If ever a team had embodied the football cliche of 'a wounded animal', it was Arsenal before last night's match.
A run of poor form and a spate of injuries left many predicting an emphatic win for a Real Madrid side which had won 10 of their last 11 games.
Instead, the Gunners made history.
A famous 1-0 win - courtesy of Thierry Henry's solo goal - saw Arsenal become the first English side to win at the Bernabeu Stadium.
There had been eight attempts by English clubs over the years dating back as far as 1957, when Manchester United lost 3-1. United have been back on three more occasions, in 1968, 2000 and 2003. They drew the first two and lost the other 3-1.
Bobby Robson's Ipswich Town had tried and failed in 1973, drawing 0-0 in the Spanish capital. Derby County had been swept aside 5-1 in 1975 and, more recently in 2001, David O’Leary’s Leeds United lost 3-2.
Only one other London club had faced Madrid — Arsenal’s neighbours Tottenham Hotspur 11 years ago. But Spurs only managed a goalless draw.
Arsenal did more than that last night. They overcame the odds, confounded the critics and produced a performance to be proud of.
Here is a complete list of English clubs' competitive ventures to the Bernabeu Stadium:
Apr 8 2003
Champions League, Manchester United (Lost 3-1)
Mar 3 2001
Champions League, Leeds United (Lost 3-2)
Apr 4 2000
Champions League, Manchester United (Drew 0-0)
Mar 20 1985
UEFA Cup, Tottenham Hotspur (Drew 0-0)
Nov 5 1975
European Cup, Derby County (Lost 5-1)
Oct 3 1973
UEFA Cup, Ipswich Town (Drew 0-0)
May 15 1968
European Cup, Manchester United (Drew 3-3)
Apr 11 1957
European Cup, Manchester United (Lost 3-1)
