Arsenal vs Real Madrid UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Quarter-final First Leg | Match Preview, Head-to-head, Possible Lineups and Fantasy XI Prediction

The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Quarter-finals are knocking on the doors as the quest for the coveted UCL glory offers some of the most decisive encounters this season.

Kicking off the quarters, Arsenal are set to welcome the reigning champions, Real Madrid, for the first leg of the quarter-final tie tonight at the Emirates Stadium in London.

Arsenal vs Real Madrid in the quarter-finals 🤤#UCL pic.twitter.com/fDxtSjj8MV

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 8, 2025

The Gunners thumped PSV Eindhoven in the Round of 16 to fire into the last eight, whereas Los Blancos knocked arch-rivals Atletico Madrid out on penalties.

From possible starting XIs to Fantasy predictions, here is everything you need to know about Real Madrid vs Arsenal's first leg of the Quarter-final match in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25. 

Read Also | UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Round of 16 Second Leg Round Up

Match Details 

Match: Arsenal vs Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Quarter-Final First Leg

Date: 9 April 2025

Time: 12:30 AM IST

Venue: Emirates Stadium, London

Broadcasting and Streaming Details

The match will be streamed Live on the Sony Liv app and website. Viewers can also watch the game live on TV on Sony Sports Network. 

Team News

Arsenal

Gunners' gaffer Mikel Arteta has guided his team into the last eight once again this time after last season, thanks to a staggering 7-1 crushing of PSV in the first leg of their last-16 fight ahead of a 2-2 home draw.

However, a distressing 1-1 draw against Everton on Saturday moved Liverpool one step closer to the title, though Arteta's team selection was as much that of a man who has his eyes firmly on Madrid, where Arsenal will seek to take their unbeaten run in all tournaments to eight matches while also keeping up an incredible European home record.

In fact, the North London side has not lost any of their past 10 Champions League matches at the Emirates - keeping eight clean-sheets during that period.

Gearing up 👊 pic.twitter.com/vgA2xTkEQL

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 8, 2025

Arteta will be confident after Bukayo Saka's return from a long-standing injury, where he will be paired up with makeshift striker Mikel Merino and Martinelli. However, Ricardo Calafiori, Gabriel Margalhaes, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are the key absentees for tonight's game, whereas Raheem Sterling will serve a one-game suspension.

However, Gabriel Martinelli, Declan Rice, and Jurrien Timber will miss the return leg if they receive bookings tonight.

Real Madrid

As long as Carlo Ancelotti is in charge of the Real Madrid touchline, Real Madrid will seemingly always manage to find a way in the Champions League, and so it turned out in the second leg of their fiercely-fought last-16 tie with city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Following a 4-4 draw against Real Sociedad in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final and progressing to an El Clasico final with a 5-4 aggregate victory, Real Madrid were stunned by a 1-2 La Liga defeat to Valencia last weekend.

🏟️💡✨ pic.twitter.com/o1dUM1KDBO

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 7, 2025

If Real Madrid can make Arsenal the 112th team they have defeated in the Champions League on Tuesday night, another trophy-less campaign will be the lot of Arteta's Arsenal unless there is some miraculous second-leg recovery.

Ancelotti will have to exclude long-time absentees Dani Carvajal, Dani Ceballos, and Eder Militao, along with Aurelin Tchouameni, who is suspended for this game. Second-choice keeper Andriy Lunin and Ferland Mendy are also doubtful. 

📋✅ ¡Nuestros convocados!
🆚 @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/p0TBcA3w6V

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 6, 2025

However, a long list of Madrid players might miss the second leg if booked tonight: Eduardo Camavinga, Endrick, Luka Modric, Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez, and Vinicius Jr.

Head-to-head Stats (In UCL)

Matches played: 2

Arsenal won: 1

Real Madrid won: 0

Draws: 1

Possible Playing XI

Arsenal

David Raya (GK); Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior, Myles Lewis-Skelly; Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino, Gabriel Martinelli

Real Madrid

Thibaut Courtois (GK); Federico Valverde, Raul Asencio, Antonio Rüdiger, Fran Garcia; Rodrygo, Luka Modrič, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham; Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Jr

Arsenal vs Real Madrid: Fantasy XI Prediction

Raya, Timber, Saliba, Rudiger, Valverde, Odegaard, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Saka, Mbappe, Vinicius