Real Madrid are dreaming of a comeback and their chances may have just increased
UEFA Grant Real Madrid’s Special Request Ahead of Arsenal Game
Real Madrid are eyeing mission impossible against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League miracle, and they are taking any necessary steps to achieve it.
UEFA have granted the La Liga giants a special request ahead of their quarter-final second-leg encounter with the Gunners at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night. A 3-0 defeat in the first leg at the Emirates has given Carlo Ancelotti’s men a mountain to climb, but European miracles are in Los Blancos’ DNA.
Madrid will face an Arsenal side that don’t often concede more than twice in a game. In fact, they haven’t conceded three goals since a 4-3 win over Luton Town in December 2023. Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior were unable to trouble Mikel Arteta’s side in the first leg, but the Bernabeu could play an instrumental role if they are to turn things around.
UEFA Accept Real Madrid’s Request To Close Bernabeu Roof
Jude Bellingham emphasised the refurbished stadium’s ‘crazy’ atmosphere
Real Madrid often request that the Bernabeu roof be closed for big games, and that will be the case for Arsenal’s visit. SPORTbible claims that the Spaniards were ‘given approval’ to close the retractable roof on their renovated £1.5 billion stadium.
This means the noise inside the 78,297-capacity stadium will be amplified with thousands of Madridstas cheering on Ancelotti’s troops on a night that will enter the Champions League history books either way. If Arsenal advances to the semi-finals, it will be the biggest feat of Arteta’s reign, as they’d become the first team to knock Madrid out before that stage of the competition since 2020.
“As soon as the anthem comes on and the fans sing our anthem, it’s going to be something crazy. I imagine there’s going to be displays and things like that.
The one thing you know, the consistent thing of our season, will be the fans… I know they’re going to deliver, and it’s our time to repay them” – Jude Bellingham speaking to TNT Sports about the Bernabeu for Real Madrid’s clash with Arsenal.
Bellingham’s English compatriot Declan Rice was the star of the show in the first leg, scoring two stunning free-kicks to give the Gunners a two-nil lead before Mikel Merino’s fine effort made it three. The Gunners faithful made their voices heard throughout that game, and you can expect Madrid’s supporters to be equally loud, especially with the roof closure.
Madrid will be without Eduardo Camavinga, who was sent off for two bookable offences in the first leg. They will have Mbappe available, although he’s received heavy criticism ahead of the game after a nasty foul resulted in a sending-off against Alaves in a 1-0 win in La Liga on the weekend.