Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Women's Champions League match.
One of the most exciting quarter-final matchups in the Women’s Champions League sees Real Madrid take on Arsenal in a fixture that mirrors the men’s competition. Unlike the Kylian Mbappé vs Martin Ødegaard showdown, however, the advantage on Tuesday will be with the English side—Arsenal had a stronger group stage campaign and boast more experience.
Real Madrid (women)
Real Madrid struggled in recent weeks, suffering two heavy defeats to Barcelona in El Clásico (0:5 and 1:3) in the Copa de la Reina, conceding 4.68 xGA over 180 minutes. They lack balance between the lines, and their forwards have been starved of clear-cut chances. On Saturday, Real Madrid surprisingly dropped points in the league against Deportivo (2:2), only salvaging a draw with a late penalty.
Arsenal (women)
A strong finish to the group stage saw Arsenal secure five consecutive wins and top their group, even finishing ahead of Bayern Munich, whom they defeated in the final match (3:2). While Arsenal have fallen behind Chelsea in the Women’s Super League, they remain solid away from home—collecting 19 points from 8 matches and conceding just six goals (both are the second-best records in the league).
Real Madrid (women) vs Arsenal (women) Prediction
Conceding seven goals in two home matches this month highlights Real Madrid’s defensive frailties. Before the return leg, they are likely to struggle against Arsenal, who are clear favourites in this tie.
