Arsenal vs Real Madrid LIVE: Champions League match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

Arsenal vs Real Madrid LIVE: Champions League match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

Arsenal vs Real Madrid LIVE!

A titanic Champions League quarter-final clash begins tonight at the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners take on the perennial European champions in a hugely anticipated first-leg clash. It could be argued that tonight is Arsenal’s biggest game since their semi-final loss to Manchester United in this competition more than 16 years ago. It is certainly Mikel Arteta’s biggest game as a manager.

The timing is both good and bad for Mikel and his charges, with star man/boy Bukayo Saka finally fit enough to make his first start in any competition this calendar year, having recovered from a hamstring injury, but having recently lost influential Gabriel to a similar injury for the remainder of the season. The Gunners put nine past PSV in the previous round without Saka, but this is a whole other level.

Real Madrid will be without Aurelien Tchouameni, who is suspended, and a further six more are walking a yellow-card tightrope. Thibaut Courtois, though, has been passed fit. Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are among the Gunners stars one booking away from missing the second leg. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Simon Collings and Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal vs Real Madrid latest news

Kick-off time: 8pm BST | Emirates Stadium

How to watch: Amazon Prime

Early Arsenal team news

Early Real Madrid team news

Score prediction

Real Madrid XI

They’ve gone super early. Here’s the Real Madrid lineup!
Latest match ods

The bookies disagree with us regarding tonight’s result but do think Real Madrid have a significant edge over two legs.

To win tonight

Arsenal: Evens

Draw:9/5

Real Madrid: 23/10

To reach semi-finals

Arsenal: 29/20

Real Madrid: 8/15

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Score prediction

With both sides facing a mounting injury list and on shaky form, Tuesday night’s match will be tricky to call. But despite the stripped-back squad, Madrid’s European pedigree and more experienced squad will have a level of nous that their hosts may not be able to match.

For all the injuries, Madrid will still boast Vinicius Jr and Mbappe up top, an attack which is sure to overwhelm Arsenal’s thin defence. It will take some doing for the Gunners to take an advantage into the second leg.

Arsenal 1-2 Real Madrid

Early Real Madrid team news

Real Madrid have been boosted by the fitness of Thibaut Courtois.

The goalkeeper 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.

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, will start in attack.

Star man Jude Bellingham should also start, facing Arsenal for the first time in his care

Early Arsenal team news

Bukayo Saka is primed for his first start in more than three months tonight, having returned from his hamstring injury with two substitute appearances against Fulham and Everton last week.

Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns from their 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday, with Mikel Merino fine after cutting his head.

Ben White was able to get through 60 minutes at Goodison Park, starting a game for the first time since November, and he could get the nod as Mikel Arteta weighs up a big decision in the Arsenal defence.

Gabriel is out with a hamstring injury that will force him to be miss the rest of the season.

It means Arteta could turn to White, if he decides not to play Jakub Kiwior at centre-back alongside William Saliba.

Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey should be Arsenal’s midfield trio. Odegaard and Partey were both named on the bench at Everton.

In attack, Merino may lead the line once more, although Leandro Trossard is an option after starting and scoring there against Everton at the weekend. Raheem sterling

How to watch live tonight

TV channel: The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video. Coverage starts at 6.30pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off.

Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Amazon Prime Video website or app.

Welcome

Good afternoon and welcome to the London Standard's LIVE coverage of the Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash between Arsenal and Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.

Arguably Arsenal's biggest game in over 15 years, undoubtedly Mikel Arteta's biggest as a manager. Bukayo Saka is back, but Gabriel is out. Will the Gunners take their first steps towards the semi-finals?

Tests don't come much bigger than this with the perennial European champions looking for another big scalp to add to a list longer than any others. They will be without Aurelien Tchouameni but have some bloke called Luka Modric to call upon.

We have both Simon Collings and Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates tonight for us. Kick-off is at 8pm, stick with us.