Real Madrid are clinging to their favorite competition, the Champions League, to fix the problems of a very complicated season in which their chances of winning the league title hang by a thread and in the Copa del Rey they will face their eternal rival, Barça, in the final.
Advancing to the Champions League is crucial both for the team and for Ancelotti’s future in the white bench, as if they don’t win the Champions League his continuity at the helm of Real Madrid will be very complicated. The first step towards the final in Munich is the first leg of the quarter-finals in London against Arsenal.
The Gunners are one of the few teams from the big six that have never lifted the trophy and they will be looking to change that this season, but to do so they will have to get past the most successful team in the history of the UEFA Champions League. Real Madrid will be looking to win the UEFA Champions League again and extend their supremacy on the continent, but to do so they will have to get past a difficult Arsenal side.
This match comes at a bad time for Real Madrid. Real Madrid played another bad game, the third in a row at the Santiago Bernabéu, but this time they were unable to react and make the most of it. A goal from Hugo Duro in the 95th minute left the Whites pointless and, after Barça’s draw, with a four-point gap to the leaders, the fight for the title is getting complicated.
This will be the second time that Real Madrid and Arsenal have met in the Champions League. The first time was in the last sixteen in 2006. The English side stormed the Bernabéu in the first leg with a superb performance from Henry, while in the second leg they drew 0-0 and the Whites were eliminated.
Ancelotti, no suspensions
Real Madrid can rest easy ahead of the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Arsenal as Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé will be available. The UEFA sanctions have been enforced and will only be financial, so they will be able to play in Tuesday’s game. Vinicius Junior and Dani Ceballos have also been fined.
The meringues will be without several players: Andriy Lunin, Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão, Dani Carvajal and Dani Ceballos. The meringues will also be without their compatriot Aurelien Tchouaméni. The midfielder is suspended after receiving his third yellow card.
Possible Real Madrid line-up
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
Defenders: Fran García, Antonio Rüdiger, Raúl Asencio, Federico Valverde
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric, Brahim Díaz
Forwards: Rodrygo, Vinicius Júnior and Kylian Mbappe
An Arsenal side with many absentees
Gabriel, Calafiori and Tomiyasu will not be in the squad to host Real Madrid. In addition, Timber and Ben White will be doubtful until the last minute. And even if they do play, they will hardly be at 100%. In attack, Gabriel Jesus and Havertz, who are out of action, have forced Arteta to invent Mikel Merino as a ‘9.
Possible Arsenal lineup
Goalkeeper: David Raya
Defenders: Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jakub Kiwior, William Saliba, Ben White
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Jorginho, Oleksandr Zinchenko
Forwards: Kieran Tierney, Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka