Real Madrid have been boosted by the fitness of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal.
Courtois 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.
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW ARSENAL VS REAL MADRID LIVE!
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, start in attack. Star man Jude Bellingham also starts, facing Arsenal for the first time in his career.
Confirmed team news
Arsenal 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
Suspended: Tchouameni
Time and date: 8pm BST on Tuesday April 7, 2025
Venue: Emirates Stadium
How to watch: Amazon Prime
