Arsenal host Real Madrid in the first leg of an intriguing UEFA Champions League quarterfinal at Emirates Stadium.
Each team suffered dispiriting domestic setbacks at the weekend, with Mikel Arteta's side held to a 1-1 draw at Everton before Carlo Ancelotti's reigning Spanish and European champions suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Valencia.
Barcelona were unable to fully capitalise on their rivals' loss as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis, but it will take some turnaround for Madrid to defend their league title from here. Liverpool losing 3-2 at Fulham did little to change the reality that they are too far away for Arsenal to catch in the Premier League.
As such, both the Gunners and Los Blancos find their seasons hinging on what occurs over the course of this two-legged affair, and a renewed focus on Europe will likely be the strategy.
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Arsenal vs. Real Madrid lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news
Bukayo Saka played 45 minutes at Everton and makes his first start since returning from a hamstring injury in this crunch clash.
Mikel Merino remains at centre-forward, looking to add to his three career goals against Real Madrid.
Gabriel Martinelli completes the front three but the shelf is still fairly bare in attack. Raheem Sterling will serve a suspension and Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus remain in the treatment room.
Arsenal lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Raya (GK) — Timber, Kiwior, Saliba Lewis-Skelly — Odegaard, Partey, Rice — Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Arsenal subs: Neto (GK), Setford (GK), Tierney, White, Zinchenko, Trossard, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Nwaneri.
Injured: Havertz (hamstring), Jesus (ACL), Tomiyasu (knee), Gabriel (hamstring), Merino (head, doubt).
Suspended: Sterling (yellow accumulation).
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Teenage goalkeeper Fran Gonzalez acquitted himself reasonably well on his senior debut, which was soured by Hugo Duro's last-gasp winner at the Santiago Bernabeu. Even so, Thibaut Courtois' return from a knee complaint is a huge boost.
Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended, denying Carlo Ancelotti a versatile option at centre-back and in central midfield. Raul Asencio comes in to partner Antonio Rudiger at the heart of defence, with Eduardo Camavinga playing alongside veteran captain Luka Modric in the engine room.
Federico Valverde is redeployed to right-back one more. In the other full-back position, Ferland Mendy has not made it, meaning a first Champions League start of the season for David Alaba.
Despite a disappointing weekend outing, Madrid's all-star front four are all present and correct.
Real Madrid lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Alaba — Modric, Camavinga — Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius — Mbappe.
Real Madrid subs: Gonzalez (GK), Mestre (GK), Guler, Endric, Vazquez, Vallejo, Garcia, Brahim, Gonzalo, Jacobo, Chema, Lorenzo.
Injured: Lunin (calf), Ceballos (hamstring), Mendy (hamstring), Carvajal (knee), Militao (ACL).
Suspended: Tchouameni
Arsenal vs. Real Madrid live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Champions League match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
| Region | TV channel | Streaming |
| USA | — | Paramount+, ViX |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | — | Amazon Prime Video |
| Australia | — | Stan Sport |
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