ARSENAL clash with European juggernauts Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final showdown at the Emirates.
Arsenal vs Real Madrid preview
It simply doesn't get bigger than this.
Arsenal clash with perennial European champions Real Madrid in the first of their two-legged Champions League quarter-final ties.
The Gunners trail Liverpool by 11 points in the Premier League with just seven games of the 2024-25 campaign remaining – one of which being a trip to Anfield on May 11th.
Having been held by Everton at Goodison Park over the weekend, this is undoubtedly Arsenal's most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.
And they enter as favourites with the bookmakers at 11/8 with their prestigious opponents available at 21/10 to take a first-leg lead with them back to the Bernabeu for next week's critical second leg.
Arsenal have enjoyed an outstanding European campaign to this point, finishing third in the inaugural league phase having taken 19 points from a possible 24 and conceding just three times.
They also cruised to the quarter-finals after a 9-3 aggregate annihilation of PSV in the round of 16.
Arsenal have led for longer than any other team in Champions League matches this season (568 minutes overall), while they also rank first in the UCL this season for xG against per game (0.88).
But taking on the current kings of Europe represents an entirely different challenge,
Granted, Carlo Ancelotti's side scraped past Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid on penalties to reach this point and suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Valencia in La Liga on Saturday.
But their record speaks for itself in knockout competition.
Real Madrid haven’t lost the first leg in any of their last eight knockout stage ties in the UEFA Champions League. They've also played 22 matches against English sides in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League – avoiding defeat in over 72% of those (W11 D5 L6).
They have also progressed from each of their last 12 Champions League quarter-final ties.
- Arsenal 11/8 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
- Draw 21/10 with Betfred – CLAIM HERE
- Real Madrid 11/5 with BetMGM – CLAIM HERE
Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Home win and BTTS
Arsenal made a complete mockery of their first knockout tie against PSV, but the same will not be happening against 15-time Champions League winners Real Madrid – even if their current form doesn't look great.
As mentioned, Arsenal have reserved their best form for the Champions League this season. Their defence has only been breached a handful of times and they boast the best xG against per game while only Inter Milan have conceded fewer goals per game.
The Gunners are also on a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions and have suffered just three losses in 24 competitive home clashes this season.
That's a huge contrast with Tuesday's opponents Real Madrid, who've actually lost three of their last five and have shipped a colossal 10 goals during that run. They've also failed to score more than once in four of their last five away games.
- Arsenal Win and BTTS at 4/1 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
Vini Carded
We're backing Vinicius Jr to be carded against Arsenal on Tuesday.
The Real Madrid superstar, 24, clearly isn't shy of a tackle or two having entered the referee's notebook 74 times in 381 career appearances.
In fact, Vinicius has collected 11 cards in 66 UCL games with four of those in this season's competition with the last arriving in the previous round against Atletico Madrid.
The Brazilian has registered 16 fouls in the Champions League this season, making him the FOURTH highest offender in the tournament.
- Vinicius Jr to be carded at 11/4 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
