Champions League Quarterfinals Begin: Derbies in London and Munich

With the matches between Arsenal and Real Madrid, as well as Bayern Munich and Inter, the quarterfinal stage of the UEFA Champions League kicks off this evening.

The final phase of Europe’s most prestigious club competition features two representatives each from Germany, England, and Spain, along with one team from France and one from Italy.

The winner of the Arsenal – Real Madrid tie will face the victor of the PSG – Aston Villa matchup in the semifinals, while the team that advances from the Barcelona – Borussia Dortmund clash will play against the winner of the Bayern – Inter duel.

The Arsenal vs. Real Madrid fixture is drawing particular attention, as both teams are facing a period of poor results and internal tension.

Real Madrid’s lineup for the match remains uncertain due to ongoing injury problems, difficulties integrating Kylian Mbappé into the 4-3-3 formation, and limited attacking options. On the other hand, Arsenal is also struggling with squad issues, particularly in attack, where defensive midfielder Mikel Merino has been filling in as a false nine in recent games.

In the other quarterfinal pairings, PSG is considered the favorite against Aston Villa, while the Bayern vs. Inter encounter is expected to be highly competitive.

This season’s Champions League final will be played in Munich, adding extra motivation for the German champions to reach the title match.