Preview: Arsenal vs Real Madrid: Predictions, Lineups, Team Info

Arsenal return to the Champions League with a showdown against Real Madrid

Arsenal returns to the Champions League by welcoming Real Madrid to the Emirates Stadium for the first leg of the quarter-finals.

The Gunners defeated PSV Eindhoven in the round of 16, while Real eliminated city rivals Atletico Madrid after beating them on penalties.

Match preview

Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes are all but over, despite Liverpool’s shock 3-2 defeat to Fulham last weekend.

The Gunners drew 1-1 against Everton on Saturday, leaving them 11 points behind the Reds in the table.

Mikel Arteta’s attention will now be entirely focused on the Champions League, where his team reached the quarter-finals after a 9-3 aggregate victory over PSV.

The Londoners scored seven goals against the red and whites away from home before a comfortable 2-2 draw at the Emirates.

On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti’s team needed the penalty shootout to qualify for the quarter-finals of the European competition.

Conor Gallagher’s first goal at the Stadio Metropolitano brought the city rivals’ aggregate score to 2-2, but the Whites won on penalties after Antonio Rudiger scored the decisive shot.

Madrid are fresh from a 2-1 home defeat to Valencia on Saturday, with Mouctar Diakhaby and Hugo Duro scoring for the visitors.

The result means Ancelotti’s side are now four points behind Barca in the La Liga table.

Team news

The news from Arsenal is not encouraging for Gunners fans as they will be without Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Takehiro Tomiyasu due to fitness issues. Raheem Sterling will also miss out, as he has to serve a one-match ban after receiving his third Champions League card.

As for Real Madrid, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao remain unavailable due to long-term injuries. But Thibaut Courtois, Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos should recover in time for Tuesday’s important away match.

Probable compositions Arsenal-Real Madrid

Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli

Real Madrid: Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga; Rodrigo, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Mbappé

How to watch?

Football fans will be able to enjoy all the Champions League matches live on TV.

Arsenal-Real Madrid prediction

Real have great attacking quality and Arsenal’s already devastated defense will probably have problems against them. But the fact that Mikel Arteta’s men will be playing in front of their home crowd suggests they can secure a draw against the Spanish giants on Tuesday.

Arsenal-Real Madrid 1-1