UEFA Champions League quarter-finals kick off with a blockbuster game in our hands. The defending champions, Real Madrid, take on Arsenal in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the 2024-25 season. The stakes are high, as the last time we saw Real Madrid vs Arsenal in the Champions League was in the 2005-06 season, nearly 19 years later in 2025, we see it again.
The last time both teams met, we saw a solo Thierry Henry goal, which separated the sides over the two legs. Things have completely changed since then. While Arsenal is still searching for its first European trophy, Madrid, since the time they faced Arsenal, has won 6 titles, making it a total of 15 Champions League titles. This tie would be an exciting one as the new star signing Kylian Mbappe has found his rhythm, but there are concerns defensively.
More Stuff:
Real Madrid vs Arsenal 2025: Current form of the teams
Real Madrid:
Real Madrid has been inconsistent, and there are a lot of defensive mishaps happening for them, but they still compete for a possible treble. The last match against Valencia saw them lose it in the very last minute with a goal from Hugo Duro. Defensively, they have been exposed by smaller teams as well. Vini Jr’s form can raise eyebrows as he isn’t that consistent since the month of November. But if anyone has to bet their money on a team in the Champions League, that team has to be Real Madrid.
Arsenal:
The last game was a 1-1 draw with Everton, which sees their chances of winning the Premier League slip away. With just seven matches remaining, there is a point gap of 11 with the league leaders, Liverpool. The Champions League is the only possible competition to win for them at this moment. Playing Real Madrid wouldn’t be easy, as a small mistake and the game is gone.
Teams news and Probable line-ups:
Real Madrid Expected XI –
Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Fran, Modric, Camavinga, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vini Jr and Mbappe
Players to miss the game: Lunin (injury), Carvajal (injury), Militao (injury), Mendy (injury), Ceballos (injury), and Tchouameni (suspended).
Arsenal Expected XI –
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Merino, and Martinelli.
Players to miss the game: Gabriel (injury), Calafiori (injury), Tomiyasu (injury), Jesus (injury), Havertz (injury), and Sterling (suspended).
Where to Watch and Kick-off Timings:
The match will kick off at 12.30 am Indian time (3 pm ET and 8 pm UK time). Viewers from India can see the match live on the SonyLiv application. For UK viewers, it will be available on TNT and Discovery+. Australian viewers can watch it on Stan Sports, whereas it will be available on Paramount+ in US.
About the Match:
Emirates Stadium, the home of Arsenal, will be the venue of the game. This game will be a crucial tie for both teams. Arsenal will want to take advantage of their home and will want to take a lead before heading to the Bernabeu next week.
The Gunners have been very good when it comes to converting the set pieces, and Real Madrid are struggling to defend them. Gabriel will be a very big miss for them as his record in scoring from set pieces is unmatchable. On the other hand, Arsenal defenders need to be aware that a powerhouse attack of Rodrygo, Vinicius, and Mbappe will surely put pressure on them.
