Arsenal’s return to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the second time in a row comes with a daunting assignment — a clash with the kings of the competition, Real Madrid.
The Gunners are set to host the Spanish giants at the Emirates in the first leg of a mouthwatering tie on Tuesday. While Arsenal are enjoying a decent domestic campaign — sitting second in the Premier League with 62 points, 11 points off Liverpool — they know all too well that continental pedigree matters more than form at this stage, and few clubs match Real Madrid in that department.
Los Blancos, second in La Liga with 63 points and just four points adrift of Barcelona, are no strangers to this terrain. They edged past Atletico Madrid via penalties in the previous round, while Arsenal steamrolled PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate to secure their place in the last eight.
Both teams come into the tie with notable injury woes. Arsenal’s backline has been dealt a serious blow with Gabriel Magalhães ruled out for the season following a hamstring injury. He joins Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the treatment table. Riccardo Calafiori is also expected to miss the game with a knee injury picked up during international duty, while Raheem Sterling is suspended according to Livescore.com. Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka are expected to start.
Real Madrid, too, are shorthanded. Aurelien Tchouaméni is suspended for the first leg, and both Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão are out for the season due to long-term knee injuries. Ferland Mendy, Thibaut Courtois, and Dani Ceballos missed the 2-1 loss to Valencia on Saturday, but they could feature if cleared before Tuesday.
Despite their injury setbacks, both teams are brimming with attacking talent. Arsenal’s recent defensive fragility — just one clean sheet in seven games — will be a concern for Mikel Arteta, especially with Real likely to field Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr. up front.
However, Real Madrid’s defense hasn’t exactly been airtight either. They’ve conceded in eight consecutive matches, and both teams have scored in seven of their last eight outings. That trend points to a likely high-scoring affair in North London.
Arsenal have history on their side, too — in three previous meetings in all competitions, they’ve never lost to Real Madrid, winning two and drawing one.
Given the attacking threats on both sides and the defensive vulnerabilities, a bet on both teams to score feels like a smart pick for this quarter-final clash.
Arsenal vs Real Madrid Possible Lineup
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Ødegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
Real Madrid (4-4-2): González; García, Rüdiger, Tchouaméni, Vázquez; Bellingham, Modric, Valverde, Díaz; Mbappé, Vinicius.
