunting a hat-trick, Russo rode a challenge and smacked the ball just wide of the bottom left from distance, before she was then played in by Cooney-Cross and saw a curling effort denied by Rodriguez with the flag again going up for offside.

We made two further changes with three minutes to go, Stina Blackstenius and Taylor Hinds coming on for Russo and McCabe.

Into five minutes of added time, we made one more change as Laia Codina came on for Cooney-Cross.

After managing to restrict Madrid to few clear cut chances, we held on for three precious points.

WHAT’S NEXT

Following the international break, we return to Emirates Stadium for the visit of Liverpool in the Barclays Women’s Super League at 12pm on Saturday, December 6. Then, we’re back at Meadow Park against Twente in the Champions League for an 8pm kick-off on Tuesday, December 9.

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