Arsenal Faces Real Madrid as UCL Quarter-Finals Kick Off

LONDON, England — Defending UEFA Champions League champions Real Madrid will face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on April 8, 2025, for the first leg of their quarter-final matchup, highlighting a rich history between the two clubs.

For Arsenal, this match is a chance to change their fortunes against the Spanish giants, as they have never beaten Real Madrid in the competition’s history. The teams last met in 2006, where Arsenal won 1-0 on the road with a goal from Thierry Henry. Real Madrid hopes to reclaim dominance in their pursuit of a seventh title in twelve seasons.

Arsenal enters the match following a strong performance in the previous round, defeating PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate. This season, the Champions League represents their final opportunity for silverware after earlier exits from the League Cup and FA Cup. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta emphasized the significance of this match, saying, “It is 100 percent the biggest night of my career. The excitement around the club and the people—this is the stage we want to be, where Arsenal have to be consistently.”

The Gunners will be bolstered by the return of Bukayo Saka, who is making his first start of 2025 after recovering from a six-week hamstring injury. However, Arsenal will be without key players: Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Gabriel Magalhaes are out due to injuries.

On the other side, Real Madrid is coming off a tense victory against Atlético Madrid, edging past them in the previous round via penalties after a 2-2 draw. Their star-studded lineup includes French forward Kylian Mbappé and Brazilian Vinícius Júnior, who have combined for 51 goals this season. Manager Carlo Ancelotti also noted the anticipated impact of midfielder Jude Bellingham, who will be playing against an English team for the first time.

The second leg of the tie will take place at Santiago Bernabéu on April 17, and both clubs are preparing intensively for the encounter. Fans can watch the match live on SonyTen 2 and streaming via the SonyLiv app in India.

Statistics show that Arsenal have not lost the first leg in their last seven Champions League quarterfinal ties and have remained unbeaten in their last sixteen home matches in European competitions. The Gunners’ recent performance has strengthened their position, while Real Madrid, despite their historic success in the competition, faces a turbulent run of form.

As the teams prepare to clash, this match stands poised to offer thrilling football, with each club eager to gain the upper hand in the quest for glory in the UEFA Champions League.