Real Madrid Faces Uphill Battle Against Arsenal in Champions League Return Leg

Madrid, Spain — Real Madrid will have to overcome a steep challenge in their pursuit of a seventh UEFA Champions League title when they host Arsenal on Wednesday at 9 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT) for the second leg of their quarterfinal match.

The titleholders enter the match trailing 3-0 after a crushing defeat against Arsenal last week in London, where goals from Declan Rice and Mikel Merino left Madrid searching for answers. Although Madrid has never overturned a three-goal deficit in Champions League history, they will rely on the prowess of world-class players like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“We’re ready and looking forward to it. We’ll wait for you [Arsenal] at the Bernabeu and we’ll try everything. We are the Real! Hala Madrid,” declared Vinicius Jr. before the match.

Despite the challenge ahead, Madrid fans may take comfort in their remarkable record: the club has advanced from 14 of its last 15 Champions League knockout ties when playing second legs at home.

However, they will need to create history on Wednesday to keep their hopes alive. A victory of at least three goals is necessary for any chance to progress to the semifinals, where the winner will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa.

The expectations are high for Real Madrid, who demonstrated resilience last season, but their current form has been inconsistent. They currently sit second in LaLiga, following a narrow 1-0 victory against Alaves, which was overshadowed by a red card to Mbappe for a reckless challenge.

In the past few matches, Real Madrid has recorded a mixed bag of results: W-L-L-D-W. The team’s performance in the first leg will weigh heavily on their minds, making the return leg a must-win situation.

On the other hand, Arsenal is riding a wave of confidence, having extended their unbeaten streak in Champions League quarterfinal matches to eight. Despite a recent 1-1 draw against Brentford, the Gunners appear well-prepared to face Los Blancos.

“The job is not done yet; we need to finish the job in Madrid,” Arsenal’s head coach Mikel Arteta emphasized. He will rely on a solid defensive line and midfield controlling the tempo, led by Rice, Partey, and Odegaard.

Both teams are expected to field their strongest lineups. For Real Madrid, the starting XI includes Thibaut Courtois; Lucas Vázquez, Antonio Rüdiger, Raúl Asencio, Fran García; Fede Valverde, Aurélien Tchouameni; Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Jr.; Kylian Mbappé.

Meanwhile, Arsenal is anticipated to come out strong with Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Ödegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli.

A significant absence for Madrid will be Eduardo Camavinga, who is suspended after receiving a red card in the first leg, adding further strain to an already challenged squad.

If Real Madrid can score first, it may ignite a resurgence of hope and energy among their fans. However, they will need an aggressive approach to break through Arsenal’s defense, aiming to avoid the crushing exit that would signify the end of their title defense.

Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CEST, with fans eagerly awaiting what promises to be a thrilling encounter.