WHO: Arsenal vs Real Madrid
Contents: UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals, Leg 1
Location: Emirates Stadium, London
When: Tuesday at 9pm (19:00 GMT)
Follow the Al Jazeera Sport’s live text and photo commentary stream.
Real Madrid continues their quest to win the seventh Champions League title in 12 seasons when they visited North London to play Arsenal in the first leg of the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Arsenal, the winner of 13 English top flight league titles and now second at the table behind Liverpool in the Premier League, represents a formidable test of the Spanish giants, whose shape has been patchy over the past few weeks.
There’s everything you need to know before the opening game of the quarterfinals between the two biggest football clubs in the world.
When did Arsenal and Real Madrid last play in the Champions League?
2005/2006 Champions League season.
Surprisingly, at two such famous clubs that play European football almost every year, the sides meet only in a year (2005/2006 season) in competitive action.
On February 21, 2006, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry scored in commemoration of his only goal in two leg matches held at the Bernabeu in Madrid.
Team News: Arsenal
The gunner will be strengthened by the return of Bukayosaka, England International, to face Real Madrid for the first start of 2025 after a hamstring injury.
Manager Mikel Arteta will be going as a midfield trio alongside Declan Rice, Martin Odegard and Thomas Parti.
Arsenal had no five injured players: Ricardo Calfioli, Kai Herberts, Gabriel Jesus, Tatziro Tomiyas and Gabriel Magalges. Of the five, they could potentially join the team on April 16th for a return leg against Real Madrid.
Team News: Real Madrid
The forward pairing of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. superstars will start paying Los Blancos upfront this season, combining a spectacular 51 goals.
Major midfielder Jude Bellingham has returned to England to play Arsenal for the first time in his career, but is likely to start against the gunners.
First-choice Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois returns to the first XI after skipping the final few games with an injury.
Real Madrid probably won’t have four players from Arsenal’s match. Dani Seboros, Edar Militau and Dani Carballar are injured and Aurelien Chuamenis is suspended.
Possible lineup:
Arsenal Possible Start XI: Raya; Wood, Saliva, Kiwior, Lewis Skelly. Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
Possibility of Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Valverde, Raul Asensio, Rudiger, Fran Garcia. Rodrigo, Modrik, Camabinga, Bellingham. Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
Form Guide
Arsenal:
The gunners have not lost their first leg in the past seven European Cup/Champions League quarterfinals and are undefeated in the past 16 UEFA Competition Home matches.
Arsenal will deliver results in the final five matches (in all competitions).
dwwdd (latest results are the first)
real madrid:
Madrid, the most successful Champions League team in history, has won 15 titles and has won the treble in the 2024-25 season (Lariga, Copa del Rey, Champions League).
Real Madrid will deliver results in the final five matches (in all competitions).
LDWWL (Latest results are first)
Has Arsenal ever won the Champions League Trophy?
Arsenal has never won a UEFA Champions League title.
He was closest to the 2005/2006 season, losing the final to Barcelona 2-1.
What the manager had to say:
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta: “It’s the biggest night of my career. The excitement around the club, the people, this is the stage we want to be and Arsenal has to come consistently. So I came into the management team, especially at this football club.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti: “Arteta does a great job. He brings this team to the top of Europe and more than anything, he has built a perfect team in Europe. The experience in this tournament is very important. Knowledge means you’re not afraid of these games.
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