Champions League quarter-final previews: Arsenal vs Bayern Munich, Real Madrid vs Man City

The Champions League returns this midweek with the last eight qualified teams from the round of 16 set to square off in the quarter-finals.

All eyes will be on the coveted final spot at Wembley Stadium and Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester City are no exception as they gear up to face stern tests against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid respectively.

Here’s a preview of the two games :

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

Arsenal will hope to avenge their 2017 disastrous Champions League elimination to Bayern Munich when they host the Bavarians at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. Supporters are fighting to buy sold-out Champions League tickets for the game and we anticipate an excellent atmosphere at the Emirates tomorrow.

Mikel Arteta’s side are currently the most in-form team in Europe since the turn of the year. A 0:0 draw against Manchester City was their only dent in what would have been a perfect record in the domestic League in 2024.

However, the Champions League proved to be a different ball game entirely when Arsenal faced 30-time Primeira Liga Champions, FC Porto in the round of 16. The Azuis e Brancos recorded a 1:0 victory in the first leg and put up a resolute defensive performance at the Emirates to keep the aggregate score level after Leandro Trossard had given Arsenal the lead.

It took two heroic penalty saves from David Raya to seal qualification into the next round of Europe’s Premier competition.

On the other hand, Bayern Munich have been a contrast to themselves this season. They currently sit in second place in the Bundesliga and their 11-year successive League reign is set to come to an end with Bayer Leverkusen sitting at the top of the table with 16 points gap.

On the continental front, the Bavarians bounced back from a 1:0 first-leg defeat to record a 3:0 win over Lazio to book their place in the quarter-finals.

While the dwindling form of Thomas Tuchel’s side might be a boost to Arsenal, the Gunners could be hunted once again by a familiar foe- Harry Kane.

The 30-year-old netted 14 goals in 19 matches against the Gunners while plying his trade with Tottenham Hotspur and will be set to extend his six-goal Champions League tally when he returns to North London on Tuesday night.

Team news

Arteta will hope Bukayo Saka’s withdrawal from the 3:0 win against Brighton and Hove Albion was only precautionary. The Englishman has been struggling with niggling fitness concerns and will hope to be fit enough to face the physical bout against Bayern’s Alphonso Davies.

Gabriel Martinelli, Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu have all fully returned to the squad while Jurrien Timber remains out of contention as he continues to recuperate from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Bayern have a plethora of injury concerns ahead of the game at the Emirates. First-choice goalkeeper, Manuel Neur along with Leroy Sane are out with groin injuries. Kingsley Coman, Gabriel Marusic, Tarek Buchmann, Bouna Sarr, Sacha Boey and Noel Aseko are the Bavarian’s longest absentees and will not feature against Arsenal.

Prediction

Arsenal have shown superior quality against sides that decide to stand toe-to-toe against them in the Champions League. The 4:0 thrashing of Eredivisie leaders and the 6:0 demolition of French side, Lens are testament to that.

Bayern are known to be an attacking team and will have a go at the Gunners from start to finish.

However, their leaky defence could be their archilles hill and Arsenal’s lethal attack will take no prisoners at the Emirates.

While experience could help Bayern in this competition, Arteta’s side have proved they are no minnows when facing big sides.

The game might ultimately be decided by the team with the better defence and this is where Arsenal hold the upper hand.

We’re predicting a 2:1 win for Arsenal.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City

Another epic Champions League clash will take place on Tuesday when defending champions, Manchester City travel to Santiago Bernabeu to face 14-time Champions, Real Madrid.

The clash is a repetition of last season’s semi-final bout when a 1:1 draw was followed by a thumping 4:0 bashing from Pep Guardiola’s side.

The Los Blancos are unbeaten in their last 13 matches across all competitions, a streak that includes the two-legged victory over RB Leipzig in the round of 16.

A Brahim Diaz strike sealed a 1:0 victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the first leg at the Red Bull Arena. Madrid were far from impressive in the second-leg despite securing a 1:1 draw against Die Roten Bullen who had a flurry of opportunities to take the lead after Willi Orbán had cancelled out Vinicius Junior’s opener.

The Laliga leaders have not played a match since 31st March and will hope their nine-day period of rest will be enough to stage a remarkable performance when they host City at home.

City on the other hand secured qualification in emphatic fashion, brushing aside FC Copenhagen in dominant fashion. A successive 3:1 victory over the Danish side meant the Cityzens have won all eight Champions League matches this season.

Guardiola’s side are currently embarking on a 10-match winning streak- the second-longest in Champions League history and are on course to break the record.

The treble winners are currently the most dominant side in the Champions League after recording an impressive 21-match unbeaten run. They are on course to netting multiple goals at the Bernabeu having scored at least three goals in their last eight Champions League matches.

Record after record continues to be set by City who are gradually becoming the pacesetters in the competition.

They go into this game at the back of a 4:2 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League, extending their unbeaten streak since 6th December 2023.

Team news 

Madrid’s centre-back Eder Militao made his second appearance of the season in Madrid’s 2:0 victory over Athletic Bilbao. The 26-year-old will be in contention to start against City.

Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba are both nursing knee injuries and remain long-term absentees.

Dani Ceballos is now working with the group again after being restricted to individual training last week.

Dani Ceballos is now training with the first team fold after being restricted to individual training in the past week. However, it is unlikely that the Spaniard will make the squad to face the English Champions.

For City, Josko Gvardiol was withdrawn at halftime in the win against Palace after picking up a knock. The severity of the knock is not clear and his availability hinges on a fitness test.

First-choice goalkeeper, Ederson was on the bench in the clash against Palace and could be set to return to the starting lineup at the Bernabeu.

Kyle Walker remains out with a hamstring injury along with Nathan Ake who is sidelined with a calf injury.

Prediction

Los Blancos have emerged victorious in their last 11 quarter-final clashes in the Champions League since losing to Monaco in the 2003-04 season.

They face a stern test against a rampaging City side that have won 11 of their last 12 away matches in all competitions.

Streaks will end and records will be broken in this tussle of Supremacy.

More important in this fixture is the bragging right between the two managers on who will ultimately go on to record the most number of wins in Champions League history.

We’re predicting a 3:2 win for Real Madrid.