In Tuesday’s first leg of the quarterfinals, Real Madrid travels to North London to play Arsenal in an attempt to win the Champions League for the seventh time in twelve seasons.
The Spanish powerhouses, whose play has been inconsistent lately, face a tough test in Arsenal, the 13-time English Premier League champion and current second-place finisher behind Liverpool.
Team news: Arsenal
The return of England international Bukayo Saka, who will start against Real Madrid for the first time in 2025 after missing 101 days due to a hamstring injury, gives the Gunners more strength.
Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, and Thomas Partey will be the midfield trio selected by manager Mikel Arteta.
Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Gabriel Magalhaes are the five injured players that Arsenal will be without. Calafiori is the only one of the five who could be included in the squad for the April 16 return leg against Real Madrid.
Team news: Real Madrid
Los Blancos’ star forward duo of Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe, who have scored an incredible 51 goals between them this season, will start up front.
Jude Bellingham, a vital midfielder, is expected to start against the Gunners as he makes his first career trip back to England to play for Arsenal.
First option After missing Madrid’s last two games due to injury, goalie Thibaut Courtois is back in the starting lineup.
Due to injuries to Dani Ceballos, Eder Militao, and Dani Carvajal, as well as a suspension to Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid will be missing four players against Arsenal.
Possible lineups:
ARSENAL: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
REAL MADRID: Courtois, Valverde, Raul Asencio, Rudiger, Fran Garcia; Rodrygo, Modric, Camavinga, Bellingham; Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
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