Can Arsenal shock Real Madrid?
Arsenal v Real Madrid Preview
Los Blancos will make their first-ever competitive appearance at the Emirates Stadium.
While the 15-time winners have beaten 111 teams in the competition’s history, Arsenal are not one of them courtesy of their famous last-16 success in the only previous meaningful meetings between the teams back in 2006.
While Arteta's looking to reach the final four for just a third time, Madrid’s love affair with the competition sees them looking to make that a reality for the fifth consecutive season.
Real Madrid head into the first leg knowing that no team has beaten Arsenal in North London in 10 Champions League games since their return to the competition last season. An extension of that run would put them in a superb place before a visit to the Spanish capital eight days later.
Who remembers this match from 2006?
A closer look at how Real Madrid are doing
Not since the 2003-04 season have Real Madrid been knocked out in the quarter-final stage. They have won each of their last 12 two-legged ties at this stage of the tournament. However, Ancelotti's men have been humbled ever so slightly in their last two domestic outings.
After shipping four to Real Sociedad in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, but still advancing to an El Clasico final with a 5-4 aggregate win, they then suffered a shock 2-1 La Liga defeat to Valencia over the weekend, as Hugo Duro headed home an extraordinary 95th-minute winner at the Bernabeu.
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A focus on Arsenal's chances
Arsenal made light work of their attacking absences in the first leg, dismantling the Dutch side with ruthless efficiency. But after scoring seven goals in just 90 minutes at the Philips Stadion, they have managed the same total across their last five matches – a dip in form that has further dented their already slim hopes of a Premier League title.
A subdued 1-1 draw with Everton on Saturday nudged Liverpool a step closer to the crown. Mikel Arteta’s team selection suggested his priorities lie elsewhere, with eyes clearly fixed on the midweek clash in Madrid. There, Arsenal will look to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games, while also protecting an impressive European record on home soil.
