- Bayern and Inter face off with strong European form but key injury concerns
- Arsenal host 15-time champions Real Madrid in a high-stakes quarter-final clash
- Both matches come after underwhelming domestic weekend performances for all four clubs
Key Takeaways:
The Champions League returns in full glamour tonight, serving up two thrilling clashes from the quarter-final stage. Bayern Munich host Inter, while Arsenal welcome record titleholders and defending champions Real Madrid. The return legs are scheduled for next week.
The clash between the Bavarians and the Nerazzurri is one of the most intriguing matchups. Bayern are nearly untouchable at home in the Champions League — the team is unbeaten in its last 22 matches on home soil (17 wins and 5 draws). Inter, meanwhile, have only conceded two goals in the competition so far this season and have suffered just a single defeat, which came against another German opponent — Bayer Leverkusen.
𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗗𝗔𝗬
🏆 UEFA Champions League | QF – first leg
FC Bayern 🆚 Inter
🏟️ Allianz Arena
🕘 21:00 CEST #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/g3lvsiCDfD— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) April 8, 2025
Both sides lead their respective domestic leagues, but not by a large margin that would allow them to relax. The past weekend didn’t go entirely smoothly for either. Bayern secured an important win away at Augsburg in the Bundesliga, but lost rising star Jamal Musiala to injury. He joins a long list of absentees that includes Alphonso Davies, Dayot Upamecano, Manuel Neuer, Kingsley Coman, Hiroki Ito, and Aleksandar Pavlovic. Added to the turbulence, news broke that club legend Thomas Müller will not extend his contract with the club. Inter, on the other hand, squandered a two-goal lead in their visit to Parma and dropped valuable points in the Serie A title race. Simone Inzaghi will be without key wing-back Denzel Dumfries.
The teams last met in the Champions League group stage in 2022, when Bayern comfortably won both encounters 2:0. But Inter fans will remember their 2:0 victory in the 2010 final, as well as eliminating Bayern a year later in the round of 16 after losing 0:1 at San Siro and winning 3:2 in the return leg.
The Arsenal–Real Madrid showdown is no less compelling. The Champions League is Arsenal’s only remaining chance at a trophy this season, as they trail Liverpool significantly in the Premier League and have been knocked out of other competitions. Real Madrid, meanwhile, continue to fight on three fronts, chasing Barcelona in La Liga and set to meet them in the Copa del Rey final.
🏴 ARSENAL vs REAL MADRID 🇪🇸
1st leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final tonight…
What's your prediction? 👀🍿 pic.twitter.com/UU9MymjrYN
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 8, 2025
Arsenal are in strong home form in Europe, with eight wins and two draws from their last ten matches in the competition. Interestingly, the two clubs have only met once in a knockout tie, when the English side emerged victorious. In the 2006 round of 16, Arsenal beat Real Madrid 1:0 away thanks to a goal from club legend Thierry Henry and then held the Spanish giants to a 0:0 draw in the second leg. Still, the footballing world knows all too well what Real Madrid are capable of in Europe’s premier tournament, particularly in recent seasons.
The past weekend didn’t favour either club. Arsenal failed to win away to Everton, while Real Madrid suffered a surprise home defeat to Valencia, further damaging their league title hopes. In the previous Champions League round, the Gunners comfortably dispatched PSV Eindhoven, whereas Los Blancos survived two very difficult matchups — first overcoming Manchester City in the play-offs, then eliminating city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Both teams have injury concerns. Arsenal are without long-term absentees Gabriel Magalhães, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus, while Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also out. Raheem Sterling is suspended. Carlo Ancelotti is also facing problems — Aurélien Tchouaméni is suspended, and Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, and Ferland Mendy are sidelined with injuries.