Champions League Showdown: Arsenal vs Real Madrid – Key Details and Predictions
For the first time since 2006, Arsenal and Real Madrid will face off in the UEFA Champions League, and on Tuesday, both teams will be looking for a first-leg advantage in the quarter-final clash. Here are predictions, team news, betting tips, and possible line-ups for the game.
With Liverpool looking set to win the Premier League, Arsenal’s trophy hopes rest on winning the Champions League.
The Gunners reached this stage after a 9-3 aggregate win over PSV in the second round, and they come into this game on the back of a 1-1 draw with Everton, which saw Mikel Arteta rest a host of his starting XI.
Real Madrid are the reigning UCL champions, but they have had to endure a tougher route to reach this stage of the competition. The holders made it through the playoff route, beating Manchester City 5-3 on aggregate.
In the second round, the Spanish side progressed after a controversial penalty shoot-out win over local rivals Atletico Madrid.
However, they head into this game on the back of a 2-1 loss at home to Valencia in La Liga, leaving them four points off the pace in the title race.
Arsenal vs Real Madrid Head to Head
This will be just the third meeting between the sides. The Gunners have never lost a competitive game to Madrid, winning 1-0 at the Bernabéu before a goalless draw at Highbury in the 2005-06 UCL.
Arsenal vs Real Madrid Team News and Possible Lineups
Arsenal will be without Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus, who are all injured.
However, the biggest loss for the Gunners is Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes, who suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in their 2-1 win over Fulham.
With Gabriel absent, Jakub Kiwior is likely to partner William Saliba, while Ben White is also in contention.
Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger, and Ceballos all managed to avoid a ban from UEFA for their celebrations in Madrid’s win against Atletico.
However, Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended after picking up his third booking of the tournament in that game.
Goalkeepers Andriy Lunin and Thibaut Courtois missed the loss against Valencia and are doubtful, but manager Carlo Ancelotti expects them to be fit for Tuesday’s game.
Dani Ceballos and Ferman Mendy are also injured but could make their returns against Arsenal, though Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are confirmed absentees.
Arsenal Predicted lineup (4-3-3)
Raya (GK); Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Partey, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Real Madrid Predicted lineup (4-3-3)
Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, F Garcia; Valverde, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe
Arsenal vs Real Madrid Predictions & Betting Tips
This is a tough clash, one that will encourage you to steer clear of predicting the 1X2 market. We expect both teams to find the net, with Arsenal posing a major threat from set pieces, which is a weakness for Real Madrid. For the first time since 2006, Arsenal and Real Madrid are set to meet in the UEFA Champions League. With the first leg of the quarter-final clash on Tuesday, both teams will be eager to gain an advantage going into the second leg. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming match, including predictions, team news, betting tips, and potential line-ups.
As Liverpool appears poised to clinch the Premier League title, Arsenal’s hopes for a trophy this season hinge on their performance in the Champions League. The Gunners advanced to this stage after a solid 9-3 aggregate victory over PSV, although they head into this match following a 1-1 draw with Everton. In that game, Mikel Arteta opted to rest several key players from his starting lineup to keep them fresh for this crucial encounter.
On the other hand, Real Madrid arrives as the reigning champions, but their path to the quarter-finals has been more arduous.
Head-to-Head Record
This match marks just the third competitive meeting between Arsenal and Real Madrid. The Gunners have a perfect record against Madrid, having won 1-0 at the Bernabéu back in 2006 and holding them to a goalless draw at Highbury.
Team News and Potential Line-ups
Arsenal will miss several key players, including Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus, due to injuries. The biggest blow for Arsenal is the absence of Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes, who is out for the season with a hamstring injury sustained in a recent match against Fulham. With Gabriel sidelined, Jakub Kiwior is expected to partner with William Saliba in defense
For Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger, and Dani Ceballos were all cleared of bans from UEFA following their celebratory antics in the match against Atletico. However, Aurelien Tchouameni will miss the game due to suspension after accumulating three bookings in the tournament. Goalkeepers Andriy Lunin and Thibaut Courtois both missed the Valencia match and are doubtful, although manager Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful they will be fit for Tuesday. Dani Ceballos and Ferman Mendy are recovering from injuries and could return, while Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are confirmed to be out.
Arsenal’s Predicted Lineup (4-3-3):
Raya (GK), Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Real Madrid’s Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
Courtois, Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, F Garcia, Valverde, Camavinga, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius, Mbappe
Predictions and Betting Tips
This match promises to be a tough encounter, making it hard to predict a straightforward outcome. Both teams are likely to find the back of the net, with Arsenal especially posing a significant threat from set pieces—a potential vulnerability for Real Madrid.
