Real Madrid vs. Arsenal: Champions League QF
Arsenal head to the Santiago Bernabeu with a 3-0 lead for the second leg of their quarter-final tie as Real Madrid look to mount a comeback.
Ahead of the second leg of Real Madrid’s quarter-final against Arsenal, all the focus has been on how the 15-time Champions League winners can turn this tie around at the Bernabeu. The stadium has seen many comebacks in the competition, and the fans will be looking to create an electric atmosphere, with reports that the roof will be closed for this game.
The other time was against Derby County in 1975 when Real Madrid came back from 4-1 down to win 5-1 at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid have produced comebacks at this venue against Manchester City and Chelsea in recent years.
But the task is even bigger for Carlo Ancelotti and his team who only won 1-0 at Deportivo Alaves at the weekend. They played with ten men for most of the game after Kylian Mbappe was sent off in the first half for a violent foul.
While the media circus is in full swing in Madrid, Arsenal are calm and collected still basking in the glory of their win at the Emirates a week ago. Two Declan Rice free-kicks and a Mikel Merino goal unsettled Real Madrid’s defence in the first leg, and the Gunners have a comfortable lead to take to the Bernabeu.
Team News & Tactics
Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti is not expected to make significant changes from the team that played in the first leg at the Emirates, except for one forced alteration. Eduardo Camavinga will be suspended following his late red card for a second yellow, although his first booking already ruled him out of the second leg.
Aurelien Tchouameni has served his one-game ban and will replace Camavinga in midfield. Ferland Mendy and Andriy Lunin did not make the bench against Alaves at the weekend, making their availability doubtful. David Alaba may feature at left-back again. Dani Ceballos came off the bench for a few minutes at the weekend, but it’s uncertain whether he will start the second leg.
Ancelotti might tweak his formation to a 4-2-3-1 shape, compared to the 4-4-2 that lost at the Emirates. Tchouameni could partner with veteran Luka Modric in central midfield, with Jude Bellingham taking the No. 10 role. Federico Valverde will likely play at right-back ahead of Lucas Vazquez.
Mbappe will lead the attack for Real Madrid, with Vinicius Junior on the left wing. Rodrygo Goes will aim to make a greater impact in the second leg from his position on the right wing, after struggling to break through in the first leg.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Alaba; Tchouameni, Modric; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta named a much-changed lineup at the weekend, although he would have preferred to rest more of his key players. Ben White was ruled out of the Saturday clash, leading to Thomas Partey playing at right-back. However, Partey sustained an injury midway through the second half.
Partey is a significant doubt for the second leg, as Arteta mentioned he felt something before going down. However, Partey was seen in training ahead of the second leg and might be available for the trip to Madrid.
Jorginho may miss out due to a blow to his chest or rib area. Arteta is likely to name a similar side to the one that played in the first leg, with Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly in the full-back roles, while William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior continue at center-back.
Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino, and Martin Odegaard were all on the bench against Brentford and could return to the lineup for the second leg. Overall, Arsenal is expected to field an unchanged lineup from the first leg, and Arteta will hope to secure the victory and advance to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Key Stats
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The last time Real Madrid overturned a three-goal deficit from the first leg of the UEFA Champions League was against Derby County in 1975.
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Real Madrid has only beaten an English team by a four-goal margin at the Bernabeu twice in their history: against Derby County and Tottenham Hotspur.
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Arsenal has scored 12 goals in their last three Champions League games.
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Arsenal has not conceded a goal against Real Madrid in their three meetings so far.
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Vinícius Junior, with 28 goals and 21 assists, could become the fourth Real Madrid player to reach 50 goal involvements in the UEFA Champions League (after Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Raul), which would be at least twice as many as any other team (Robert Lewandowski and Muller for Bayern Munich).
Player to Watch: Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe and his teammates have big questions to answer, as Real Madrid faces a massive three-goal deficit. Despite a few chances at the Emirates, the Arsenal defense kept Mbappe quiet for most of the game, and Carlo Ancelotti will want to see his striker perform at his best in this reverse fixture.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has been directly involved in eight goals in eight knockout stage games against English sides in the UEFA Champions League (seven goals, one assist), including five in four home games (four goals, one assist).
Mbappe was sent off against Alaves for a violent foul and will need to regain his composure and deliver a significant performance against Arsenal. All eyes will be on him, as well as Vinicius and Bellingham, as Madrid hopes to make the impossible possible.
Real Madrid vs Arsenal Prediction
Real Madrid 2-2 Arsenal
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