Sol Campbell was an Arsenal player when they last played Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The Gunners faced the Galacticos in the knockout stages of the competition in the 2005/06 season, and Arsene Wenger’s men were the underdogs then.
Real Madrid had superstars like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, David Beckham and Roberto Carlos, but Arsenal still got the job done.
Campbell, who missed the two games against Real Madrid in 2006 due to an ankle injury, thinks he knows what’s going to happen when the two sides meet this time.
Sol Campbell predicts who will win – Arsenal or Real Madrid
Arsenal have been really strong at home in the Champions League.
The Gunners haven’t lost a game at the Emirates since returning to the competition last year, which is a phenomenal record.
Mikel Arteta will surely have reminded his players that they can win at home, but the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu remains a worry.
Real Madrid almost always manage to get the job done at home, especially in the Champions League, so Arsenal will have to play out of their skin to get a result there.
Campbell, however, is very confident that his old club will beat Carlo Ancelotti’s side over two legs.
When asked who he thinks would win, the Gunners legend told Goal: “Over two legs, Arsenal!”
Campbell also backed Arteta’s men to win the semi-finals and the finals to become the first squad to win the Champions League in the club’s history.
How Arsenal could significantly weaken Real Madrid before the second leg
Real Madrid are the favourites going into both legs right now, but the Gunners can make up ground ahead of the second leg.
Yes, getting a good result at the Emirates will help, but if Arteta’s men can force some of Real Madrid’s players to play an aggressive game, a few of them could get suspended.
That’s because six Real Madrid players are a yellow card away from being banned for the second leg against Arsenal.
| Real Madrid players who are one yellow card away from suspension |
| Vinicius Jr |
| Lucas Vasquez |
| Endrick |
| Eduardo Camavinga |
| Antonio Rudiger |
| Luka Modric |
To add to the above, manager Ancelotti risks a ban himself, having picked up two yellow cards in the Champions League already this season.
As for Arsenal, three players are at risk of suspension should they get booked against Real Madrid in the first leg – Gabriel Martinelli, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber.
All three players are expected to start on Tuesday night.
