UCL Quarter-Final Preview: Arsenal vs Real Madrid & Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan

It’s quarter-final night in the UEFA Champions League and we’ve got two heavyweight clashes lined up. Arsenal welcome 15-time champions Real Madrid to the Emirates in a clash of contrasting histories, while Bayern Munich host Inter Milan in a rematch of the 2010 final.

We preview both ties, complete with predicted line-ups, injury updates, score predictions, and betting odds.

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Arsenal vs Real Madrid Preview

Kick-off: 8pm WAT
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
Odds: Arsenal win 2.12 | Draw 3.45 | Real Madrid win 3.55
Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Real Madrid

Arsenal host Real Madrid at the Emirates tonight in a blockbuster Champions League quarter-final first leg, a clash that pits a team chasing their first-ever UCL title against the competition’s most decorated club.

This is just the third-ever competitive meeting between the two sides. The last time they met was back in 2006, when a Thierry Henry wondergoal sealed a 1-0 win at the Bernabéu before a goalless draw at Highbury sent Real packing. A famous European night for the Gunners, and that season remains the only time Arsenal have reached the Champions League final.

Fast forward to 2025 and Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are hoping to write another chapter in their European history. They tore PSV apart in the last 16 with a 9-3 aggregate win, but key injuries have hit at the worst time. Gabriel, Calafiori, Jesus, Havertz, and Sterling are all ruled out, and Arteta will likely have to rely on Jakub Kiwior to partner Saliba in central defence. Bukayo Saka, now fully fit, will make his long awaited first start of the year and will be crucial in helping stretch a patched-up Madrid backline.

For Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid, it’s familiar territory. They’ve reached the UCL semi-finals in 11 of the last 13 seasons and are unbeaten in their last eight quarter-final first legs. Even after a shock La Liga loss to Valencia at the weekend, they’ll back themselves to score in London – especially with Kylian Mbappé (7 UCL goals) and Vinicius Jr both fit and firing.

Arsenal boast a 10-match unbeaten streak at home in the Champions League, keeping eight clean sheets in that run. But Real Madrid’s knockout pedigree speaks for itself: they haven’t lost a Champions League quarter-final since 2004 and have won 12 straight ties at this stage.

It’s set up to be a tense, tactical first leg. Arsenal will be desperate to take something to the Bernabéu, but Madrid’s firepower – and their love of the latter rounds of the UCL – makes a draw feel like a likely outcome.

Predicted Line-ups
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Merino, Martinelli

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Alaba; Valverde, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Mbappé

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Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan Preview

Kick-off: 8pm WAT
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
Odds: Bayern win 2.00 | Draw 3.55 | Inter win 3.75
Prediction: Bayern 2-1 Inter

Two European powerhouses collide tonight in a heavyweight Champions League quarter-final first leg, as Bayern Munich welcome Inter Milan to the Allianz Arena in a repeat of the 2010 final.

That victory gave the Nerazzurri their third (and most recent) Champions League crown, but Bayern have been regular contenders ever since. They’re appearing in their 23rd UCL quarter-final — a competition record — and are unbeaten in their last 22 European home games, a streak dating back to 2021.

Despite that record, Bayern are battling an injury crisis. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer misses out, as does Jamal Musiala, who is out with a torn hamstring. Key players Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, and Kingsley Coman are also missing. Veteran Thomas Müller is expected to step in behind Harry Kane, who has scored 10 goals in 11 UCL games this season, the best European scoring form of his career.

Inter come into this tie as one of the most defensively solid teams in the competition. They’ve conceded just two goals in 10 Champions League games this season, with goalkeeper Yann Sommer and centre-backs Bastoni and Acerbi leading a rock-solid rearguard. However, their away form has dipped — they’ve won just two of their last eight on the road.

Simone Inzaghi’s side are unbeaten in 10 overall, but they did blow a two-goal lead against Parma at the weekend, and injury to Denzel Dumfries and the suspended Kristjan Asllani leave them light in midfield and out wide. That said, they’ll be encouraged by Bayern’s missing stars, and they’ll believe they can frustrate the Germans and nick a crucial away goal.

Expect a tight first half, but Bayern’s home form – and Kane’s goalscoring threat – should prove just enough to edge them ahead before heading to San Siro.

Predicted Line-ups
Bayern (4-2-3-1): Urbig; Laimer, Kim, Dier, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Palhinha; Olise, Müller, Sané; Kane

Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Calhanoglu, Frattesi, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram

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