Champions League: Arsenal, Real Madrid, Bayern, Inter… Who Will Make the Difference Tonight?
by Joseph King | by Joseph King
Arsenal vs Real Madrid: powerhouses lock horns for the first time since 2006
The Gunners will be hoping to draw inspiration from the 2006 team which knocked off the Galacticos of Madrid, owing to a sensational solo strike by Thierry Henry at the Bernabeu. It’s been well-reported that Real Madrid have never beaten Arsenal (although they’ve only played twice), despite having beaten a record 111 different teams in the Champions League. They’ll be looking to flip that script when the two teams do battle in North London for the first leg of this quarter-final tie.
The superstar attacking roster of Los Merengues will meet one of the best defenses in Europe in what is sure to be an electric atmosphere at the Emirates. Arsenal ranks first in the 2024/25 Champions League with only 0.88 expected goals allowed per game. See what our experts think in our Arsenal vs Real Madrid forecast!
Arsenal Player to watch: Bukayo Saka
Attack might have to be the best defense tonight for Arsenal, who have been hit hard by injuries and will be without the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Good news for Arsenal fans, however, is the return of their star boy: Bukayo Saka. The 23-year-old was one of the Premier League’s most potent attacking forces before going down with a hamstring injury in December.
In just 26 appearances across all competitions, Saka has racked up 10 goals and 13 assists.
Expect Arsenal to funnel plenty of their play to the right flank in an attempt to get the England international on the ball. Check out his current season Champions League stats below!
Key stats (Champions League):
| Appearances | Goals | Assists | Passes into key play area | Shots on target per 90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 4 | 2 | 29 | 1.67 |
Real Madrid player to watch: Kylian Mbappe
The Emirates faithful will get an up-close look at arguably France’s best player since the legendary Thierry Henry himself graced this ground. There are certainly similarities between Mbappe and Henry, and what is undeniable is the Madrid striker's prolificness in front of goal.
Mbappe has really found his footing in the Spanish capital after a slight adjustment period. It can’t really be said that it has come as a surprise though, given the preternatural ability that the Frenchman possesses. Mbappe has now scored 33 goals in 47 appearances this season, seven of which have come in 12 Champions League games. Stay up to date with our Arsenal vs Real Madrid Livescore!
Key stats (Champions League):
| Appearances | Goals | Non-penalty expected goals | Shots on target | Successul dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 7 | 7.98 xG (leader) | 25 (leader) | 18 |
Bayern vs Inter: rematch of the 2010 final
Inter became the first Italian treble winning team at the expense of Bayern after a 2-0 win in the 2010 final. Recently, however, the Bavarians have been on top. They won both home and away (coincidentally also by 2-0 scorelines) when the teams faced off in the 2022/23 Champions League group stage.
Inter will be confident heading into this matchup though, as the Nerazzurri have been solid on Europe’s biggest stage in recent seasons. They made the final in that aforementioned 2022/23 campaign while posting a strong 6-1-1 record in the league phase of the current season.
Inter have conceded the fewest goals in the Champions League so far with just two goals allowed in 10 matches.
Bayern, seeking their second straight semi-final appearance, are tied for being the second highest-scoring team in the 2024/25 UCL campaign with 28 goals. An unstoppable force meets an immovable object - which will come out on top? Check out our Bayern vs Inter forecast!
Bayern player to watch: Harry Kane
The Englishman is having another scorcher of a season with the likely soon-to-be Bundesliga champions, netting 34 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions. This includes 10 goals in the Champions League, where he currently ranks second in the UCL Golden Boot race behind Barcelona’s Raphinha.
The best online betting sites have the former Tottenham man at a close second according to the current odds to end up as this season’s top goal-getter. Kane has found the net in six of his last eight games for club and country, scoring a total of seven goals during that stretch.
Key stats (Champions League):
| Appearances | Goals | Expected goals | Shots on target | Chances created |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 10 | 9.22 xG (leader) | 22 | 19 |
Inter player to watch: Nicolo Barella
All eyes will be on Italian midfielder Nicolo Barella in this first leg quarter-final tie. He missed Sunday’s match against Parma with the idea to keep him fresh for this crucial first leg quarter-final fixture.
The 28-year-old is the heartbeat of the Nerazzurri midfield, contributing to all facets with his box-to-box style of play. In 40 appearances this season, Barella has posted three goals and eight assists. If Inter are to secure a result at the Allianz, Barella will likely play a starring role. Follow the action with our Bayern vs Inter Livescore!
Key stats (Champions League):
| Appearances | Assists | Pass accuracy | Passes into attacking third | Recoveries per 90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2 | 85.38% | 40 | 5.76 |
