Live Real Madrid vs Arsenal: Build-up to Champions League clash as Real eye ‘La Remontada'

Telegraph

16-04-2025

6:02PM
Real fans line the street waiting to greet the team coach
It is not just a Liverpool thing, then. Maybe you need a minimum number of European Cups to justify it.
6:01PM
The hunt for the barmiest piece pre-match content
It might well have come from one of the pundits on television show El Chiringuito. With thanks to Sport Witness for the translation.
'It's Holy Week and you know that God, God is a Real Madrid fan. God is from Real Madrid,' the man in question said.
'He who made us all. He's from Real Madrid. He wears the Real Madrid shirt. He wears the Real Madrid crest. Don't fight each other again.'
5:56PM
What Arteta expects from Real Madrid
Our approach is to win it. The same as we did in London,' Arteta told a news conference on Tuesday.
Real Madrid are going to try to take us places we don't want to go. I understand it because it is part of their history and they have the right to be talking about these kinds of (comeback) scenarios.
We have to show the mindset to win. To be brave, to be dominant and to be determined. We need to have the conviction that we can be better than them and win the game.
5:43PM
Some of Jude Bellingham's pre-match thoughts
It was one of the worst [first leg] results we could possibly imagine, and for some reason everyone thinks it's nailed-on that we will come back. It's a nice feeling, I have to say.
It means there's a lot of trust in the talent. It means that you're at a club that's like no other, the best in the world, and that's what it represents and signifies to me. I think there's an expectation of Real Madrid that when we get in these holes we can come back. In England it's not as common but it does happen. The club have done it so many times, so the expectations are huge.
5:33PM
Tonight's venue looks far more impressive inside than outside
In an intriguing pre-match titbit, the roof of the Bernabeu is going to be closed after Uefa accepted a request from the club to do so. Presumably the idea is it helps to build the atmosphere inside the stadium.
Arsenal did win an FA Cup final under a roof: they won 1-0 against Southampton at Cardiff's then Millennium Stadium in 2003. Their record under a roof since? Your guess is as good as mine.
5:26PM
The 'dark magic' of the Bernabeu
Sam Dean has taken a close look at where Real's confidence in achieving improbable comebacks comes from, and some of the highlights from recent seasons. The interesting thing is just how late these goals have come.
Last season, Madrid scored twice in the final two minutes of the match through Joselu to beat Bayern Munich.
In their 2022 semi-final, they scored twice in two stoppage-time minutes to defeat Manchester City.
Earlier that season, Madrid were trailing by two goals with 30 minutes remaining of their second leg against Paris St-Germain. Karim Benzema promptly scored three goals, the third of which was converted only 11 seconds after his second.
When Chelsea visited Madrid under the management of Thomas Tuchel, they were 10 minutes from victory when Luka Modric produced the most extraordinary assist.
So for all the talk of Madrid tearing out of the traps, it could be that they are happy to play the long game and prey on any Arsenal vulnerabilities closer to the finish line.
5:16PM
Player face masks seem to be popular among Real fans
5:14PM
Yellow card watch
Arsenal's priority must be quelling Real Madrid's attacks and making sure they qualify first, but it is worth noting they have four players at risk of missing the first leg against PSG should they pick up a yellow card. Those players are: Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli. All starters, but given the strength of PSG's midfield and threat on the flanks the availability of Timber and Rice feel critical.
For Real Madrid, Antonio Rudiger, Luka Modric and Endrick are the players who are one booking away from suspension.
Yellow cards are wiped after this round, but suspensions from yellows awarded in the quarter-final carry forward.