Real Madrid News

Make or break for Jesus at Arsenal

Wednesday night’s trip to Bayern Munich could be a moment where Arsenal turn to Gabriel Jesus for experience. It may also be a night where they turn away from him as a reliable option up front.

The Brazilian forward is one of the few players in the Gunners squad with experience in the Champions League that predates this season, but does Mikel Arteta trust him enough for Arsenal’s biggest game of the campaign?

Jesus comes into the Bayern trip with one goal in his seven Premier League matches in 2024, hardly the form needed for such a big venue like the Allianz Arena. Another wasteful display against Aston Villa raised more questions about whether centre-forward is a position that Arteta can improve on in the summer.

That being said, Jesus has performed when required for Arsenal in the Champions League, with four goals and three assists in his seven European matches this season, including a classy assist for Leandro Trossard in the first-leg equaliser with Bayern. Yet there is still a dilemma over whether he or Kai Havertz is the best No 9 option on Wednesday.

If Arteta goes with Jesus, the striker’s Arsenal career is at a crossroads. A top performance would keep him as an important figure at the club. Anything else and he could be replaced this year.
Sam Blitz

Could Spurs fans really be cheering on Arsenal against Bayern?

After a dismal defeat at Newcastle on Saturday, Tottenham have slipped out of the top four – and now their attention turns to the coefficient race in the hope for Champions League football.

Fifth place, which Spurs currently occupy, could well be enough for Champions League qualification if the Premier League gains an extra spot in next season’s revamped competition.

But at the moment Germany (16.785) sit ahead of England (16.750) in the race for the extra Champions League spot with Wednesday’s crunch game between Bayern Munich and Arsenal having a huge say in the coefficient landscape.

Germany will probably need both Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen – who face West Ham in the Europa League quarter-finals – to go through to finish ahead of England.

It leaves Spurs fans in an awkward position on Wednesday: do they support their arch-rivals Arsenal in the hope it could help them earn Champions League football next season?

Or do they get behind their former hero Harry Kane to end Arsenal’s quest for a first European Cup?

Can City produce another statement win over Real?

Manchester City’s win over Inter Milan in Istanbul last May may have been the match that finally secured their first Champions League title, but it was their 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid in the semi-final second leg that was the most impressive of their campaign.

After a 1-1 draw in the Bernabeu – featuring excellent goals from Vinicius Junior and Kevin De Bruyne – City tore Real apart at the Etihad, dethroning the champions with a true show of force.

Can Pep Guardiola’s side repeat the trick on Wednesday? The similarities are there from the first leg – a 3-3 draw in Madrid that again featured several outstanding strikes.

To do so, City will need to tighten up defensively. It may be harsh to criticise a side that have not lost in their last 27 games, but City have conceded seven goals in their last four outings – many of them entirely avoidable.

The three goals Real scored from an expected goals total of just 0.65 in the first leg shows just how deadly Carlo Ancelotti’s side are. Guardiola will be desperate for his team to reassert their customary control in the second leg.

If they are able to do so in front of what is likely to be a fired-up Etihad crowd, don’t rule out City producing another statement performance as they bid to win a second straight treble.
Joe Shread

History teaches us never to write off Liverpool

“Awful result and performance,” wrote Jamie Carragher after Liverpool imploded in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie against Atalanta. “The only consolation is Jurgen should play a full second string and go all in for the league,” he added.

That was before they followed up last Thursday’s humbling by getting beat by Crystal Palace at the weekend. Now there’s a real dilemma. Manchester City are in the driving seat for the Premier League crown, but Liverpool and Arsenal remain in hot pursuit. Neither will abandon their hunt based on one loss, nor should they.

Can Liverpool be seen to down tools in Europe, then? In short, no. Three-nil is not an unassailable scoreline, besides, Liverpool and famous European comebacks have history. Let us journey back to 2019 – the Reds fought back from three goals down against Barcelona, and not just any Barca, the Lionel Messi brand of Barca. Then there’s 2005. Champions League final in Istanbul. If you know, you know.

Pride and momentum are at play too. Klopp said so himself after losing to Palace on Sunday – Liverpool lacked conviction based on a rocky run of results. No better way to bounce back from a rough patch than a morale-boosting fightback. Imagine the scenes.

There are no guarantees Liverpool can go to Bergamo and summon extraordinary powers of recovery, of course, because Atalanta won’t roll over easy. But they have to at least try.
Laura Hunter

Moyes the man to end Alonso’s remarkable run?

Bayer Leverkusen are now the champions of Germany and, 43 games into this most spectacular of seasons, remain unbeaten in all competitions. Given Liverpool’s surprise thumping at the hands of Atalanta, Xabi Alonso’s side are now favourites for the trophy.

A 2-0 win over West Ham in Leverkusen puts them in control of this tie and few supporters of the London side are particularly optimistic about the prospect of a turnaround. They were outplayed in Germany and followed that up with a home defeat to Fulham.

Maybe Leverkusen overdoing the celebrations is the best bet? The first goal would certainly make things interesting and even if West Ham are unable to progress, a one-goal win could have consequences behind the prize of being the first to beat Leverkusen this season.

A Premier League team beating a Bundesliga team in the Europa League would impact the coefficient race given that only one will be able to claim the additional Champions League place. Even a win for West Ham on the night would be enough to earn points.

That could be important for West Ham because if the Premier League do take the extra place then, unless Coventry pull off an unlikely FA Cup win, eighth would be enough to qualify for the Europa Conference League. And West Ham have fond memories of that competition.
Adam Bate

Will Villa rise to occasion in biggest European tie for 26 years?

The ease with which Aston Villa reached the Conference League quarter-finals has served to underplay the size of their achievement. It’s 26 years since they were in the last eight of a major European competition.

Back in 1998, they fell agonisingly short against Atletico Madrid, who progressed on away goals. Villa won the second leg at Villa Park thanks to two goals in three second-half minutes, but couldn’t add the third that would have secured a famous victory.

Unlike John Gregory’s side 26 years ago, Unai Emery’s outfit are in an advantageous position as they travel to Lille, having won the first leg 2-1.

Villa will arrive in France on a high after their stunning win at Arsenal on Sunday – but Lille were impressive in the first tie and are capable of bringing their Premier League opponents back down to earth.

Emery spoke of the need for consistency from his side after the victory at the Emirates. If they can replicate that performance in north London, a first major European semi-final since 1982 – the year they won the European Cup – will be within their grasp.
Joe Shread

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Jude Bellingham has demanded football’s authorities – particularly in Spain – do more to combat racism but admitted: “I doubt that will happen.”

The England midfielder’s call came after his Real Madrid team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni was racially abused by a Mallorca supporter after scoring last weekend.

It is the latest of a number of incidents in Spanish football, with another Real player in Vinicius Jr having been a regular victim of offensive chanting and gestures.

Bellingham, speaking to media ahead of Real’s Champions League tie with Manchester City on Wednesday, said: “I think in the games where we go away, in LaLiga especially, you almost get so used to it that I wasn’t even aware of the [Tchouameni] incident. I think that’s a massive problem in itself.

“More has got to be done, whether it’s the punishment and how you react to it or how you move proactively to [stop] this kind of thing.

“I think it’s a horrible way for a player to prepare for a game, knowing that they’re probably going to get racially abused. It’s disgusting. It shouldn’t happen.

“The people in power need to do more. No one deserves that kind of thing.

“It’s definitely a call-out for the people who are in charge to take control. I doubt that will happen.

“It’s going to be something that I imagine we will still have to just deal with going into games. You have just got to play your game and hope that the people look after you, and they’re not doing it well enough at the moment.”

Vinicius broke down in tears at a press conference as he discussed his experiences of racism ahead of Brazil’s recent friendly against Spain in Madrid.

Bellingham expressed sympathy for his colleague.

He said: “I think the blame gets shifted more onto him because of maybe his playing style and the way he likes to express himself and I don’t think that’s fair.

“The game would miss players like Vini if he decided to take a break because of this thing. More needs to be done to support these players.”

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Manchester City drew 3-3 with Real Madrid in an extraordinary game at the Bernabeu that leaves this Champions League quarter-final tie in the balance.

Long-range strikes from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol looked to have secured a dramatic win on the night for Pep Guardiola’s European champions after Madrid had scored twice in the space of two minutes to take the lead following Bernardo Silva’s early goal.

But Federico Valverde’s sumptuous volley levelled it up again to the delight of a boisterous Bernabeu. A draw was a fair result given City dominated possession while Madrid had the better of the chances. All to play for ahead of the second leg in Manchester.

Speaking in the press conference afterwards, Guardiola alleviated some concerns about the manner in which player-of-the-match Foden limped off late in the game, saying: “He was grumpy with me for making a substitution. That means he is OK.”

How the drama played out

Kevin De Bruyne dropping to the bench due to illness was not the ideal start for City but they did make the early breakthrough after Jack Grealish was brought down in the first minute. Silva caught out Andriy Lunin with the free-kick to stun the Bernabeu.

The roof was closed on the famous old stadium in a bid to ramp up the atmosphere but it was two quickfire goals that did that. It was a remarkable response by the 14-time champions, even if City could count themselves unfortunate in how the goals came.

Eduardo Camavinga’s shot was heading for the other side of the post until it deflected off Ruben Dias to wrongfoot Stefan Ortega and the goalkeeper was deceived again moments later when Rodrygo’s shot diverted off Manuel Akanji, trickling into the empty net.

Strange things can happen in Madrid, City know that better than most after their semi-final collapse in the Spanish capital two years ago. What was more alarming was the way that Carlo Ancelotti’s side continued to trouble the Premier League champions thereafter.

Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior had numerous chances to double the lead before the first half was through, counter-attacking at will in the left channel. Jude Bellingham and Vinicius both missed good chances from that zone early in the second half too. It proved costly.

Foden’s opportunity was not so obvious but much more precise, arrowing the ball into the top corner from 20 yards out to break Madrid’s resistance. It was typical of his fantastic form of late. The outrageous goal that followed from Gvardiol was not so predictable.

Cutting inside on his supposedly weaker right foot, the Croatia defender found the far corner with Lunin helpless. All three of City’s goals came from outside of the penalty box. It was a wonderful exhibition of finishing but Madrid had an answer themselves.

Valverde snuck in at the back post and caught his shot magnificently to make it three each and leave the tie finely poised for the rematch at the Etihad Stadium next week. On this evidence, both teams will be entitled to fancy their chances of progressing.

Guardiola will take the draw

“It was, I think, a nice game,” Guardiola told TNT Sports.

“We started really well and after it is so difficult against Real Madrid because they defend so well and the pace they have up front is unbelievable, so always you concede transitions against that team, it is impossible to control it.

“In the first half, we were a little anxious with the ball. After 2-1 we lose a lot of balls that players do not usually lose. But in the second half we showed our incredible personality in the way we play because at 2-1 it is a risk if we concede another goal.

“If we come back to Manchester 3-1 or 4-1 it would be difficult. But we continued playing with a lot of composure, much better than the first half. We make two fantastic goals from Phil and Josko. In the end, Madrid after 76 minutes, in this stadium, is an eternity.

“So, 3-3, we will take it. We have to win the game. Win the game to qualify for the semi-final. We will have our people. It will be sold out. We will need all of them to beat the kings of this competition.”

De Bruyne ‘chaos’ | Praise for Gvardiol

Manchester City had to overcome De Bruyne’s late withdrawal from the team and the coach was pleased with the way that his players responded to that adversity. Asked when he had found out, Guardiola said: “When I arrived here in the locker room.”

He added: “In the last meeting at the hotel he was playing – he didn’t say anything to me. But it started to become bad when we arrived. One of the secrets at the highest level is to adapt quickly when there is chaos – there is no time to complain.”

Guardiola seemed to suggest the reason for Foden’s removal late in the game as he limped from the pitch was not particularly serious. “It was a knock,” confirmed the City boss. But there was praise for another scorer, Gvardiol. The left-back shrugged off doubts over his fitness to put in an impressive performance.

“We were lucky that he could play today because without him it would have been so difficult because we do not have players at the back. He made an incredible effort. Not just the goal. The way he played. He played really good. We are so happy to have him.”

The match in stats

• This was the first knockout stage game in the Champions League to end level despite both teams leading since a 2-2 draw between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in 2018.
• This was only the fourth time in the Champions League that both teams have scored three or more goals in the first leg of two-legged knockout stage tie, with the previous instance also being between these two sides (the semi-final in 2022).
• Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is winless in his last three matches at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid, his longest run of games there as the visiting coach without a victory.
• This was only the second ever knockout stage match in the Champions League to see three goals scored in the opening 14 minutes of play after Man City v Tottenham in April 2019.
• Phil Foden has scored six goals from outside the box for Manchester City this season, the most of any player for a Premier League club across all competitions.

Analysis: Haaland anonymous but does it matter?

In a game where long-range shooting came to the fore, Erling Haaland was a bystander during a glorious encounter at the Bernabeu. The striker had just one shot and his failure to find the net means he has not scored in any of his three career appearances against Real Madrid – they are now the opponent he has played against most often in European competition without finding the net.

Haaland will always occupy the opposition – they cannot switch off with him around – but his lack of involvement in this game was quite staggering at times. He had just 20 touches of the ball, the fewest of any player who started the game and he made just two passes in the final third in his 94 minutes of action. It was the fewest he has made in a game this season.

Phil Foden made 17 and Bernardo Silva made 26, reinforcing the notion that the game passed Haaland by as others created the big moments for City. But does his tendency to disappear into the background matter? Are they really a better team without him? That is the question we have been asking about Haaland since he signed – and whatever the answer is, the question is not going away.
Lewis Jones

What’s next?

Manchester City host Luton Town in the Premier League on Saturday, kick-off 3pm. They then return to Champions League action for the second leg of their quarter-final at home on April 17, kick-off 8pm.

Real Madrid travel to Mallorca on Saturday in LaLiga with the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to 11 points, kick-off 5.30pm.