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Arsenal welcome Real Madrid to the Emirates for the very first time on Tuesday night as the pair face off in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
The Gunners have been excellent in Europe this season, with a third-place finish in the all-new league phase being followed up by an emphatic 9-3 aggregate victory over PSV Eindhoven in the round of 16. Knockout triumphs shouldn't be taken for granted, and Arsenal's comfortable triumph over the Dutch champions has set the stage for this grand occasion,
This is the club's first competitive meeting with Madrid in 19 years, when the two sides played out a stalemate at Highbury after the Gunners became the first English club to win at the Santiago Bernabey by virtue of Thierry Henry's stunning solo goal.
Madrid are laden with superstars and expected to prevail over two legs, but their fallibility has manifested time and time again this season. They were beaten for the tenth time in all competitions at the weekend, as Valencia dented their title hopes by claiming a dramatic late victory in the Spanish capital.
Arsenal's Premier League title hopes aren't completely dead, but the general consensus is that their 2024/25 campaign boils down to these two fixtures with the holders.
Here's our preview of Arsenal vs Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Arsenal vs Real Madrid: Preview, Prediction & Lineups
What time does Arsenal vs Real Madrid kick off?
Arsenal vs Real Madrid kicks off on Tuesday 8 April at 20:00 BST.
- When is kick off? Tuesday 8 April, 2025
- What time is kick off? 20:00 BST
- Where is it played? Emirates Stadium, London
- Referee: Irfan Peljto (BIH)
Arsenal vs Real Madrid head-to-head record (all games)
Date | Result | Competitions |
|---|---|---|
8 March 2006 | Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid | Champions League |
21 February 2006 | Real Madrid 0-1 Arsenal | Champions League |
How to watch Arsenal vs Real Madrid on TV
Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | Amazon Prime Video |
United States | Paramount+ |
Canada | DAZN Canada |
Arsenal team news
Bukayo Saka has been eased back in by Arteta since his return from a hamstring tear, and he's expected to be ready to start on Tuesday night. He'll come in for Ethan Nwaneri down the right.
Mikel Merino's poised to return to the frontline after starting in midfield on Saturday, with the likes of Jurrien Timber, Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Martinelli returning to the starting XI.
Timber shook off a knock to feature off the bench at Everton, while Ben White was fit enough to start. In Gabriel's absence, Jakub Kiwior is likely to partner William Saliba after his sturdy performance at the weekend.
Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are out of action.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Real Madrid: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Real Madrid team news
Dani Ceballos and Ferland Mendy have not travelled to north London despite initial optimism that they'd be fit for the first leg, and Aurelien Tchouameni's suspension means veteran Luka Modric will start in the middle of the park.
David Alaba is reportedly being considered at left-back in Mendy's absence, with Antonio Rudiger and Raul Asensio the preferred centre-back partnership. Federico Valverde has been brilliant at right-back.
The four horsemen will start in attack for the visitors, and Thibaut Courtois' return is a big boost. Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are long-term absentees.
Predicted Real Madrid lineup vs Arsenal: Courtois; Valverde, Asensio, Rudiger, Alaba; Modric, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.
Arsenal vs Real Madrid prediction
Call me crazy, but I've just got a feeling. Jakub Kiwior's going all Philippe Senderos and Bukayo Saka is ready to evoke the spirit of Thierry Henry.
Real Madrid will surrender moments to this Arsenal team, who'll be determined to prove they rank among Europe's elite despite a couple of key absences. Saka's timely return is a huge boost, and Gabriel Martinelli's upsurge after the international break suggests the Gunners will give a vulnerable Madrid side plenty to think about.
Arsenal will have to produce their most stubborn of defensive displays to tame Madrid's stars, but an array of La Liga defences have proven that Carlo Ancelotti's star-studded attack can be stopped. They've lost ten games this season, and although they turn it on in this competition, it's not wild to think that Arsenal can beat them on home soil.