Real Madrid vs Arsenal LIVE: Gunners unchanged as they search to achieve Champions League semi-finals
Real Madrid host Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final second leg this evening looking to overturn a 3-0 deficit in front of their home fans.
The Gunners won the first leg in London in comprehensive fashion thanks to two goals from free kicks taken by Declan Rice and a third strike from Mikel Merino. Arsenal know that anything but a big defeat will be enough to send them through to the last four stage of the competition where they would face PSG after the French champions defeated Aston Villa yesterday.
Madrid, who are also aiming to catch Barcelona in LaLiga, will not believe they are out of this tie especially with their recent history of overturning losing causes to progress in the Champions League.
Jude Bellingham revealed that the hosts are focused on winning saying: “We believe so. You can’t come into a game like this thinking that there’s going to be anything other than a comeback. That’s the way we’re thinking about the game.”
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Four in a row for Arsenal?
Arsenal could equal their longest winning run away from home in the European Cup/Champions League (4).
The only previous time they won four in a row, the fourth game of that run was a victory against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu (1-0 in February 2006, last 16 first leg).
Fortress Bernabeau
Since the start of the 2015-16 season, this will be the 16th time that Real Madrid have played the second leg of a Champions League knockout stage tie at home.
Of the previous 15, they’ve only been eliminated on one occasion (vs Ajax in the last 16 in 2018-19), and progressed from the last eight in a row.
How many goals will Real Madrid score?
Across the 53 games that Real Madrid have played against English sides in the European Cup/Champions League, they’ve managed to win by more than three goals on just two previous occasions: 5-1 v Derby County in 1975-76 (last 16) and 4-0 v Tottenham Hotspur in 2010-11 (quarter-final).
Three goal deficit a big task to overturn
Real Madrid’s defeat at the Emirates Stadium was the fifth time they have lost the first leg of a knockout stage tie in the European Cup/Champions League by 3+ goals.
They’ve been eliminated in the second leg in three of the previous four occasions (the exception being against Derby County in the last 16 in 1975-76, winning 6-5 on aggregate after a 1-4 defeat in the first leg).
How Arsenal are being gaslit ahead of crunch Real Madrid clash
As David Raya walked out of the cavernous Bernabeu media room, having said Arsenal are “super-convinced” they can win – and then repeating it – Mikel Arteta gave him a knowing nod. The right message had been sent. Something was needed to counter “the narrative”, as the Gunners boss put it.
Arsenal unbeaten against Real Madrid
Arsenal remain unbeaten against Real Madrid in European competition (two wins, one draw), and haven’t conceded a single goal across their three meetings.
The Gunners could become the first side ever to keep four consecutive clean sheets against Los Blancos in the European Cup or Champions League.
Arsenal team to face Real Madrid
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
‘The Bernabeau has magic’
Ancelotti added: “The Bernabéu has magic, and everyone knows it’s a special atmosphere.
“We need a bit of everything: quality and a complete performance, both physically and collectively. Not one of these things can go wrong.
“The motivation is there, and now I want the players to be calm before the game. I’m clear that we’re going to give it our all.”
‘We have the quality to turn this around’
Carlo Ancelotti spoke about the prospect of Real Madrid overturning their three goal deficit in tonight’s Champions League quarter-final.
The Real Madrid coach said: “We have the quality to turn this tie around, along with the commitment, the experience and the fans.
“The resources are there, and now it’s time to bring our best. Mentally we’re doing very well, and we have to have good control of the game.”
Facing almost certain defeat, Real Madrid can prove again why they are the scourge of English clubs
It is Real Madrid against the Premier League. It often is. When Arsenal line up in the Bernabeu, it will be Real’s 22nd game against English opposition since the start of April 2021. If, for Arsenal, it would be a landmark result to eliminate Real, it has been a milestone of sorts simply to face them. For Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, Real have provided a regular date on the fixture list; perhaps no more for Chelsea, however. They could complete a clean sweep of European trophies this season but Real may never enter the Conference League.
Look at the list of recent Champions League winners and it has been Real or the Premier League. Chelsea in 2021 and City in 2023, Real in 2022 and 2024. An era of sorts may end this year, unless Arsenal maintain the Premier League’s biannual habit of conquering Europe or Real first stage a great comeback and then embark on the familiar pursuit of glory. Three of the four semi-finalists will be neither Real nor English.
