Our best bets for the second leg of this enormous European tie include a win for the hosts with goals at both ends.
Arsenal will look to defend a three-goal lead when they head to the Santiago Bernabeu for Wednesday’s quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid.
Two sublime free-kicks from Declan Rice and a fine effort from Mikel Merino have put the Gunners in total control of their Champions League tie, but a trip to Madrid offers fresh challenges.
The Spanish giants are far and away the most successful club in the competition’s history and will hope that the backing of a passionate home crowd will help them over the line on Wednesday.
Having home advantage makes Real the 4/6 favourites for the tie in the football betting, while the draw is 16/5, and Arsenal are 7/2 underdogs.
Real Madrid v Arsenal tips
Real Madrid to win and both teams to score 2/1
Kylian Mbappe to score anytime 31/40
Jude Bellingham Over 1+ shots on target 4/6
Hosts to prevail in another thriller
Arsenal’s second-half dominance has all but handed them a place in the semi-finals, but Real will not go down without a fight.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team are the defending champions after they beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 last June, but they have a huge mountain to climb this week.
Los Blancos have failed to win either of their last two at home, but they have only lost twice at home since the turn of the year, and they are always up for the big occasion when it matters.
Arsenal are likely to sit back and try to defend their lead, but they could have some joy on the counter..
Real have conceded in 11 of their last two games at home and the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka will hope to do some damage in the final third.
Mbappe to move on from red card nightmare
Real striker Kylian Mbappe will look to move on from the 1-0 win over Alaves, when he was sent off for a horror challenge on Antonio Blanco.
Mbappe’s punishment will not carry over into the Champions League and he has usually excelled in front of the passionate home crowd.
The former Paris Saint-Germain ace has scored 32 times this season, with 18 of those goals scored in 23 home appearances.
Mbappe’s speed and eye for goal will make him dangerous throughout Wednesday’s tie and the visitors are not as strong as they could be at the back due to Gabriel’s season-ending hamstring injury.
Bellingham to lead Real’s charge
England international Jude Bellingham is never one to go missing on the big stage and he will be doing all he can to steer his team to victory.
The former Borussia Dortmund ace has had 14 shots in his last five games, with seven of those hitting the target.
Bellingham has hit the target at least once in four of his last five appearances and he will be shooting on sight at home on Wednesday trying to get his team back into the contest.
