Arsenal vs Real Madrid LIVE!
Declan Rice's two fantastic free kicks and a striker's finish from Mikel Merino gave Arsenal an emphatic 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
The hosts had the better of the first half as Real began slowly, though they were indebted to Thibault Courtois' superb double-save on the stroke of halftime to keep the game level. However, Rice broke the deadlock in the 58th minute with his first senior goal from a direct freekick, an unstoppable shot around the wall and beyond Courtois, before he followed it up with an even better strike 12 minutes later.
Merino then coolly fired into the bottom corner 15 minutes from time to give Arsenal a sizeable lead to take to Madrid next week. Real were reduced to 10 men late on when Eduardo Camavinga was shown a second yellow card. You can read the gam eback below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Simon Collings and Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal vs Real Madrid latest news
- GOAL! Rice curls in a second free kick!
- GOAL! Rice curls home stunning free kick
- Players at risk of suspension
- Score prediction
Rice reveals the advice Saka gave him before scoring TWO free kicks
22:36 , Alex YoungDeclan Rice has revealed the piece of advice Bukayo Saka gave him just before he scored the first free kick of his career as Arsenal beat Real Madrid on Tuesday evening.
Rice scored two stunning free kicks, the first two of his professional career, as the Gunners ran out 3-0 winners in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
"It's been in the locker," Rice said when asked by Amazon Prime about scoring the free kicks, adding: "But I've hit the wall too many times or it's gone over the bar.
"Originally we were going to cross it and then I've just seen the wall and the goalkeeper's position. So I thought just go for it. And Bukayo [Saka] said to just feel it. The second one I had the confidence. I hit it.
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Player ratings
22:08 , Alex YoungYou can read Dan Kilpatrick’s Real Madrid player ratings here.
Player ratings
22:00 , Alex YoungYou can read Simon Collings’ Arsenal player ratings here.
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Full-time! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
21:54 , Alex Young95min: No one saw that coming at half-time.
One of the great Arsenal nights, but only half the job done.
RED CARD! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
21:54 , Alex Young94min: Camavinga kicks the ball away, he’s already been booked so he’s sent off!
92min: White is on for Timber.
91min: Four minutes added.
89min: Arsenal are so comfortable.
85min: Rodrygo replaced by Brahim
80min: Rice replaced by Tierney. What a performance.
78min: Rice is struggling with some cramp. Don’t blame him.
Simon Collings at Emirates Stadium
21:37 , Alex YoungArsenal fans enjoying themselves now:"Are you Tottenham in disguise?"
GOALLLLLLLLL! Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
21:35 , Alex Young75min: Dreamland for Arsenal as Merino drills home from inside the area!
Lewis-Skelly spots him about 15 yards out, and Merino wraps his foot around it. Remarkable.
Simon Collings at Emirates Stadium
21:33 , Alex YoungSet-piece FC have a new weapon.
GOALLLLLLLLLL! Arsenal 2-0 Real Madrid
21:30 , Alex Young71min: HE’S DONE IT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!
And this one might be even better! It’s top corner, almost kisses the post.
Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid
21:29 , Alex Young70min: Arsenal win a free kick as Merino is hacked down by Camavinga. This is Rice territory.
Simon Collings at Emirates Stadium
21:28 , Alex YoungMadrid are rocking here. Arsenal have the chance to land a second blow if they keep pushing.
Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid
21:28 , Alex Young69min: From the corner, Bellingham clears Rice’s effort off the line!
TRIPLE SAVE!
21:27 , Alex Young69min: My word, Arsenal somehow don’t score a second.
Martinelli and then Merino twice are denied by either Courtois or Alaba on the line!
66min: Rice again gets into the box, and again he’s crowded out.
Madrid struggling to get a foot on the ball at the moment. Arsenal with the momentum.
Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid
21:23 , Alex Young63min: What does Arteta do now? As Simon reportedly just before the goal; stick or twist?
His mind may have changed.
Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid
21:20 , Alex Young61min: Bellingham with a acrobatic flick at a corner, which spins into Raya’s gloves.
Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid
21:19 , Alex Young60min: The Emirates has woken up again!
Dan Kilpatrick at Emirates Stadium
21:19 , Alex YoungDid we know Rice had that in his locker? Absolute peach of a free-kick, curled perfect around the wall and inside the post.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid
21:18 , Alex Young58min: Oh my woooooord! Rice slams home a stunning free kick!
Courtois, all eight foot of him, stood no chance!
Simon Collings at Emirates Stadium
21:15 , Alex YoungGetting towards stick or twist time for Arteta. A few subs sent to warm up - Zinchenko, Tierney and White.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
21:15 , Alex Young56min: Wow, Asencio needed to boot a last-ditch clearance away from Rice, who was set to pull the trigger inside the area.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
21:13 , Alex Young54min: First booking of the game as Partey shoulder-barges Camavinga. It’s a clear booking, but the player complains of course.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
21:10 , Alex Young51min: Lovely, deft touch from Bellingham to send Mbappe into the area but the angle is tight and the striker fires into the side netting from 10 yards.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
21:07 , Alex Young48min: Madrid happy for Arsenal to have the ball at the moment as they pass around their defence and midfield.
Second half
21:04 , Alex Young46min: Back underway.
Here come the players for the second half.
Cesc Fabregas is back on our screens and he says he is still confident Arsenal will win today.
Courtois appears behind him as he waits to return to the pitch. I’m sure he’ll have something to say about that.
You wonder how long Alaba will last. He’s not played much and he’s certainly not playing well tonight.
A really entertaining first half, with chances for both.
Mbappe should have scored, and then Courtois pulled off a fine double save just before the break.
More of the same in the second half, please.
Half-time!
20:48 , Alex Young48min: Camavinga tries his luck from 25 yards, which sails over... and that’s half-time!
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:47 , Alex Young45min: Two minutes added on.
DOUBLE SAVE!
20:45 , Alex Young44min: Rice nods Odegaard’s cross towards the far post, Courtois palms it away and then gets up to push Martinelli’s follow up away!
Two huge chances!
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:41 , Alex Young41min: More wonderful work from Saka, who has Alaba twisted in knots as he darts into the area, but the Arsenal star’s shot is deflected away.
Simon Collings at Emirates Stadium
20:40 , Alex YoungArteta will be very pleased with how Arsenal have gone about this so far but, as has been the case often this season, his side do not have enough to show for it.
Arsenal will feel they should be ahead.
39min: I tell you what, Real Madrid have done a great job of silencing the Emirates.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:38 , Alex Young37min: What a ball! Saka gets the better of Alaba again and rolls a perfect pass across the face of the goal, but not a single Arsenal player gambles.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:36 , Alex Young36min: More huge boos at the referee as Timber is judged to have fouled Vinicius Jr, but is penalised. That really did look soft.
Dan Kilpatrick at Emirates Stadium
20:34 , Alex YoungMbappe's had a couple of sighters now, one over the bar from an offside position and one straight at Raya.
Arsenal are not going to get away with giving him many more openings.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:33 , Alex Young33min: Awful corner, from Alaba, straight to Saka.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:33 , Alex Young32min: No rest for Arsenal as Madrid win the ball back quickly, work it wide and Rodrygo wins a corner.
CHANCE!
20:31 , Alex Young31min: Mbappe had to score!
One pass from Bellingham, one curved run, but one shot straight at Raya.
30min: Mix up from Lewis-Skelly and Saka sees another half-chance break down. Just not on the same wavelength and the pass rolls out of play.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:28 , Alex Young27min: Arsenal are so well-marshalled, but there is no other option in the face off this Madrid passing. Arsenal just need to do something with the ball when they get it.
26min: Timber looks like he’ll be OK.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:25 , Alex Young24min: Half a sight of goal for Madrid after a sloppy pass at the back by Timber, but Vinicius’ pass to Mbappe is offside and the chance goes begging.
Now Timber needs some treatment after a tangle of legs while tracking back.
Simon Collings at Emirates Stadium
20:23 , Alex YoungLewis-Skelly typifies Arsenal's bright start. He's been bold and brave on the ball, looking at home despite being just 18.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:22 , Alex Young21min: The referee is not a popular man inside the Emirates after a number of supposed Madrid fouls are not awarded. Arteta is furious on the touchline.
For what it’s worth, they all looked relatively borderline to me.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:19 , Alex Young19min: Great ball through into the area from Lewis-Skelly, which has the Madrid defence scrambling until Asencio slides in and clears off the toe of Martinelli.
Dan Kilpatrick at Emirates Stadium
20:17 , Alex YoungArsenal have started very well here but when you're facing Real Madrid in the Champions League, chances and possession count for absolutely nothing.
Real have patented playing poorly in this competition but always finding a way to win so the hosts needs to turn this early pressure into goals.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:16 , Alex Young15min: Real Madrid corner is eventually taken and Raya punches Modric’s cross away.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:15 , Alex Young14min: A penalty check in favour of Arsenal for handball, but the ball is hit into the arm of Asencio so, again, there’s nothing doing.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:14 , Alex Young13min: Great work by Rice to duck into the area, cut a ball back which falls to Partey for a shot from the edge of the area... which Courtois gathers at the second attempt.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:12 , Alex Young12min: A heavy touch from Timber so he tries to buy a foul near the Madrid penalty area, but there’s nothing doing and the referee agrees.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:11 , Alex Young11min: Modric has had a bit of a nervy start to the game, which is unlike one of the most decorated players in history.
A few rushed passes and sloppy touches.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:09 , Alex Young9min: Vinicus with another opportunity down the right, this time he shoots from a tight angle rather than pass. Same outcome.
Dan Kilpatrick at Emirates Stadium
20:08 , Alex YoungAlready promising signs that Arsenal can trouble Real at set-pieces and when Saka isolates Alaba.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:07 , Alex Young7min: Saka drops a delivery right under Courtois’ crossbar, and the keeper can only punch out for another.
Saka again, similar area but there’s no man in read to flick on.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:06 , Alex Young6min: Oh my word, Camavinga hesitates when clearing a cross, leaving Rudiger to take up the honours and concede a corner. Saka trots over to take.
Simon Collings at Emirates Stadium
20:05 , Alex YoungA first glimpse of Vinicius' pace. Arsenal cannot afford to be sloppy or they will be punished on the counter. A warning sign.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:05 , Alex Young4min: Odegaard takes, but sends it straight into the first man... and Madrid are on the counter through Vinicius, who leaves Timber for dust and has Mbappe to find in the area, but his pass is cut out.
Huge chance.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:033min: Sloppy mistake from Modric hands Arsenal possession near the ege of the Madrid area, and then the same player trips Saka to give away a free kick on the angle.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid
20:01 , Alex Young2min: Mbappe with a sighter for Raya early on, easy one.
Kick-off!
20:00 , Alex Young1min: Here we go! The Emirates is rocking.
Here they come.
Cesc insight
19:56 , Alex YoungFabregas is in the tunnel as the players line up. He says Arsenal must be wary of game management, with Real Madrid a threat both with and without the ball.
Basically, still being in the tie come full-time tonight is the bare minimum.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
19:50 , Alex Young“Arteta has got his wish. The Emirates is full and loud with 10 minutes to go until kick-off.”
The players are back in their dressing rooms. Not long to go now.
Players at risk of suspension
19:44 , Alex YoungThree yellow cards mean a one-game suspension in the Champions League, and they do no reset until the semi-finals.
So those on two yellow cards are one away from missing the second leg. For Arsenal, those are Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli.
Real Madrid are in a far tougher spot, with six players at risk. Vinicius Jr, Lucas Vazquez, Endrick, Eduardo Camavinga, Antonio Rudiger, Luka Modric... and even Carlo Ancelotti!
Familiar foe
19:38 , Alex YoungMartin Odegaard is, of course, playing his former team tonight for the first time.
“I’m very excited,” he told Amazon Prime. “It's a massive game and it’s a great place to play it in front of a lot of people. I can't wait.
"It's a massive game for everyone at the club and we're ready. It's a massive test but we feel ready. We're going to go for it and hopefully we'll make it happen"
Here's Jude
19:29 , Alex YoungJude Bellingham tonight faces Arsenal for the first time in his career.
He has already helped dispatch Manchester City this season, will he have another telling impact against another English team?
Dan and Simon check in
19:23 , Alex YoungOur reporters at the Emirates tonight.
👀 "There's an area of the pitch where Arsenal have an advantage."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) April 8, 2025
Here's @Dan_KP and @sr_collings ahead of kick-off.#ARSRMA | #UCL pic.twitter.com/5PkEzqlGhU
Mikel Arteta speaks to Amazon Prime
19:12 , Alex Young"It's a huge privilege to be here and play against this team tonight. But I'm also confident the team can compete and win."
Told Arsenal have never lost to Real Madrid: “Okay, let’s do it again!”
Big night for MLS
18:59 , Alex YoungAgain, no surprises with the team news.
Saka starts, his first since injury his hamstring in December, and Kiwior is picked to partner Saliba in central defence.
It’s Timber, not White, at right-back, while Lewis-Skelly will be up again Mbappe and Rodrygo. Huge.
Confirmed team news
18:48 , Alex YoungArsenal XI: Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Merino
Subs: Neto, Setford, Tierney, White, Zinchenko, Trossard, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Nwaneri
Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Alaba; Modric, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
Subs: Fran Gonzalez, Mestre, Guler, Enrick, Lucas Vazquez, Vallejo, Fran Garcia, Brahim, Gonzalo, Jacobo, Chema, Lorenzo
Arsenal XI
18:45 , Alex YoungHere it is!
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 8, 2025
🧱 Kiwior partners Saliba
⚓️ Rice in the middle
🔙 Saka returns to the starting XI
Let's make it happen, Gunners 👊
Arsenal team news to come in five minutes. We’re expecting Saka to start, but who will partner Saliba at the back?
Arsenal still keeping us waiting.
'Big-game' Saka out to prove he's on same level as Mbappe and Vinicius
18:25 , Alex YoungThere is a widespread view at Arsenal, which was articulated by Bukayo Saka on Monday, that the winger's three months on the sidelines could prove a blessing in disguise long-term.
Saka's hamstring injury was surely the biggest single factor in the collapse of Arsenal's chances in three competitions since the turn of the year, but he has returned to action feeling mentally "refreshed", while his body has also had a chance to recover from the rigours of playing so many high-intensity matches over the previous five seasons.
Mikel Arteta believes Saka has the rare durability of the kind of top player who rarely succumbs to injury, such as Lionel Messi, but there have been periods over the last couple of years where it has felt like the 23-year-old has been limping out of games on an alarmingly regular basis.
The question now is whether a rejuvenated Saka can give Arsenal an edge in the only competition where their chances of silverware remain alive, the Champions League, starting with Tuesday’s quarter-final first leg at home to Real Madrid.
Still no team news from Arsenal yet, they may keep as waiting for another 20 minutes or so.
How Arsenal plan to get Emirates rocking tonight
18:17 , Alex YoungArsenal are planning to use fireworks, banners, red smoke and a stadium-wide display to create a “special atmosphere” for their Champions League showdown against Real Madrid.
The Gunners are hosting the holders at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Tuesday night.
Manager Mikel Arteta has issued a rallying cry to fans and encouraged them to get to the ground early to support the team.
The club have put in work to ensure that Arsenal can create a memorable atmosphere for what is their first competitive meeting with Real Madrid since 2006.
Red smoke and fireworks will be used pre-match, while there will also be two tifo banners on display.
Arsenal also plan to create a red and white display across the whole of the stadium.
No Real surprises
18:04 , Alex YoungNot many surprises in that Real Madrid team, then.
As expected, Courtois starts after recovering from injury and Luka Modric replaces the suspended Aurelien Tchouameni.
It looks like Valverde and right-back, with Alaba on the left. A truly devastating front four.
A few early arrivals at the Emirates.
Rare meeting
17:52 , Alex YoungRemarkably, these two European juggernauts have met just twice before.
Way back in 2006, Real Madrid and Arsenal were drawn together in the Champions League round of 16.
The Gunners won 1-0 away at the Bernabeu thanks to Thierry Henry’s second-half goal, and then played out a 0-0 draw back at Highbury.
Arsenal went on to reach the final, where they lost to Barcelona.
'It's bloody hard to see Arsenal beating Real Madrid'
17:44 , Alex YoungMichael Owen feels Arsenal have been handed the toughest draw, and tipped Real Madrid to make the final four.
“It's obviously very tough for Arsenal,” he told Betfair. “I fancied their chances of going quite far this year in the Champions League. However, they've been given probably the toughest draw of them all, haven't they?
“So, I would think Real Madrid will go through in this one and the fact that the first leg is at the Emirates, that's a bit of an advantage for Madrid.
“I can see Arsenal giving them a real good game at the Emirates, but I just think back at the Bernabeu, it's so bloody hard to beat them.
“So I'd probably say something like a 1-1 draw at the Emirates, then Madrid to go through something like 3-1 on aggregate.”
Real Madrid XI
17:38 , Alex YoungThey’ve gone super early. Here’s the Real Madrid lineup!
📋✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 8, 2025
🆚 @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/qIsTYbaDS1
Latest match ods
17:35 , Alex YoungThe bookies disagree with us regarding tonight’s result but do think Real Madrid have a significant edge over two legs.
To win tonight
- Arsenal: Evens
- Draw:9/5
- Real Madrid: 23/10
To reach semi-finals
- Arsenal: 29/20
- Real Madrid: 8/15
(Odds via Betfair, subject to change.)
Score prediction
17:27 , Alex YoungWith both sides facing a mounting injury list and on shaky form, Tuesday night’s match will be tricky to call. But despite the stripped-back squad, Madrid’s European pedigree and more experienced squad will have a level of nous that their hosts may not be able to match.
For all the injuries, Madrid will still boast Vinicius Jr and Mbappe up top, an attack which is sure to overwhelm Arsenal’s thin defence. It will take some doing for the Gunners to take an advantage into the second leg.
Arsenal 1-2 Real Madrid
Early Real Madrid team news
17:19 , Alex YoungReal Madrid have been boosted by the fitness of Thibaut Courtois.
The goalkeeper missed Saturday’s 2-1 La Liga defeat to Valencia and his back-up Andriy Lunin is out injured, so third-choice Fran Gonzalez made his Real debut.
But Courtois says he is “fully fit” and he is set to start at Emirates Stadium.
Carlo Ancelotti is facing a series of tricky selection decisions for the game in north London.
The Italian has a good record against Arsenal, winning seven of his 13 career matches against the Gunners, but the Real squad has been hit by injuries in defence, with Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy sidelined.
Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended after picking up his third Champions League booking of the season in the last-16 second-leg win over Atletico Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, who have 51 goals between them this season, will start in attack.
Star man Jude Bellingham should also start, facing Arsenal for the first time in his career.
Early Arsenal team news
17:11 , Alex YoungBukayo Saka is primed for his first start in more than three months tonight, having returned from his hamstring injury with two substitute appearances against Fulham and Everton last week.
Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns from their 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday, with Mikel Merino fine after cutting his head.
Ben White was able to get through 60 minutes at Goodison Park, starting a game for the first time since November, and he could get the nod as Mikel Arteta weighs up a big decision in the Arsenal defence.
Gabriel is out with a hamstring injury that will force him to be miss the rest of the season.
It means Arteta could turn to White, if he decides not to play Jakub Kiwior at centre-back alongside William Saliba.
Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey should be Arsenal’s midfield trio. Odegaard and Partey were both named on the bench at Everton.
In attack, Merino may lead the line once more, although Leandro Trossard is an option after starting and scoring there against Everton at the weekend. Raheem Sterling is suspended.
How to watch live tonight
17:04 , Alex YoungTV channel: The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video. Coverage starts at 6.30pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Amazon Prime Video website or app.
Welcome
16:58 , Alex YoungGood afternoon and welcome to the London Standard's LIVE coverage of the Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash between Arsenal and Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.
Arguably Arsenal's biggest game in over 15 years, undoubtedly Mikel Arteta's biggest as a manager. Bukayo Saka is back, but Gabriel is out. Will the Gunners take their first steps towards the semi-finals?
Tests don't come much bigger than this with the perennial European champions looking for another big scalp to add to a list longer than any others. They will be without Aurelien Tchouameni but have some bloke called Luka Modric to call upon.
We have both Simon Collings and Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates tonight for us. Kick-off is at 8pm, stick with us.
