A scintillating performance at the Emirates stadium saw Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their 2024-25 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie. The Premier League side now travel to Madrid as they look to build on their sizeable advantage and maintain their pursuit of securing a trophy this season.
Newly minted freekick specialist Declan Rice will be key in midfield, whereas Madrid will be hoping their star-studded forward line, so quiet in London last Tuesday, come to life and fire on all cylinders. The 15-time champions, though, are known for their resilience at home and the Santiago Bernabeu will be a cauldron.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of Wednesday's blockbuster clash:
How to Watch:
All the matches will be available on TNT Sports and Discovery+ in the UK, on Paramount+ in the United States, on SonyLiv in India, and Stan Sport in Australia. You can also follow ESPN's live updates.
Key Details:
Date: Wednesday, April 16 at 8 p.m. UK [3 p.m. E.T., 12:30 a.m. IST, 5 a.m. AEST]
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Madrid
Referee: Francois Letexier
VAR: Jerome Brisard
Team News:
Real Madrid
Eduardo Camavinga, M, Suspended, OUT
Andriy Lunin, G, muscle, OUT, expected back mid-April
Éder Militão, D, knee, OUT, expected back late July
Ferland Mendy, D, hamstring, OUT, expected mid-April
Dani Carvajal, D, knee, OUT, expected back early September
Dani Ceballos, M, hamstring, DOUBT
Arsenal
Gabriel Magalhães, D, hamstring, OUT, expected back July
Riccardo Calafiori, D, knee, OUT, expected back late April
Takehiro Tomiyasu, D, OUT, expected back next season
Gabriel Jesus, F, knee, OUT, expected back next season
Kai Havertz, F, hamstring, OUT, expected back late July
Raheem Sterling, F, suspended, OUT
Thomas Partey, M, physical discomfort, DOUBT
Jorginho, M, rib bruise, DOUBT
Expected Lineup:
Real Madrid
GK: Thibaut Courtois
RB: Lucas Vázquez | CB: Raúl Asencio | CB: Antonio Rüdiger | LB: Fran García
CM: Aurélien Tchouaméni| CM: Federico Valverde | CM: Jude Bellingham
RW: Rodrygo | CF: Kylian Mbappé | LW: Vinícius Júnior
Arsenal
GK: David Raya
RB: Jurriën Timber | CB: William Saliba | CB: Jakub Kiwior | LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly
CM: Martin Ødegaard | CM: Declan Rice | CM: Mikel Merino
RW: Bukayo Saka | CF: Leandro Trossard | LW: Gabriel Martinelli
Stats:
1/5: This is the fifth time Real Madrid go into a Champions League knockout tie second leg trailing by three or more goals. The only time they emerged victors was in 1975-76 when they lost 4-1 to Derby County in the round of 16 first leg and beat them 5-1 in the reverse fixture.
0: Arsenal not only remain unbeaten in their three matches against Real Madrid in European competition (2W, 1D), they are also yet to concede a goal to them. No team has ever kept four consecutive clean sheets against Madrid in European competition.
2: Only twice have Real Madrid managed to beat English opposition by 3+ goals in 53 matches: 5-1 vs. Derby (1975-76) and 4-0 vs. Tottenham Hotspur (2010-11)
8: Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé has been involved in eight goals in eight UCL KO stage games against English opposition (7G, 1A).
2: In the first leg, Declan Rice became the first player to score two direct free kick goals in a UCL KO stage match.
11: Arsenal registered 11 shots on target in the first leg, the joint-most on record (since 2003-04) by a team in a UCL KO stage match against Real Madrid (along with Liverpool in March 2009)
Latest news and analysis:
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