Champions League

ARSENAL travel to the Spanish capital for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid TONIGHT.Declan Rice was the star of the show at the Emirates last week, scoring TWO spectacular free-kicks as the Gunners stunned Los Blancos with a 3-0 win in the first leg.Real Madrid will be eyeing a historic comeback at the Bernabeu, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior leading the way for the 15-time Champions League winners.However, the Spanish giants will need to do something they haven’t done since 1985, and overturn a 3-0 aggregate deficit in a European competition, if they are to make the semi-final.Kick-off: 8pm BSTTV channel: TNT Sports 1live stream: Discovery+Real Madrid XI: team to followArsenal XI: team to followCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow our live blog below…’Gunners would consider Saliba swap for 2 Real stars’Arsenal are fighting to keep William Saliba – but would consider selling him to Real Madrid in exchange for TWO players.That’s the claim from Spanish outlet Defensa Central , even though the Gunners’ overwhelming preference would be to extend Saliba’s contract beyond 2027.William Saliba jetted out for tonight’s tie from Luton airport yesterdayCredit: GettyIt’s suggested Arsenal value their France centre-back at around 100million euros – about £86m.Defensa Central  reckon the Gunners would reluctantly consider an approach from Saliba’s main suitors – and tonight’s opponents -Real.But Emirates chiefs could demand both Arda Guler and Endrick in return.But it’s thought Real have no interest in allowing either of those stars to go.Instead, the Spanish giants are tipped to wait – ideally hoping Saliba doesn’t sign a new deal and becomes a free agent in two years’ time.But that’s a high-risk strategy – because the smart money is on the defender agreeing a new Arsenal contract and, if he didn’t, he would be sure to attract many offers. Copy linkCopiedArt and designMikel Arteta says Arsenal must paint an “exciting” vision of what they want to achieve tonight – then draw on it to succeed.The Gunners defend a 3-0 lead at the Bernabeu from 8pm tonight.Arsenal boss Arteta said: “When you have to create a story, first of all, you have to be excited about it.”You have to be really prepared about it, and then you have to be really convinced about what you want to achieve. Credit: Getty”Then it’s about insisting, and going step by step.”Copy linkCopiedReal eyeing double ‘Ram-my’ against English clubsArsenal’s Emirates ecstasy last week was built almost as much on their excellent overall performance as it was by three excellent goals. Declan Rice’s two long-range free-kick were followed by a clinical Mikel Merino clincher.And Real have only ONCE before overhauled a three-goal disadvantage in Europe’s top club competition.That was when it was still called the European Cup – and it was an ENGLISH club they broke the hearts of. Real slumped 4-1 at Derby County in October 1975.But they sunk the Rams 5-1 in the return leg 5-1 for a 6-5 aggregate success. Charlie George fired Derby 1-0 up on the way to a 4-1 home win over Real in October 1975, but the Spanish giants won the return leg 5-1Credit: PA:Press AssociationCopy linkCopiedYou’d be Mad to doubt usEngland hero Jude Bellingham loves the “trust” and “expectation” in Real to overcome their 3-0 deficit.Declan Rice’s dream free-kick double put Arsenal in first-leg fantasy land.But Bellingham said: “There’s a lot of trust in the talent. “There’s an expectation from Real Madrid that when we get into these kind of holes we can come back, even if it’s a really tough one, a really difficult one.””Just because the club has done it so many times, that’s what’s so impressive about the size of this club, and the expectations are obviously huge.”Credit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedPray JudeIf there’s one Spanish word imprinted in Jude Bellingham’s word this week, it’s Remontada – meaning comeback.Real host Arsenal tonight chasing one of the all-time great turnarounds – after losing the quarter-final first leg 3-0 last week.And Bellingham is hungry for history,He said: “There’s not a lot you can do for Real Madrid in the Champions League that hasn’t already been done.”(It’s) an opportunity for us to do something for the first time and that’s really important to us.”It’s a weird environment these last few days. One of the worst results we could possibly imagine away and for some reason everyone thinks it’s nailed on that we’ll come back.”Copy linkCopiedVinicius & Jude set for recalls Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham played only half-hour cameos as subs in rEal’s 1-0 weekend win at Alaves.But both are certain to start this evening – especially after the Real team was leaked (see below) to the Spanish media. Vinicius will resume his fearsome partnership up front with Kylian Mbappe.And England midfielder Bellingham is set to start alongside Rodrygo. Copy linkCopiedMbappe warning for GunnersCarlo Ancelotti reckons Kylian Mbappe will be hungrier than ever tonight – after his weekend red card.Mbappe had his yellow for a bad foul in Sunday’s 1-0 LaLiga win over Alaves upgraded to a straight dismissal following a VAR intervention.But the France striker will serve his one-game ban domestically – at home to Athletic Bilbao next Sunday – and so will face Arsenal this evening.Credit: AFPAncellotti said:. “He trained very well. He’s very motivated, and obviously we need him. “We have to score goals. He’s scored a lot this season, but (now) we need him more than ever.”Copy linkCopiedCarlo Ancelotti speaksReal Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti stated that his team is “excited and motivated” ahead of tonight’s massive task against Arsenal.The team is excited and motivated. Mentally we are in a very good place.We have to have a good handle on the game. Because Real Madrid has all the resources to come back: Quality, commitment, experience, fans… The resources are there.The only thing that remains is for each one of us to bring out the best in ourselves.In previous years they also said that we didn’t play spectacular football. And that may be true.But what Real Madrid wants more than spectacular football is effective football. The Bernabeu has always helped us a lot.The pitch is always the same, the colour of the grass is the same, but you’ll see a supportive atmosphere.Carlo AncelottiCopy linkCopiedReal Madrid team news for Arsenal clash ‘LEAKED’Real Madrid’s team to face Arsenal has been leaked by Spanish media.Carlo Ancelotti’s side face the gargantuan task of overhauling a 3-0 deficit against Arsenal at the Bernabeu.And to achieve the unthinkable, Ancelotti will reportedly make some significant changes to his side.That includes Arsenal flop Dani Ceballos starting in midfield, according to AS.The ex-Gunner, who spent two seasons on loan at the Emirates during which he scored just twice, will play alongside Federico Valverde, who returns to his natural role after featuring at right-back at the Emirates last week.Raul Asencio will fulfil that role instead, moving across from centre-back.That allows Aurelien Tchouameni to return to the team following his suspension.Copy linkCopiedJude Bellingham comeback statementReal Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham has claimed that there is a lot of belief that a comeback victory over Arsenal is “nailed on”.Everyone thinks it is nailed on that we will come back. It is a weird environment, but it is a nice feeling. It means there is a lot of trust in the talent.There is an expectation from around the world that when we get into these kinds of holes, we can come back, even if it is a really tough one.It is a night made for Real Madrid, and would go down in history, but also something people are familiar with around this part of the world.Hopefully, we can add another special night.It is something that you want to be a part of, it is something that you want to add to the history of this club.There is not a lot you can do for Real Madrid in the Champions League that has not already been done. This is an opportunity for us to do something for the first time. That is really important to us.Jude BellinghamJude Bellingham confidently claims ‘everyone thinks it’s nailed on’ that Real Madrid will win Arsenal tie from 3-0 downCopy linkCopiedMore from ArtetaIt would be natural for this Arsenal squad – one that is young and inexperienced – to perhaps fear the wave of noise and pressure coming their way at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu.This group have only experienced one other Champions League journey – last year’s progression to the quarter-finals only to be knocked out by Bayern Munich in Germany.I wouldn’t use that word [fear]. Respect, admiration for what they’ve done in the competition as a club over the years, the history they have, the values that they defend.Unbelievable. Amazing. And inspiration for any coach, any manager, any team. But after that is the competition.It’s what we are going to face, an opposition that we know very well and that we are determined to go out there and try to win the game.When you have to create a story, when you have to build a story, first of all you have to be excited about it. Then you have to be really convinced about what you want to achieve.A lot of clubs have built their history by doing it many times, trying many times, sometimes failing, sometimes being successful. Last year we had an experience and we want to be better this season.Mikel ArtetaCopy linkCopiedTeam newsArsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirmed Thomas Partey is fine after he was forced off during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford.Ben White also trained with the rest of Arteta’s team despite missing the Premier League match against the Bees at the Emirates due to a knock.And Raheem Sterling is also available after missing last week’s first leg through suspension.Jorginho, on the other hand, hasn’t travelled after he picked up an abdominal injury against Thomas Frank’s side.Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring), Kai Havertz (hamstring), Gabriel Jesus (knee) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) remain sidelined.Riccardo Calafiori poses as a doubt as he didn’t participate in training on Tuesday amid his recovery from knee injury.Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, on the other hand, is without Eduardo Camavinga following his red card in the first leg at the Emirates.However, Aurelien Tchouameni is likely to take Camavinga’s spot in midfield after he served his own suspension last week.Ex-Arsenal ace Dani Ceballos returned on Sunday’s 1-0 win at Alaves but Ferland Mendy and Andriy Lunin are still out due to a hamstring and calf injury respectively.And Eder Militao as well as Dani Carvajal remain sidelined after sustaining serious knee injuries.Copy linkCopiedArteta on Real ‘comeback’ narrativeArsenal boss Mikel Arteta has urged his players to ignore Real Madrid’s “comeback” narrative and do their talking on the pitch.On the back page of every major Spanish newspaper has been the phrase “Remontada”, meaning “comeback”.It’s impossible [to block that out], but outside we can do it on the pitch. Now I understand that it’s the narrative that is going to give the fuel to them.We have tried to repeat the opposite message. So in the brain of the players, what they have here in the last 72 hours is something completely different.We are very close to them and hopefully that’s more powerful than anything else. But you have to be out there, you have to experience it, you have to feel it and you have to go through it. That’s what we have to do.I understand [comebacks] are a part of their history and they have the right to be talking about these kinds of scenarios.Ours is very different and our mindset, preparation, our thoughts and how we’re going to have the best chance to be better than them in the aspects that are crucial.To prepare for a semi-final like this and be convinced that we can handle any situation and we’re going to enjoy actually playing any kind of game that we have to be thrown in.But we’re going to try to take the game to places very different to their intentions and if we do that we’re going to have a good chance to win the game.The first leg, that’s in the past. We have to prove it now in this context. And that’s the beauty of it. That’s the challenge and that’s the great thing about sports.We’ve shown that we are capable of doing it. Now, let’s talk on the pitch and do it on the pitch. It’s the only thing that matters.Mikel ArtetaCopy linkCopiedGood afternoon from MadridWelcome to SunSport’s live blog coverage of Arsenal’s crunch Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.The Gunners shocked the world when they destroyed the reigning European champions 3-0 at the Emirates last week.Now Real are chasing at least three goals just to take the match to extra-time.SunSport will be bringing you all the latest news, exciting updates and live action from the game.So stick around…Copy linkCopied More