Real Madrid fight to keep their title defence alive against Arsenal in the second leg of their 2024-25 UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final.
Trailing 3-0 from the first leg, Real Madrid must win by at least a four-goal margin to stand any chance of keeping their title defence alive.
Arsenal will progress if they avoid defeat or lose by either a 2-0 or 1-0 result, although a 3-0 loss would send the tie to extra time and potentially penalties.
Team News
Real Madrid have no fresh injury concerns to report after their La Liga victory at Alaves but Eduardo Camavinga is suspended following his red card in the first leg.
Ferland Mendy (muscle), Andriy Lunin (calf), Daniel Carvajal and Eder Militao (both knee) remain absent.
Arsenal will be without Jorginho after the midfielder suffered a rib injury during their 1-1 draw against Brentford in the Premier League.
Thomas Partey and Ben White have both shaken off knocks so will be expected to feature in the squad.
Gabriel, Kai Havertz (both hamstring), Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu (all knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Real Madrid host Arsenal at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday 16 April at 9pm CEST (8pm UK Time), live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Real Madrid are yet to beat Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League (D1, L2).
- Arsenal won 1-0 in their only previous Champions League visit to Real Madrid in February 2006.
- Real are yet to score against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League.
- Ethan Nwaneri has scored in Arsenal’s last two Champions League away games (W2).
- Real Madrid have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last ten home games in the Champions League (W7, D2, L1).
Prediction
Three goals down and without a clean sheet at home in this competition since November 2023, Real Madrid simply must start on the front foot and score first if want any hope of turning the tie around otherwise their title defence is over.
Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta meanwhile rotated his starting line-up in their sluggish draw against Brentford which shows how serious he is still taking this leg despite the Gunners’ lead, but they must be much more composed and clinical than they were against the Bees as long as their defence doesn’t implode.
Although Arsenal are Real’s Champions League hoodoo, I fancy the hosts to at least nick a goal but if Arsenal play with the same discipline and quality as in the first leg, I can see them avoiding defeat.
Prediction: Real Madrid 1-1 Arsenal
