STAR FOOTBALL PREVIEW Tue: Arsenal v Real Madrid

Arsenal’s biggest game of the season takes place when they host Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI

The Gunners, who have been beset by high-profile injuries, have long been out of the title race, were eliminated by eventual winners Newcastle in the Carabao Cup at the semi-final and exited the FA Cup early, so have only the Champions League left as an opportunity to win a trophy this season.

Their prospects have been boosted by the return to fitness of Gabriel Martinelli and Buyako Saka in the nick of time for this test, but a season ending injury to Gabriel was a massive blow to their hopes given how solid Arsenal often are (and will need to be) in defence.

Mikel Arteta rotated some of his side for a 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday with Saka, Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey on the bench, and it may be wise not to judge them based on what was a drab affair with a dubious penalty awarded to Everton.

They will need to improve on what they’ve shown since the international break, though – they were deserved winners against Fulham when not really troubled by the visitors, but will need to find a new level of attacking edge here whilst containing one of the best attacking lineups in world football.

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Arsenal v Real Madrid
UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final
20:00 Amazon Prime Video

LAST FIVE STATS

HEAD-TO-HEAD
FEB 2006 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Real Madrid 0-1 Arsenal
MAR 2006 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid

ARSENAL
APR 2025 PREMIER LEAGUE Everton 1-1 Arsenal
APR 2025 PREMIER LEAGUE Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
MAR 2025 PREMIER LEAGUE Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
MAR 2025 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Arsenal 2-2 PSV Eindhoven
MAR 2025 PREMIER LEAGUE Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal

REAL MADRID
APR 2025 LA LIGA Real Madrid 1-2 Valencia
APR 2025 COPA DEL REY Real Madrid 4-4 Sociedad
MAR 2025 LA LIGA Real Madrid 3-2 Leganes
MAR 2025 LA LIGA Villarreal 1-2 Real Madrid
MAR 2025 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16 Atletico Madrid 1-0 Real Madrid

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Real Madrid have endured a dramatic time of things recently – as is often the case – and they do have some injury troubles of their own, whilst they also suffered a blow in La Liga’s title race when Valencia stole three points on Sunday.

That defeat came after a 4-4 draw in the Copa Del Rey with Real Socidead and a 3-2 win over Leganes, results which will provide some hope for the Gunners that they can get at a defence missing Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, whilst Aurelien Tchouameni is absent from midfield and both goalkeepers Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin are not fully fit.

The problem for Madrid’s rivals – and Arsenal here – is that they don’t have these issues going forward, with Kylian Mbappe having scored 33 goals in all competitions, whilst Vinicus Junior, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham are all fit and firing.

The last side to stop them scoring was Atletico Madrid in their controversial Round of 16 second leg, using a gameplan Arsenal might try to replicate here, for all that Atleti didn’t have the absences that the Gunners do and a stronger European record.

Arsenal’s current price of ? with starsports.bet feels very short considering the strength and resilience Madrid have shown in the competition, their experience, and their attacking quality even if the visitors have issues with defensive absences.

The return of Martinelli and Saka is a big help, although it may be asking a lot for both to be at their best here and an injury to Gabriel is another cruel injury blow.

The hosts will hope to keep things tight and keep the tie alive heading to the Bernabeu, but home advantage appears to have influenced the match prices too much and Madrid have to be backed both for victory and to avoid defeat with starsports.bet. The ? on them to win the tie also looks fair, with the second leg at the Bernabeu.

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