Tempers Flare in Tunnel After Penalty Miss, But Saka Redeems Himself to Seal Semi-Final Spot”
A heated confrontation erupted between Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal at half-time during Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final clash at the Bernabeu, moments after Saka’s audacious ‘Panenka’ penalty was saved by Thibaut Courtois.
The England winger quickly made amends in the second half with a sublime chipped finish, helping Arsenal secure a 5-1 aggregate victory and a place in the semi-finals. But the match was not without drama—as the players headed to the tunnel at the break, Carvajal, currently sidelined with injury, confronted Saka, grabbing him and exchanging words before tensions escalated.
Witnesses described Carvajal pulling Saka back as he tried to walk away, prompting an angry reaction from the Arsenal star. The situation intensified when the Spanish defender grabbed Saka by the neck before security and Arsenal staff intervened to separate the pair. Substitute Ben White also stepped in, urging Carvajal to back off before the Real Madrid veteran finally relented.
The clash carried echoes of their Euro 2024 final encounter, where Carvajal—who had marked Saka in Spain’s victory over England—appeared to taunt the winger with a ‘crying’ gesture. This time, however, Saka had the last laugh, shaking off his penalty disappointment to deliver a match-winning performance.
Speaking after the game, Saka remained philosophical about his missed spot-kick, telling TNT Sports: “It can happen. I tried something, but it didn’t work. I was still confident I’d score tonight. I learn from every moment—right now, I just want to enjoy the win.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta jokingly admitted he wanted to “slap” Saka for the risky penalty attempt but praised his resilience. “That moment could have swung the game emotionally, but the way he responded was incredible,” Arteta said.
With Arsenal now through to their third-ever Champions League semi-final, the focus shifts to their next challenge—while Carvajal and Saka’s simmering rivalry adds another fiery chapter to European football’s biggest stage.
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