(Football news) The Gunners defied both the odds and their injuries to storm to a phenomenal 3-0 win in last week’s opening leg, where Declan Rice scored two outrageous free kicks before Mikel Merino put the cherry on top.
Los Blancos must therefore prevail by three goals and on penalties, or win by at least four goals in normal or extra time if they are to complete a famous remontada and reach the semi-finals, where either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa will be lying in wait for the victor.
Ahead of what promises to be a mouthwatering occasion in Madrid, let’s have a look at the best stats relating to the second leg of the quarter-final.
Best Real Madrid stats ahead of second leg
Real Madrid have been eliminated in three of their previous four European Cup/Champions League knockout ties when losing the first leg by at least three goals.
The only time Real Madrid reversed a 3+ goal deficit in a European Cup/Champions League knockout tie came in the 1975-76 last 16 against Derby County, winning the second leg 5-1 following a 4-1 defeat in the opening battle.
Real Madrid had only ever suffered one 3-0 first-leg away loss in European competition before their trip to the Emirates, but on that occasion they turned it around in the second, pummelling Anderlecht 6-1 in the third round of the 1984-85 UEFA Cup.
Los Blancos have played against an English opponent 53 times in Europe’s premier competition, and they have only won by at least four goals twice, against Derby in 1976 and against Tottenham Hotspur in the 2010-11 quarter-finals.
However, Real have progressed from 14 of their last 15 Champions League knockout ties when playing the second leg at home, the one exception being against Ajax in the 2018-19 last 16.
Since that defeat to the Dutch giants, Real have advanced from each of their most recent eight UCL knockout clashes when playing the second leg at the Bernabeu.
Ancelotti’s side have failed to score in either of their last two Champions League knockout games, suffering that fate for the first time since 2009.
Nevertheless, Real Madrid have scored in each of their last 35 Champions League matches at the Bernabeu, last drawing a blank in a 3-0 group-stage loss to CSKA Moscow in December 2018.
The hosts have also found the back of the net in all of their last 15 home games since being slain 4-0 by Barcelona in El Clasico in October 2024.
On the other hand, Real Madrid have also failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 10 UCL games at home since shutting out Braga in a 3-0 win in November 2023.
The hosts have won four of their previous six penalty shootouts in the Champions League, including each of their last three against Atletico Madrid (twice) and Manchester City.
In the first leg, Luka Modric became the third-oldest player to start a UCL knockout game at 39 years and 211 days, only trailing Ryan Giggs (40y 123d against Bayern Munich in 2014) and Alessandro Costacurta (39y 339d against Lyon in 2006).
Best Arsenal stats ahead of second leg
Arsenal are aiming to reach the Champions League semi-finals for just the third time in their history, and the first time since the 2008-09 season.
On the 47 previous occasions where a team has won the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie by three or more goals, that team has advanced 43 times.
Arsenal have won their last three Champions League away games and could equal their club record of four straight road wins in the competition, set in the 2005-06 season.
On that occasion, Arsenal’s fourth victory was a 1-0 success over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Arsenal are now unbeaten in seven successive UCL games – winning six of them – and have scored 14 goals in their last three away from home, having failed to net once in their previous four before that.
Arsenal had 11 shots on target last Tuesday, the joint-most Real Madrid have faced in a UCL knockout clash (also 11 by Liverpool in March 2009).
The Gunners’ 3-0 first-leg win saw them match their biggest-ever victory against a Spanish side in the European Cup, and they have only lost one of their last eight games against La Liga teams in the competition.
However, Arsenal have been eliminated from five of their last six knockout ties with La Liga clubs at any level of European competition.
The Gunners have prevailed in three and been beaten three of their previous six penalty shootouts in Europe, alternating between losing and winning every time.
Arteta’s side have gone unbeaten in each of their last nine games in all competitions, last suffering defeat at home to West Ham United on February 22.
Arsenal have also scored in each of their last eight affairs, last drawing a blank away to Nottingham Forest on February 26.
In all competitions, Arsenal have not lost by at least four goals away from home since a 4-0 Premier League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in November 2021.
In the first leg, Rice became the first player to ever score two free kicks in one Champions League knockout game, and just the fifth to do so in one match at any stage of the competition after Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Hakim Ziyech and Rivaldo.
Merino has scored four goals against Real Madrid in his career, his best record against a single opponent.
Best Real Madrid-Arsenal head-to-head stats ahead of second leg
Arsenal have never lost to Real Madrid in a competitive match, also avoiding defeat in both of their contests during the 2005-06 UCL last 16.
Arsenal’s only previous trip to the Bernabeu in 2006 ended in a 1-0 win thanks to a Thierry Henry goal, which saw them become the first English side to win at the stadium.
If Real Madrid fail to score on Wednesday, Arsenal will become the first team to ever keep four straight clean sheets against Los Blancos in the Champions League.
Los Blancos have beaten Arsenal in friendly action, though, overcoming the Gunners on 3-2 penalties in the 2019 International Champions Cup following a 2-2 draw.
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