Last updated on April 15, 2025
Join our WhatsApp community and be part of the conversation!
Arsenal celebrates after Rice rifled home two magnificent free kicks in a 12-minute span.
Image credit: Arsenal
The grandeur of the Champions League often hinges on moments of brilliance, resilience, and belief.
For Real Madrid, all three must align on Wednesday night if they are to preserve their dream of a 16th European crown.
Beaten convincingly 3-0 in the first leg by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, Carlo Ancelotti’s side is staring down the barrel of a rare early exit.
Yet, if any club is synonymous with comeback glory, it’s Los Blancos—and the Bernabeu knows how to breathe life into even the most desperate situations.
💥 Think You Know Football? Let’s Prove It – Join the Ultimate EPL Fan Newsletter!
First Leg Fallout: Arsenal’s Night to Remember
At the Emirates, Arsenal delivered a performance that will be etched in club folklore.
Declan Rice, often lauded for his defensive prowess, turned set-piece executioner, rifling home two magnificent free kicks in a 12-minute span.
Declan Rice is the only player in the Champions League to score two direct free kicks against Real Madrid and in the knockout stages.
Image credit: Fabrizio Romano
Even Roberto Carlos, present in the stands, might have tipped his hat to the technique and audacity.
As Real staggered from Rice’s double salvo, Mikel Merino—deployed as a makeshift striker in a rotated Gunners side—finished off a sweeping move with a clinical touch to seal a historic 3-0 victory.
Madrid, listless and uncharacteristically toothless, registered one of their worst knockout round first-leg results in decades.
In fact, they’ve only lost by a margin of three or more goals in a first leg five times in European Cup history.
Four of those ended in elimination. The only exception? A dramatic comeback against Derby County in 1975-76, where they overturned a 4-1 deficit with a 5-1 win at home.
The Bernabeu Effect: Legends Are Made Here
Despite the bleak outlook, Real Madrid’s fortress is no stranger to miracle work.
The Bernabeu has humbled Manchester City and Chelsea in recent years, reminding the footballing world that in Madrid, the final whistle is often just a suggestion.
However, even Madrid’s record against English teams doesn’t offer overwhelming confidence: they’ve only beaten Premier League opposition by four or more goals twice in UCL history—most recently in 2011 against Tottenham.
Madrid’s slim 1-0 win over Alaves at the weekend did little to suggest a return to peak form.
Worse yet, they haven’t kept a Champions League clean sheet at home in 10 straight matches—an ominous sign with Arsenal’s attacking form.
⏪ Last time out against Real Madrid…
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 15, 2025
An unforgettable evening in north London 🤩 pic.twitter.com/gyyci7I3TU
For Arsenal, the Emirates explosion was no fluke.
Mikel Arteta has forged a team that blends control with creativity, steel with silk.
Missing key figures like Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Magalhaes, the Gunners still played Real off the pitch.
While a 1-1 draw against Brentford in the Premier League over the weekend kept their title hopes in jeopardy, it extended their unbeaten run to nine games and maintained their goal-scoring streak to eight.
Still, Arteta will be wary. A fast Bernabeu start can shake even the best-laid plans, and any lapse in discipline could shift the momentum.
But if Arsenal can keep the home crowd quiet for the first 10–15 minutes, they could all but punch their semi-final ticket.
Team News & Selection Notes
Real Madrid
- Suspended: Eduardo Camavinga (red card in first leg)
- Injured: Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal (knee), Ferland Mendy (muscle), Andriy Lunin (calf – doubtful)
- Returning: Aurelien Tchouameni (served first-leg suspension)
- Key Players: Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham return well-rested after reduced minutes against Alaves
Starting XI (Predicted):
Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Alaba; Tchouameni, Modric; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Mbappe
Arsenal
- Injured/Unavailable: Jesus, Gabriel, Havertz, Tomiyasu, Calafiori (all knee/hamstring issues)
- Doubts: Jorginho, Partey, Ben White (late fitness tests)
- Key Returnees: Jurrien Timber expected to start; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Merino all set to return
Starting XI (Predicted):
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
Tactical Outlook
Real Madrid will need to go full throttle from the start. Expect Vinicius and Rodrygo to push high and wide, while Bellingham drives centrally.
Ancelotti will hope Mbappe finally finds his mark from a free kick or open play, having been unusually quiet in recent outings.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will likely prioritize compactness and quick counters. Rice will be key in transitions, while Saka and Martinelli offer pace on the break.
If Merino can replicate his first-leg form, Madrid’s backline could be in serious trouble.
Historical Context
It’s been 19 years since Thierry Henry’s solo goal gave Arsenal a 1-0 win at the Bernabeu—their only previous visit for a competitive match.
Madrid have never beaten Arsenal in UEFA competition. That streak could end—and yet, Arsenal would still go through.
Prediction
Real Madrid 2-1 Arsenal
Aggregate: Arsenal win 4-2
Madrid should find a response—they rarely go out quietly—but Arsenal’s structure, hunger, and counter-attacking threat should see them through.
A single away goal would require Madrid to score five. Even for the kings of comebacks, that’s a tall order.
Looking Ahead
If Arsenal finish the job, they’ll march into the semi-finals for the first time since 2009, facing either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa.
For Real Madrid, elimination would be a brutal end to their title defense—but in this city, hope is the last thing to die.
