Real Madrid vs Arsenal, Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, 16.04.2025 KO 20:00 GMT

[HCZ_Reborn]

So id love nothing more than for this game to be a damp squib of a match, in the spirit of our return leg against Juventus in Turin in the 1/4 finals 19 years ago


A no frills, no drama contest where the two coaches shake hands before the referee even blows the whistle for full time


Do I think it will be like this? No. I can see a defeat by one or maybe two goals that see us sweating slightly for the final whistle. So do I think we will advance to the semi finals? Yes, do I think it might be a sphincter clenched evening….also yes

[Marc Overmars]

Yep, hopefully an absolute snooze fest but unlikely to be the case. I think we could be 5-0 up and our opponents would somehow still find a way to make a contest of it.

If we can get to half time without conceding I’ll be quite happy.

I just hope we’re able to get up the pitch and pose a threat of our own because that’s how we’ll get through. If we go ultra defensive then we are just leaving it to fate.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Madrid in the Champions League have their own special kind of voodoo there isn't a team in the world who would be confident at this stage.

Avoiding conceding the early goal is key, but then it's also that horrible position of avoiding sitting back hoping to hit them on the break and just ending up inviting huge pressure. They also have the attacking ability to beat you fair and square on their day

Any other team and you'd think you're home and hosed. Madrid... There is a certain fuzzy feeling of seeing Madrid lose in the CL though.

[Letters]

I hope we draw, tbh

[Letters]

Madrid in the Champions League have their own special kind of voodoo there isn't a team in the world who would be confident at this stage.

Avoiding conceding the early goal is key, but then it's also that horrible position of avoiding sitting back hoping to hit them on the break and just ending up inviting huge pressure. They also have the attacking ability to beat you fair and square on their day

Any other team and you'd think you're home and hosed. Madrid... There is a certain fuzzy feeling of seeing Madrid lose in the CL though.

I have been quite impressed with the noises coming out of Arsenal this week. They very much understand it is not job done. If we concede in the first 20 minutes then things could get interesting.
I’m fairly confident actually. I wouldn’t be at 2-0 but Arsenal almost never get thumped so 3 should be enough. There’s no way we will dominate them like we did at The Emirates though

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

I have been quite impressed with the noises coming out of Arsenal this week. They very much understand it is not job done. If we concede in the first 20 minutes then things could get interesting.
I’m fairly confident actually. I wouldn’t be at 2-0 but Arsenal almost never get thumped so 3 should be enough. There’s no way we will dominate them like we did at The Emirates though

I did like the immediate reaction that it's not done yet, half time etc etc. Obviously fairly standard reactions but there was no celebration or idea that it was job done. Maybe it's unfair but I wonder if some of your teams-past would be quite so pragmatic.

[dazthegooner]

Think it will be the usual from Madrid trying to get at our players/trying to get them sent off Mbappe will be doing his Tom Daley impression diving all over the place, I feel they will beat us tomorrow but not over the two legs. We WILL score!

[IBK]

Yep, hopefully an absolute snooze fest but unlikely to be the case. I think we could be 5-0 up and our opponents would somehow still find a way to make a contest of it.

If we can get to half time without conceding I’ll be quite happy.

I just hope we’re able to get up the pitch and pose a threat of our own because that’s how we’ll get through. If we go ultra defensive then we are just leaving it to fate.

This x 100 for me :pray:

[Marc Overmars]

Woke up this morning a bag of nerves. :sick:

[Mac76]

I hope we draw, tbh

:lol:

[Mac76]

This x 100 for me :pray:

Likewise, not conceding early is crucial, the longer it goes on the nervier RM will get

Apparently White and Partey are available again for this :good:

Oh and... 3-0 Mbappe hatter

[HCZ_Reborn]

Bore Draw would suit me fine, anything more is icing on the cake

[Marc Overmars]

I just don’t see how this game doesn’t descend into chaos. Hopefully there’s a decent ref for a start who won’t be giving them any crap decisions their shithouse players start demanding.

[Mac76]

I just don’t see how this game doesn’t descend into chaos. Hopefully there’s a decent ref for a start who won’t be giving them any crap decisions their shithouse players start demanding.

Yeah it's that which worries me, our players need to keep their cool and do their best to avoid anything which could lead to a card

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Yeah it's that which worries me, our players need to keep their cool and do their best to avoid anything which could lead to a card

We've not received a red card this season and actually have committed the least fouls compared to all the teams left (except Barca and Inter). Just checked again and we've got the best disciplinary record of the last 8 so far.


Definitely UEFA will try and help Real out a bit ( they've already agreed to closing the roof and we're probably at risk of giving away a penalty ), but lets just say I'd be more afraid if this was us against an English team with an English ref.

To think its largely the same way we play in the league and we're considered the dirtiest team around and master of the "dark arts".

Honestly there needs to be a public inquiry on WTF we did to the PGMOL.

[Mac76]

It got lost in the fact we won 3-0, but I thought the ref was fairly pro-Real last wek, especially in the first half, not penalising a number of heavy tackles, some of which were yellows IMO

[HCZ_Reborn]

Last red card I thought that we deserved was Fabio Vieira against Burnley, stupid boy

Yeah I’d fear a pel more than a red card, they tend to give pels for anything and everything in uefa competitions

So got to be careful of Vini jnr or Mbappe throwing themselves to the floor, or a handball decision where the ball hits the players arm from point blank range


We’ve conceded what four goals in five games away from home in Europe. Two were pels, one was a goalkeeping fuckup and one was a decent header from a corner (as I recall)


One pel was ridiculously harsh (Inter) one was silly on behalf of one of our players (Partey)


So need to be careful not to be overly physical in the box and where possible keep our arms down

[HCZ_Reborn]

It got lost in the fact we won 3-0, but I thought the ref was fairly pro-Real last wek, especially in the first half, not penalising a number of heavy tackles, some of which were yellows IMO

Yeah I think Odegaard especially got fouled a couple of times and they waved play on

But actually similar challenge from us always blown up for

[dazthegooner]

Don’t know if this has already been posted but EUFA have granted Madrids request to close the roof on the stadium to help with the atmosphere.

[Mac76]

I'm not too worried about the atmosphere unless it influences the officials, most of our players are internationals and they've all played NLDs etc, they're used to intense environments

[Letters]

Woke up this morning a bag of nerves. :sick:

It is ridiculous that we are nervous at 3-0.
But Real Madrid. In the Champions League. In the Bernabéu...
:sick:

Have to not concede early.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Same team as last Tuesday

Real Madrid make two changes. Tchouameni for the suspended Camavinga, and Valverde in for Modric

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

It is ridiculous that we are nervous at 3-0.
But Real Madrid. In the Champions League. In the Bernabéu...
:sick:

Have to not concede early.

I can't provide much comfort, I just read this in Super Nintendo Chalmers' voice. Aurora Borealis!? At this time of year, at this time of day, in this part of the country, localized entirely within your kitchen!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Real Madrid: Courtois, Vazquez, Ascencio, Rudiger, Alaba, Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr, Mbappe.
Subs: Gonzalez, Mestre, F. Garcia, Vallejo, Modric, Ceballos, Guler, Diaz, Endrick.

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Merino.
Subs: Neto, Setford, Tierney, White, Zinchenko, Rosiak, Henry-Francis, Trossard, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Sterling, Nwaneri

[Letters]

:lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

100% record here to preserve. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal!

[KSE Comedy Club]

Let’s Twat these Twats!!

(Can’t remember the TM code)

[Mac76]

so it's a minute's silence but they're playing some kinda spooky music... :blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yellow for Alaba!

[Marc Overmars]

Nasty challenge that. Had intent.

Don’t like how quickly they are transitioning but I guess it’s to be expected.

[KSE Comedy Club]

We’re dithering on the ball too much, need to pass it quicker and first time

[Mac76]

Nasty tackle but he's on a yellow now, Saka can just keep running at him

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saka across the face of goal.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Courtois saves from Saka!

[Marc Overmars]

Saka looking sharp

[Marc Overmars]

Penalty!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

PELANTY!!!

[KSE Comedy Club]

Oh My God!!!

[Marc Overmars]

Fucking hell please score :sick:

[Marc Overmars]

Odegaard stepping up :unsure:

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

That's an EPL penalty, not deserved IMO.

[Mac76]

pelanty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mac76]

That's an EPL penalty, not deserved IMO.

don't agree, fully deserved, he took Merino out

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saka has a pel saved.

[KSE Comedy Club]

What the fuck was that!!!!

[Marc Overmars]

I can’t believe that

[KSE Comedy Club]

Unbelievable shitness from Saka

[Marc Overmars]

Trying a panenka there

Absolute stupidity

Love the boy but if we don’t see this out he has a lot to answer for

[Mac76]

o ffs

[Mac76]

just go for the fucking corner with power you melon

[Mac76]

This is going to be unbearable now, already feels like RM's night

[Marc Overmars]

He’s never tried that in his life. Always drills them into the corners.

I’m actually stunned.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

One thing for sure is that penalty drastically increases the chances of the ref awarding Real their penalty.....and they will score from it.

[KSE Comedy Club]

He’s never tried that in his life. Always drills them into the corners.

I’m actually stunned.

Yep, pure cockiness - what a monumental bellend

[KSE Comedy Club]

We’re making it difficult for ourselves

[Marc Overmars]

Madrid penalty

Fuck off

[Mac76]

One thing for sure is that penalty drastically increases the chances of the ref awarding Real their penalty.....and they will score from it.

here we go...

[Marc Overmars]

We’ll be lucky if that’s overturned

[Mac76]

If (and it's a big if) we get to the semi Rice is out of the first leg because of the yellow

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

here we go...

Its just human nature. But it seems VAR are not agreeing with him.

BTW Tthis is not a penalty either.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No pelanty for Marketing.

[Marc Overmars]

No penalty!

Jesus, this game needs to be calmed down

[Mac76]

No pel!!!! :scarf:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

This is fun.

Equally, this must be fucking horrible :lol:

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I've got the biggest respect for European refs after this. No egos, he accepted he was wrong.

PGMOL need to learn from this.

[Mac76]

I've got the biggest respect for European refs after this. No egos, he accepted he was wrong.

PGMOL need to learn from this.

:gp:

[Marc Overmars]

Odegaard should be shaping up to shoot there. Always tries the extra pass.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

WTF can't Odegaard take responsibility and score?!

[Marc Overmars]

Ridiculous amount of fouling going on from them.

[Mac76]

Rice should take FKs not Ode

[KSE Comedy Club]

I am sick and tired of us getting booked for time wasting

FUCKING CUT IT OUT!!!!!!

[Marc Overmars]

Raya booked.

He needs to watch the delay tactics, I don’t think they’ll hesitate to give him a second yellow.

[Mac76]

dammit Ode

[Marc Overmars]

Defending well.

Need a bit more from Odegaard though when we do get up the pitch.

[Mac76]

7 mins ET

[KSE Comedy Club]

Odegaard is officially a pussy now

[Mac76]

Defending well.

Need a bit more from Odegaard though when we do get up the pitch.

he's having a stinker tbh

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Rice seems to be the only attacking player not overawed by occasion, the rest really need to fucking grow a pair.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 HT.

[Mac76]

HT - come on lads, another gritty 45 mins and we can all relax

[Marc Overmars]

I’ll take that all day long.

Gutted about the penalty but otherwise we have played well. We are giving it away too quickly for my liking when when there’s an opportunity to play but I think there is a chance we can score here.

Come on you Gunners. Same again please.

[KSE Comedy Club]

I’ll take that all day long.

Gutted about the penalty but otherwise we have played well. We are giving it away too quickly for my liking when when there’s an opportunity to play but I think there is a chance we can score here.

Come on you Gunners. Same again please.
Agreed, we seem to be too happy to sit back and defend, I’d rather we took the game to them a bit more

Maybe we will in the 2nd half

[Mac76]

I’ll take that all day long.

Gutted about the penalty but otherwise we have played well. We are giving it away too quickly for my liking when when there’s an opportunity to play but I think there is a chance we can score here.

Come on you Gunners. Same again please.

awful Saka pel, then when they seemed to have been given a pel it all seemed to be unravelling

but if we can keep it tight then we're home

I think Tierney and Leo would be good second half subs at some point, offer a different threat and might help us completely kill it off

[Marc Overmars]

None of their front 3 track back it should be noted. Martinelli and Saka have a lot of space to play if they can be found by that little wimp Odegaard.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Well Arteta is loving this score!!

As for me, we had more than enough legitimate chances to have put the ball in the net but everyone seems to be nerves. I hope Saka never forgets his stupidity, but I do give him props for being arrogant enough to try that.

Odegaard has been more than disappointing, trying to hide under Saka's skirt for everything. Captain Marvel indeed.

Martinelli has been Martinelli.... nothing special as usual.

Only Rice seems to have risen to the occasion, and I'm glad rescinding that yellow card means we'll have him for the next two legs, if we get past RM.

TBH, its simple, we score a goal, this game is over. Until then, Real will continue believing in the impossible and will keep leaving gaps and throwing everyone forward till the final whistle. Nwaneri should be playing in this kind of game for us to take advantage.

But knowing Arteta, he's glad everything is going his way and will make no subs. Shame though, as we'll have our hearts in our mouths till the final whistle.

[Marc Overmars]

Come you Gunners!

Won’t take much for the pendulum to swing their way so please just keep those concentration levels high.

[Mac76]

Bayern have equalised - K*** - please not them if we get through :pray:

[Marc Overmars]

Timber with a foul throw. :doh:

Come on man.

[Mac76]

Merino heads into Row Z

[Marc Overmars]

No need for Ole’s yet lads.

We caught high up there after losing it.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Inter back in front on agg

[KSE Comedy Club]

Why are not attacking??!!

Just running about in their area and then losing possession

[Mac76]

Arsenal fans with the oles :lol:

[Mac76]

Inter back in front on agg

:good:

[Mac76]

Another for Inter 4-2 on agg

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rice. :bow:

[Mac76]

poor corner from Saka

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rudiger. :lol:

Chelsea cunt.

[Marc Overmars]

Ceballos will probably get them playing football rather than just trying to athlete ball us.

[Mac76]

that's got to be a red

[Mac76]

30 mins to go... :popcorn:

[Mac76]

Bellingham :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

SAKA!!!!!

[Marc Overmars]

SAKA!!!!!

[KSE Comedy Club]

Saka!!!!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lovely, lovely goal.

[Mac76]

I'd bring on Leo for Gabby about now

[Marc Overmars]

Relieved for him. All is forgiven.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Like clockwork ffs

[Mac76]

Sakaaaaaa!!! (I'm a bit behind you guys I think :lol:)

[Marc Overmars]

What the fuck was that

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1. :lol:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Nice to have kept a clean sheet, where did Salibas head go?

[Mac76]

goal to Real :(

Saliba :doh:

[Mac76]

seriously, what a dumb moment

[Marc Overmars]

So careless. Clearly switched off after the giddiness of the goal.

It’s not fucking done until the final whistle. Can’t switch off if you want to win this trophy.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mbappe hauled off. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saka off, Trossard on.

[Mac76]

Luka Spudric on

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lewis-Skelly is brilliant.

[Mac76]

Kiwior :bow:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Fucking dicking about on the ball again!!!

Ffs!!!

[Mac76]

poor from Ode again

[KSE Comedy Club]

Partey you fucking twat

There was no need to get involved!

Now he’s out for the next game

[Marc Overmars]

Partey booked and missed the first leg of the semi

FFS

[Mac76]

Partey you moron

[KSE Comedy Club]

Partey booked and missed the first leg of the semi

FFS

Completely moronic.

Glad Rice had a go at him after

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Endrick. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Odegaard shot, Courtois saves.

[Mac76]

5 mins ET

[McNamara That Ghost...]

MARTINELLI!!!!

[Marc Overmars]

MARTINELLI!!!!

What a win!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

100% record. :bow:

[Mac76]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeess!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal, FT!!!!!

Outstanding from us!!!

[Marc Overmars]

Full time!!

We absolutely smoked them over both legs.

[Mac76]

we're through :scarf:

What a win

Saka :bow:

Rice :bow:

Gabby :bow:

Mbappe :pal:

[GP]

Enjoyed that

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

The far better side won over both legs.

Rice MOTM by a mile, only MLS came close.

Our CL dream goes on, a big shame we won't have Partey for the 1st leg though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

They couldn't even La Remontada on the night. :haha:

[Mac76]

The far better side won over both legs.

Rice MOTM by a mile, only MLS came close.

Our CL dream goes on, a big shame we won't have Partey for the 1st leg though.


agreed on all counts

tbh we kept PSG very quiet when we played them before, not too worried about that as a tie

[Letters]

100% record here to preserve. :bow:

:cool:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The run continues.

It is mental that all the teams Real Madrid have turfed out of this competition and we're 2/2 against them.

[dazthegooner]

McMananan still a cunt

[Letters]

Only saw the second half. Fantastic performance. The way we marshalled them and cut everything out, it was such a professional job.
Only black marks are the brainfart to let Real equalise - I worried that would get Real's tails up and they would have a real go at us, commendable that we didn't panic and kept doing the job we'd been doing. And Partey getting a stupid yellow to rule himself out of the first leg of the semi. Absolutely no need to get involved there.
Pleased we won on the night, we absolutely deserved to. A strangely stress-free evening.

:scarf:

[Marc Overmars]

We looked so much better than them over both legs. Stronger and fitter in every area of the pitch and we managed to play the game on our terms with our football. Didn’t just sit back, went forward and fully deserved the win on the night.

Perhaps one of the most accomplished performances ever from us in this competition.

Rice is a monster of a player. Worth every penny, what he has you can’t teach, born leader and someone who will never be phased by any occasion. The guy you want next to you in the trenches.

[HCZ_Reborn]

What a bunch of muppets

Spent the last week trying to psych us out, and they end up losing both legs (and deservedly)

Played this mob four times now and they’ve not laid a glove on us. In fact they only scored once in that time due to Saliba’s brain fart.

Fuck them, Fuck their Ultras and fuck General Franco who they seem to hero worship

[Niall_Quinn]

Totally destroyed them and left them contemplating their validity as a force in Europe - which they aren't. Martinelli was epic. The amount of defensive work he did (and Saka, tbf) makes me love this player. Talk about doing it for the shirt. MoTM, easily. That was the best performance I've seen him put in, forever really. And it was essential. It was essential our boys did what their weren't prepared to do. Rodriguez, Vini whats-his-face, Mbappe - shit on them. Useless players, unless the ball is at their feet in their preferred piece of the pitch. I'd be horrified if we were linked with any of these bums in the transfer market. Martinelli is twice the player Mbappe can ever hope to be, unless he gets a serious attitude transplant. Merino too, honestly, what to make of it. He's a central defender, turned defensive midfielder, pressed into the 9 role. In the Bernabeu. WTF? And he pulled it off! Because Real are shit? Or because the player is good? It's the latter. It actually works really well, having a striker tha can also suddenly become an extra man in the middle. Not saying we don't need to buy a striker - we do - but as a stop gap? It worked. Not even going too pretend I saw that coming.

PSG are easy enough - hyped team with one good player and several Mbappes. But Inter, who will grind down and spit out another overhyped bunch of misfits, Barca, that's interesting. Arsenal vs Inter. Could go either way.

[Mac76]

Nice summary, worth the wait ;)