Arsenal vs Real Madrid predictions: Gunners have their work cut out
&w=707&quality=100)
- Arsenal are second in the Premier League on 62 points
- Real Madrid are second in LaLiga and only four points behind Barcelona
- Recommended bet: Both teams to score
Arsenal have the dreaded task of trying to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League this week as the two teams meet in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
The Gunners would have wanted to avoid the most successful team in the competition's history, especially as they are dealing with a bulky injury list with two months of the season remaining.
To their credit, Arsenal reached the last eight with a 9-3 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven, while Real Madrid needed a penalty shootout to overcome neighbours Atletico Madrid.
Team News
Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Takehiro Tomiyasu were joined in the treatment room by Gabriel Magalhaes this week, with the centre-back suffering a season-ending hamstring injury against Fulham.
Riccardo Calafiori is set to sit out Tuesday's game after suffering an injury on international duty, while winger Raheem Sterling is banned.
Midfielder Mikel Merino suffered a cut to his head in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Everton, but he should be fit to start, while Bukayo Saka should also be included in the starting XI after featuring off the bench in the last two games.
Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended for the first leg, while Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are out for the season due to serious knee injuries.
Ferland Mendy, Thibaut Courtois and Dani Ceballos all missed the 2-1 defeat to Valencia on Saturday, but they will be given the chance to prove their fitness ahead of the trip to London.
&w=707&quality=100)
The stats
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions, but Mikel Arteta's side have only won three of those outings.
At the Emirates, they have only tasted defeat in one of their last eight, while they kept four clean sheets in five home games in the league stages of the Champions League and did not lose in front of their own supporters.
Real Madrid were beaten 2-1 by Valencia on Saturday in a huge blow to their LaLiga title chances, and that was their first defeat in six outings.
Carlo Ancelotti's outfit lost three of their league phase games in the Champions League, but they will fancy their chances at the Emirates, having beaten Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the knockout stages.
Prediction
Arsenal's growing injury list is making life difficult for Arteta and his staff and the absence of Gabriel at the back will be huge.
Only one clean sheet in seven suggests Arsenal are struggling to keep teams at bay and Real should have no issues exploiting their weaknesses, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. all set to start.
Arsenal may get some joy of their own, though, with the Spanish giants conceding in eight consecutive matches and both teams have scored in seven of Real Madrid's last eight contests.
Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!
Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!
