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Arsenal v Real Madrid
Second in the Premier League meets second in La Liga. It was marginal gains for Arsenal at the weekend as they closed the gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table by a point, but their only realistic chance of silverware this season is in the Champions League, where they turn their attention to a quarter-final against Real Madrid. Arsenal’s form has been mixed of late – they have only won three of their last eight games after their 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday – but Real Madrid are coming off a 2-1 defeat to Valencia at the weekend.
Mikel Arteta has a major injury concern at the heart of the defence, with Gabriel Magalhães ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury. The Brazilian is not the only defensive absentee; Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu are both missing, meaning Jakub Kiwior may start alongside William Saliba at the back. Forwards Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are also ruled out but Bukayo Saka made a scoring return against Fulham last week and should make his first start since December on Tuesday night.
Thibaut Courtois is also likely to return to action after he missed the defeat to Valencia. Carlo Ancelotti is without a couple of key players, with Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal both long-term absentees, and Aurélien Tchouaméni suspended. These teams have only met in one previous European tie – when Arsenal beat Real 1-0 at the last-16 stage on their way to the final in the 2005-06 season. They would take a repeat this year, but Real Madrid have too many great players and too much history in this competition. Prediction: Real Madrid to progress
Bayern Munich v Inter
Harry Kane edged closer to his first major trophy on Friday as Bayern Munich earned a 3-1 win over Bavarian rivals Augsburg. With six rounds of games to play in the Bundesliga, they have a six-point lead. Their attention now turns to hosting Inter in the Champions League. Vincent Kompany’s side have been nigh-on imperious at the Allianz Arena this season, failing to win only four of their 21 home matches in all competitions.
Inter, who beat Bayern 2-0 in the final in 2010, will put this record to the test, particularly as Bayern are missing a number of key players. Indeed, Friday’s win at Augsburg came at a cost as Jamal Musiala suffered a hamstring tear to join defenders Dayot Upamecano and Alphonso Davies on the sidelines. Aleksandar Pavlovic is also out, but Manuel Neuer may return to the starting XI. Thomas Müller, who will be leaving Bayern at the end of the season, might start behind Kane in Musiala’s absence.
Inter extended their unbeaten run to 10 games at the weekend but they threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with relegation-threatened Parma, losing momentum in the title race. Their Champions League form, however, has been outstanding. They have won all 10 games this season, conceding just two goals in the process.
Simone Inzaghi is unable to call upon the suspended Kristjan Asllani, but Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are available for selection. Beyond those three, midfield options are thin on the ground. Piotr Zielinski remains in Milan alongside Asllani, while Mehdi Taremi and, crucially, Denzel Dumfries miss out. Matteo Darmian is expected to start and Inzaghi is hoping Alessandro Bastoni can overcome a knee issue to feature. Prediction: Inter to progress
PSG v Aston Villa
Fresh from winning the title on Saturday, PSG will be keen to build upon another domestic trophy and, at long last, go all the way in the Champions League. The French champions are on a six-game winning streak and a run of 25 victories from their last 27. That said, they have lost more European games (four) than any of the eight remaining teams in the competition, while four of their last five home losses have come in the Champions League.
Luis Enrique also has a major selection concern at the back as captain Marquinhos is suspended for the first leg against Aston Villa at the Parc des Princes. Lucas Beraldo is likely to get the nod ahead of Lucas Hernández at the heart of the defence to partner Willian Pacho. PSG are on course for a treble – they play Reims in the Coupe de France final in May – but they would be foolish to underestimate Villa.
Unai Emery returns to Paris with his side on a seven-game winning run following Saturday’s 2-1 home triumph over Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest. Villa have won their last four away matches, but they did lose when last away to Ligue 1 opposition, 1-0 to Monaco in December.
Emery isn’t the only member of the Villa camp returning to Paris this week. Marco Asensio will be facing his parent side if he is picked to support Ollie Watkins in attack. Donyell Malen and Andrés García, who are both ineligible, are Villa’s only confirmed absentees, with Leon Bailey and Ross Barkley both to be assessed this week. This will be the first match between PSG and Aston Villa – and the French champions have to be favourites. Prediction: PSG to progress
Barcelona v Borussia Dortmund
Barcelona maintained their unbeaten start to 2025 at the weekend, though Real Betis held them to a 1-1 draw as they failed to fully capitalise on Real Madrid’s surprise defeat to Valencia. Their focus turns back to the Champions League on Wednesday, when they will looking to extend their unbeaten run in the competition to 10 games. One of those games was a 3-2 win against Borussia Dortmund in Germany earlier this season in the group stage.
Hansi Flick welcomes teenager Pau Cubarsi back after he was banned for the second leg of Barcelona’s last-16 tie against Benfica. The 18-year-old is likely to partner the experienced Iñigo Martínez at the heart of the defence. In attack, expect Robert Lewandowski to lead the line, with support coming from Gavi, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, the competition’s top scorer with 11 goals.
Borussia Dortmund made it three wins from their last four at Freiburg at the weekend, but they are without key central midfielders Pascal Gross and Marcel Sabitzer due to suspension and injury, respectively. Niklas Süle, Ramy Bensebaini and, crucially, Nico Schlotterbeck are injured, meaning changes to the core of Niko Kovac’s side are required.
Carney Chukwuemka may step into midfield alongside Felix Nmecha, with Waldemar Anton partnering Emre Can at the back should Kovac revert to a 4-2-3-1 setup, having used a three-man backline in the aforementioned win over Freiburg. Youngster Daniel Svensson is in line to start at left-back, though another option is for Julian Ryerson to swap flanks and Yan Couto to feature at right-back. Given their injuries and patchy form – Dortmund are eighth in the Bundesliga – the German side are up against it. Prediction: Barcelona to progress
This is an article by WhoScored
