Julius OkorieArsenal face a huge Champions League test as they welcome reigning champions, Real Madrid, tonight at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners who are second on the Premier league table, with 11 points behind table toppers, Liverpool, failed to close the gap after pulling a draw against Everton on Saturday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThey had been tipped to earn maximum three points against Everton but that was not to be after Lliman Ndiaye’s 49th minute penalty cancelled early lead by the visitors at the Goodison Park.
Arsenal won their last Champions League tie, beating PSV 9-3 on aggregate in the round of 16. After earning a 7-1 victory in the first leg, they played out a 2-2 draw in the return match at home. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Declan Rice scored in the second-leg draw. They are unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions.
Real Madrid won their last Champions League tie, beating Atlético Madrid 4-2 on penalties in the round of 16. They earned a one-goal lead in the tie after the first leg at home, large enough to withstand a 1-0 extra-time defeat in the return match at Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Neither team scored in the additional period, forcing the decisive shootout. The teams played out a 2-2 draw in their previous encounter in July 2019.
Banking On Kai Havertz And Bukayo Saka Touch:
Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka have caught the eye for Arsenal in Champions League play. The duo are the team’s joint top scorers with four goals. Havertz and Saka also share the same number of match-opening goals with one each. Visitors, Real Madrid, have been thankful to Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé, who have each netted seven times in this season’s Champions League.
Arsenal have scored in six straight Champions League contests this season. They haven’t been shut out since their league phase loss against Internazionale.
They are equally unbeaten in home matches this Champions League season with four wins and one draw from their five contests on home soil. The Gunners are in the midst of a three-match home unbeaten streak in all competitions.
Real Madrid on their part, have three wins and three losses away from Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in the competition this season.
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In their last six matches in all competitions, Arsenal have won three and drawn three. They scored 14 and conceded six over that stretch, scoring first in five of the six contests. A majority of their goals (eight) came in the first half, while their opponents netted three times in the first 45 minutes.
Real Madrid have won three, drawn one and lost two in their last six. They scored 12 and conceded 11 in that period, netting first in two of the six. They had six goals in the first half, while their opponents netted seven times before the break.
The plus for Madrid is that Thibaut Courtois is good to go after recovering from a muscular issue that he picked up on international duty.
However, Andriy Lunin, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao and Dani Ceballos will all be missing through injury, while Aurelien Tchouameni will not be involved due to a European suspension.
Despite the setback, it promises to be a clash full of fireworks and a slip for Arsenal will be costly to repair in the return leg.
While a win for the Gunners will be a huge plus going into the second leg, the least the Mike Arteta tutored side ought to get is a draw, which will push the final battle to the Santiago Bernabeu. A battle against Carlo Ancelotti’s men whether home or away is never easy.
Bayern Munich Face Inter Milan At The Allianz Arena
Arsenal against Real Madrid epic clash is not the only mouth-watering showpiece of the UEFA Champions League on the table tonight as Bundesliga giants, Bayern Munich, equally host Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena (München)
Bayern München won their last Champions League tie, beating Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 on aggregate in the round of 16. After earning a 3-0 victory in the first leg at home, they ran out 2-0 victors in the return match. Harry Kane and Alphonso Davies were on the scoresheet in the second-leg win. They are unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions.
Inter won their last Champions League tie, beating Feyenoord 4-1 on aggregate in the round of 16. After earning a 2-0 victory in the first leg, they ran out 2-1 victors in the return match at home. Marcus Thuram and Hakan Çalhanoglu netted in the second-leg win. They are unbeaten in their last 10 games in all competitions.
When the two sides last met in action, Bayern München triumphed 2-0 in a Champions League group stage match at Allianz Arena in November 2022. Benjamin Pavard struck first for the German side in the 32nd minute. Eric Choupo-Moting also was on target.
Bayern München have been led by Kane in Champions League play. The striker is the side’s top scorer with 10 goals, which is tied for the second highest among the competition’s top scorers in 2024/2025, three of which have been the critical first of the match. Visitors Inter have been spearheaded in the final third thanks to Lautaro Martínez, who has scored on six occasions in this season’s Champions League, including two match-opening goals.
Both sides have found success in the final third in Champions League play, as the hosts have netted in their last five games in the competition while the visitors have been on target in four straight.
Jamal Musiala Blow For Bayern Munich:
Hosts Bayern München are unbeaten in home matches this Champions League season with five wins and one draw from their six contests on home soil.
With three wins, one draw, and just one loss on their travels in the competition, Inter boast a fine record in away matches this campaign. The Nerazzurri are looking to add to a five-match away unbeaten streak. It is possible to add to this impressive run but it won’t be a tea party at the Allianz Arena.
In their last six matches in all competitions, Bayern München have won four, drawn one and lost one. They scored 14 and conceded seven in that stretch, scoring first in five of the six contests. A win for Bayern Munich will be a plus heading into the second leg, but a slim win may not easy to defend in Milan.
Bayern unfortunately will be missing as prolific playmaker, Jamal Musiala, who suffered a torn muscle that will likely sideline him for the remainder of the season, a devastating blow to Bayern’s chances of breaking down a dogged Inter defence.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
