Arsenal-Real Madrid: Champions League quarter-finals kick off in London
The European champions head into the first leg of a tie that will be played at the Bernabéu on 16 April (9 pm CEST).
The Champions League quarter-finals kick off with an incredible game in store. The European champions will continue to defend their trophy and tonight they face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium for a new chapter in their title defence (9 pm CEST). The Whites will be vying to take the lead in this first leg to the semi-finals, which will be decided on 16 April at the Bernabéu.
It certainly won't be an easy endeavour for Ancelotti's side. Arsenal, who are second in the Premier League, go into the quarter-finals unbeaten at home (4 wins and 1 draw) and have only lost one of their 15 home league games (10 wins and 4 draws). Real Madrid visit the Emirates Stadium for the first time in an official match.
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“We have a clear approach and we'll try to execute it tomorrow,” said Carlo Ancelotti in the press conference ahead of the clash. Meanwhile, Courtois said: “We're still alive in all three competitions and we want to go all the way." The Belgian goalkeeper is one of the new inclusions in the Italian coach’s squad, which is without the suspended Tchouameni and six players are on yellow cards with the risk of missing the return leg: Rüdiger, Lucas Vázquez, Camavinga, Modrić, Endrick and Vini Jr. All of them will be looking to continue Madrid's run of eight Champions League ties without defeat in the first leg (five wins and three draws). If they manage to do so, they would become the first team in the history of the competition to go nine first-leg matches without defeat.
Arsenal
Arteta's men go into the clash with a record of seven wins, two draws and one defeat in the Champions League, which came in Milan against Inter. At home, Arsenal have claimed victory in 15 of their last 20 European home games, with just one defeat, and have kept four clean sheets in four of their five continental matches at the Emirates Stadium this campaign. Havertz, who is out injured, is Arsenal's top scorer with 15 goals.