Real Madrid v Arsenal Match Result
According to the Champions League betting odds, Real Madrid have a 60% chance of winning this second leg encounter. That’s despite a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday. Two Declan Rice free-kicks and a Mikel Merino goal ensured that the Gunners have one step in the last four of the competition and perhaps we’ll see them complete the job here.
The betting odds also imply that Real Madrid have around a 12% chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. The first step is to score at least three goals. That would help the game into extra-time providing that they didn’t concede a goal to a team who have plenty of firepower in their ranks.
The draw is trading at an attractive price. Arsenal know that not conceding is the way forward and perhaps they can nullify the opposition with a deep-lying defence. Although Gabriel is injured, Jakub Kiwior did well in his place against Real and the London side had an incredible eleven shots on target last week.
Mikel Arteta will have been glad about the accuracy of the shooting and the free-kick prowess of Rice is clearly a huge advantage. Since losing at home to West Ham, the team are unbeaten in eight matches and there’s every chance that they can avoid a defeat here despite the odds suggesting a Real win could happen.
We’re expecting Real Madrid to adopt a very attacking mindset and it’s easy to see Ancelotti resting plenty of his players for Sunday’s trip to Alaves. However, the rot might have set in considering that there was a 2-1 home defeat against Valencia and they previously conceded four goals against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey.
Goals Under/Over
It could be raining goals at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night. It’s hard to see this being a low-scoring clash even if it would suit Arsenal to keep things tight and nullify their opponents. The bottom line is that the Gunners will look for ways to prosper on the counter-attack and Bukayo Saka is clearly a huge threat now that the England man is back in the ranks and free from injury.
Mikel Merino is also a quality operator who will be flanked by Gabriel Martinelli, with the vast majority of recent Real Madrid games involving three goals or more. That crazy 4-4 draw with Real Sociedad showed Los Merengues in their most positive and negative light. We saw a strong team fielded who were able to land a victory in extra-time.
The only recent clash involving Real Madrid which didn’t involve more than two goals was that 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid having won the Champions League first leg clash by a 2-1 scoreline.
BTTS
Real Madrid failed to find the net at the Emirates Stadium although a failure to score against Arsenal is not an option. Los Merengues need to go on the front foot and the vast majority of recent clashes have seen BTTS Yes been the outcome. Carlo Ancelotti’s side always score in front of their own fans and they have so many viable attacking options here.
It could obviously end in tears and the bookies are anticipating that the net will also bulge at the other end. Arsenal surely will be focused on scoring at least one goal. This would mean their opponents need to score four goals and that’s a massive order against a side who have a robust defence with David Raya operating between the sticks.
If you think Real Madrid will land a victory, even if it proves to be a consolation one, then you can back them to win along with the BTTS Yes outcome. There’s some mileage in this bet and we could see a quick exchange of goals which would mean we just need the Spanish side to outscore the opposition come the final whistle.
First Goalscorer
Declan Rice was an unlikely first scorer at the Emirates Stadium last week and perhaps the England man can prove dangerous from free-kicks again. It’s staggering to think that the midfielder has never scored from a set piece before bagging a brace of them against Real Madrid and there could be more to come.
Mikel Merino looks set to once again operate in that false nine position and could also offer a threat for the visitors. However, it’s Real Madrid who are considered likelier to bag the opening goal of the game. Kylian Mbappe is the man who could yet steer the team to greatness and the French forward has scored thirty-three goals in all competitions this term.
Let’s not forget that Mbappe scored a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League two rounds ago although Vinicius Junior is another danger man who might be able to find the net. Jude Bellingham has also notched in his previous couple of games and the England midfielder has the chance to rove forward and get his team back in the tie.