Could A Madrid Comeback be Possible?

    Real Madrid, as too many clubs know, are no stranger to comebacks. Most notably, their 2022 UCL winning run, where they made three awe-defying comebacks to bring the trophy to Madrid for the 14th time. But could a comeback against Arsenal be too much?

    At the weekend, Arsenal rested a lot of their players, with only half of their predicted eleven for tonight starting, Real Madrid similarly rested four of their outfield players predicted to start, seven if Camavinga wasn’t suspended for tonight.

    After last night’s antics at Villa Park, and I am not talking about the Europa League music, and at Signal Iduna Park, it is very much a real possibility that Real Madrid could cause some trouble for Arsenal. This tie rests on the first 15-20 minutes, if Real Madrid can snatch a comeback, they will need to get an early goal. Real Madrid also must contain Bukayo Saka, a player who caused David Alaba a lot of problems in the first leg. 

    As Toni Kroos will remind you, this is an Arsenal side who have almost no experience in a quarter-final, compared to a Real Madrid side where almost everyone in the side has won the Champions League. If Arsenal can stay compact, then Real Madrid will have a problem as it will leave less space to work with.

    Real Madrid’s best chance should come from attacking Kiwior and Lewis-Skelly; by no means bad players, but just not as good as Saliba and Timber, although it will be Rodrygo going at them, and everyone thinks Vini is better; Rodrygo is very capable of pushing forward and causing problems, just ask Man City.

    Real Madrid should have a 1-0 lead by halftime. Otherwise, their chances of going through will fall massively; it is still unlikely that the branded ‘Kings of Europe’ will progress after a poor first leg; however, if any team could do so, it would be Real Madrid.