Arsenal Faces Real Madrid in Champions League Quarterfinal Rematch

MADRID, Spain (April 15, 2025) — Arsenal will strive to secure their place in the Champions League semifinals as they face Real Madrid in the second leg of their quarterfinal matchup on April 16, 2025, at the Santiago Bernabéu. With a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta emphasized the need for his players to remain focused and maintain their form against the 15-time European champions.

Arteta addressed the media at a press conference on April 15, stating, “It’s about what we are going to face tomorrow, an opposition that we know very well, and we are determined to go out there and try to win the game.” His players are well aware of the pressure to perform in such an iconic venue against a team known for their remarkable comebacks.

The Gunners’ impressive performance in the first leg, aided by stellar efforts from their forwards, has instilled confidence in the squad. “We have shown that we are capable of doing it, and it has to give us reassurance and confidence,” Arteta noted. The manager is particularly proud of the team’s defensive record, with his side having gone 472 days without conceding three goals in a match.

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya echoed Arteta’s sentiments, stating, “We are here just to write our own history. Winning the game and going through to the semifinals is what we want to achieve tomorrow.” Raya emphasized the importance of focusing on their own performance rather than external factors, saying, “We have to think about ourselves and what we can control on the pitch.”

As for Real Madrid, they enter the contest with questions lingering over their ability to overturn a significant deficit. With their storied history of dramatic comebacks, dubbed “remontadas,” they aim to rally their fans at the Bernabéu. Kylian Mbappe and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois expressed confidence in a potential comeback during their post-match interactions following the first leg.

Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham commented on the anticipation surrounding the rematch, saying, “It’s been an unbelievable environment in the last few days. Now everyone is waiting for the comeback.” Real Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti is also aware of the task at hand but draws on the club’s legacy for inspiration.

Historically, overturning a three-goal deficit in the Champions League is difficult yet not impossible, with only twelve notable instances since the tournament’s inception in 1955. Both teams are fully aware that the stakes will be high, and the match promises to be a thrilling spectacle for football fans worldwide.