Real Madrid have given themselves an especially difficult task against Arsenal within the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, but can they pull it off?
The Gunners were sensational in the primary leg in north London as Declan Rice scored two stunning free-kicks and Mikel Merino accomplished a 3-0 victory.
Mikel Arteta’s side produced an excellent performance however the job is just not done as they face a visit to the long-lasting Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
Clearly Arsenal are favourites to progress to the semi-finals due to their three-goal lead, but given the immense status of their opponents, few fans might be sitting comfortably just yet.
Real Madrid are 15-time winners of Europe’s top competition, with eight more titles to their name than their nearest rivals AC Milan.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal on a regular basis
Get up to seek out news in your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Enroll to our newsletter after which select your team within the link we’ll send you so we will get football news tailored to you.
In contrast, Arsenal have never been European champions, reaching their only final in 2006 after they were beaten by Barcelona.
The Gunners are beautifully positioned to knock out the defending champions, but few would rule out a Real Madrid miracle ahead of the sport.
What odds are Real Madrid to knock Arsenal out of the Champions League?
When you fancy Real Madrid to drag off an incredible recovery and break Arsenal’s hearts, they can be found at 8/1 with Sky Bet to qualify for the Champions League semi-finals.
The bookmakers expect the house side to win the match, with Real 4/5 for victory on Wednesday night with the identical company.
Arsenal are 11/4 to win in Spain, but just 1/20 to progress to the semi-finals.
Real Madrid have broken English hearts in recent times with an epic comeback, downing Manchester City within the 2021/22 semi-finals from a seemingly hopeless position.
City won the primary leg 4-3 in Manchester and were leading 1-0 (5-3 on aggregate) in Spain because the clock ticked towards 90 minutes within the second leg.
Then got here the nightmare for Pep Guardiola and his men as Rodrygo scored twice in injury time to force extra-time, where Karim Benzema scored a 3rd and put Real into the ultimate, 6-5 on aggregate.
Arteta has addressed Real Madrid’s capability of mounting an enormous comeback and is just not shying away from it.
‘It is a component of their history and I understand it,’ he said. ‘They’ve the proper to consider that scenario.
‘Our mindset needs to be different. We attempt to repeat the alternative message to what they’ve within the last 72 hours. We’re near the players. Hopefully that [message] is more powerful than anything. But you might have to be [out] there, undergo it, experience it.’
He added: ‘They may attempt to take the sport to a unique place to where we wish. We now have to take the sport to where we wish after which adapt quickly to any scenario that takes us some place else.
‘[The aim is] to win the sport. The identical as we did in London. We now have to dominate things; be brave, be dominant, determined, to have the conviction that we may be higher than them and win the sport. That is obvious in our mind and that’s how we’ve to play tomorrow.’
MORE: Jamie Carragher goals dig at Marcus Rashford after Europa League anthem plays during Aston Villa vs PSG
MORE: Leny Yoro sends message after Thierry Henry blasts Manchester United performance
MORE: Arsenal warned Real Madrid won’t even need an early goal to finish comeback
