Champions League Preview: Real Madrid v Arsenal – Gunners Aim to Finish the Job in Spain

Arsenal head to Spain with a giant benefit as they put together to face Real Madrid in the second leg of their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie. The Gunners surprised the 15-time champions with a 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium final week, and now look to shield that lead at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday evening.

Midfielder Declan Rice, who scored two good free kicks in the first leg, might be key as soon as once more for Mikel Arteta’s facet. In the meantime, Madrid will hope their world-class assault, together with Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, lastly comes to life after a quiet displaying in London.

Regardless of the scoreline, Real Madrid stay harmful—particularly at residence, the place they’ve staged a few of the best comebacks in Champions League historical past.

Match Particulars

• Date: Wednesday, 16 April

• Time: 8 p.m. UK

• Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

• Referee: François Letexier (France)

• VAR: Jérôme Brisard (France)

• Workforce Information

Real Madrid

• Out: Camavinga (suspended), Lunin (muscle), Militão (knee), Mendy (hamstring), Carvajal (knee)

• Uncertain: Ceballos (hamstring)

Arsenal

• Out: Gabriel Magalhães, Calafiori, Tomiyasu, Gabriel Jesus, Havertz, Sterling (suspended)

• Uncertain: Partey, Jorginho

Predicted Lineups

Real Madrid
GK: Courtois
DEF: Vázquez, Asencio, Rüdiger, Fran García
MID: Tchouaméni, Valverde, Bellingham
ATT: Rodrygo, Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior

Arsenal
GK: Raya
DEF: Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly
MID: Ødegaard, Rice, Merino
ATT: Saka, Trossard, Martinelli

Key Stats

• 3-0: Arsenal’s first-leg win is barely the fifth time Madrid have trailed by 3+ targets in a Champions League knockout tie.

• 0 targets conceded: Arsenal have by no means let in a aim towards Madrid in European competitors (3 matches).

• Declan Rice: First participant to rating two direct free-kicks in a UCL knockout match.

• Kylian Mbappé: 8 aim contributions in 8 UCL knockout video games towards English groups.

• Arsenal: Recorded 11 photographs on course in the first leg – joint-most ever towards Real Madrid in a Champions League knockout recreation.

What to Count on

This might be an enormous take a look at of Arsenal’s maturity and self-discipline. They’ll want to keep calm and organised towards a Madrid facet possible to assault from the first whistle.

Real Madrid, well-known for his or her comebacks, will look to flip the Bernabeu right into a fortress. Arsenal, on the different hand, will attempt to preserve their cool, defend solidly, and hit Madrid on the counter.

Can the Gunners maintain their nerve and attain the semi-finals for the first time since 2009? Or will Madrid work their magic once more on a European evening?

All eyes might be on Madrid this Wednesday.