The two teams first face off at Emirates Stadium this evening with some key players set to be absent and that number could increase significantly for the second clash in Spain next week.
Aurelien Tchouameni is one guaranteed to be absent with the versatile Frenchman suspended having picked up three yellow cards in the tournament already.
As for Arsenal, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori have all joined Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the treatment room. Only Calafiori is expected to play again this season out of those five and he could even be back for the second leg.
That potential return could be a huge boost especially if Mikel Arteta is without three players expected to be in his strongest starting XI. All of Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli and Jurrien Timber are on two yellow cards in the Champions League thus far.
A third booking will see them have to serve a one-match suspension and that does not change after the quarter-finals. Therefore, if the Gunners were to get through, those players would still be at risk and a booking in the semi-final first leg would see them absent for the second leg.
Carlo Ancelotti is already without Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy due to injury and Rudiger getting cautioned could see his entire first-choice back four unavailable.
Madrid's goalkeeper situation has also been well documented with academy ace Fran Gonzalez forced to start in between the sticks this past weekend as Thibaut Courtois and Lunin were out injured.
The latter has not travelled after picking up a soleus injury early into the chaotic Copa del Rey triumph over Real Sociedad earlier this month, but Courtois is expected to return with the man himself seemingly confirming as such.
"[I'm] at 100 per cent," he said in a press conference on Monday when asked about his recent injury. "We'll have to ask the coach if I'll start, but I'm ready. I've been in the gym and on the pitch these days. I'm ready to play."
0 Comments