Real Madrid`s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal match against Arsenal is a significant moment for both teams as they compete for silverware, although they are in different positions as they head into this game.
The first leg will be held at Arsenal`s Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, giving the Gunners the opportunity to set the tone for a crucial week at home. Arsenal has shown more consistency in the Champions League compared to Real Madrid, but they are entering this particular match with pressure. The Champions League represents their last opportunity to win a trophy this season, but their 19-year wait to reach the semifinals highlights the challenge they face.
The importance of this match cannot be overstated, especially for manager Mikel Arteta, who described it as the most important game of his managerial career.
`Absolutely. The excitement within the club and among the fans shows this is where we want to be, where Arsenal should consistently be,` Arteta stated during his pre-match press conference on Monday. `This is why I got into football, why I chose management, and especially why I joined this football club. It`s been 20 years since we`ve had a game of this magnitude, and it`s a fantastic opportunity for us to create our own history, which is why we are here.`
Don`t miss any of the Champions League action. You can follow all the coverage across Paramount+, CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network throughout the season.
Arteta has some lineup decisions to make before Tuesday`s game. While Bukayo Saka is available, Arsenal will be without Gabriel, who suffered a season-ending hamstring injury last week. His absence adds to Arsenal`s list of unavailable players, including Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, who are recovering from long-term injuries sustained during the winter.
For Real Madrid, manager Carlo Ancelotti faces the challenge of balancing his talented but sometimes inconsistent squad. Expect players like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior to be in the lineup, as Ancelotti looks for replacements for Dani Ceballos, who is out with a muscle injury, and Dani Carvajal, who is recovering from an ACL tear. This includes finding a role for the versatile Federico Valverde, who offers numerous options for Real Madrid.
`There`s a question about where he`ll play,` Ancelotti said on Monday. `He excels in many positions, whether in the center or on the wing. I need to consider that.`
Here are the predicted lineups for Arsenal`s Champions League match against Real Madrid.
Predicted lineups for Arsenal vs. Real Madrid
Arsenal: David Raya; Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior, Myles Lewis-Skelly; Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Raul Asencio, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba; Rodrygo, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham; Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
How to watch Arsenal vs. Real Madrid, odds
- Date: Tuesday, April 8
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Emirates Stadium — London
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Arsenal +125; Draw +220; Real Madrid +230
