Real Madrid branded a 'disgrace' over terrible pitch that 'non-league referees would inspect and call off' for Women's Champions League win over Arsenal - with Gunners urged to make complaint to UEFA

Los Blancos might have spent in the billions to renovate the Santiago Bernabeu, but it seems that significant work needs to be done at the Alfredo Di Stafano Stadium at Valdebebas, which is used by Real Madrid Femenino and Real Madrid Castilla. The Gunners travelled to the Spanish capital to face Los Blancos in the first leg of the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finals and they had to play on a surface which looked heavy after a downpour.

Arsenal fans and neutrals alike were furious to see the match being played on that kind of a surface and vented their disappointment on X.

@CardyFreddie wrote: "I've seen non-league referees that would be closely inspecting this pitch, if not considering calling the game off. Looks a real struggle to play on and it's only going to get worse."

@ChrisLukeJones questioned: "How are Real Madrid playing on a bog, what is that pitch?"

@Anubhav_Dev_AFC lashed out and wrote: "The pitch at alfredo di stéfano stadium is a disgrace! Real Madrid could do better! @UWCL #uwcl #arsenal #RealMadrid".

Whereas, @curtis_harper wrote: "This Real Madrid women’s pitch is absolutely horrendous, seen better quality pitches in Sunday league."

Meanwhile, @I_am_Zagreus urged the club to take action: "Arsenal need to put in a complaint to UEFA about this pitch, it’s insultingly bad. Real Madrid genuinely do not care about their women’s team."

Arsenal legend Ian Wright, a known ally of the women's game, took to Instagram to vent his fury at the situation. He said: "Watching the Champions League quarter-final Real Madrid pitch, this is worse than Derby's pitch the other day. This is a fucking disgrace the pitches these girls have to play on."

Arsenal struggled to get a foothold in the match and conceded in each half to lose the first leg 2-0. Linda Caicedo made Leah Williamson pay for being sluggish to open the scoring while Athenea del Castillo finished off a swift counter-attack to secure a commanding lead for Los Blancos heading into the second leg.

The Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium had previously hosted Real Madrid’s senior team during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the club carried out major renovations at the Santiago Bernabeu. From June 2020 until the end of the 2020–21 season, Madrid played their home fixtures behind closed doors at the venue. The Spanish national team also used the stadium in September 2020, securing a 4-0 UEFA Nations League win over Ukraine.

With Arsenal sitting eight points adrift of Chelsea in the Women’s Super League , the Champions League remains their last realistic opportunity to win a trophy this season having already been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions. The second leg against Madrid comes back on home soil next week.