Arsenal face Real Madrid at the Emirates on Tuesday night as the Gunners look to reach their first Champions League semi-final in 16 years.
The two sides have only met twice before in the competition when Arsenal triumphed over two legs to book their spot in the 2005/06 quarter-finals.
This year Mikel Arteta’s team brushed aside PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate to reach the last eight, while Real squeezed past Atlético Madrid on penalties.
With Arsenal out of the FA Cup and 11 points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, the Champions League is their only realistic chance of silverware this season. They will have to get past 15-time champions Real Madrid even to reach the final four.
They will look to take advantage from Tuesday’s home leg to the reverse fixture at the Bernabeu next week, but stars from both sides will have to toe the disciplinary line or risk missing the potentially pivotal second leg.
Arsenal trio Timber, Rice, and Martinelli one booking away from ban
Stars all over the pitch are at risk of a ban for Arsenal, as they sit on two yellow cards in the competition this season – one away from a one-match ban under Champions League rules.
With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out injured and Arsenal fans frustrated at their side’s goalscoring struggles at times this season, the last thing Mikel Arteta needs is Gabriel Martinelli picking up a booking on Tuesday night.
Though Bukayo Saka has made a welcome return from injury, their attacking options would still be very thin without the Brazilian.
Teammates Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice are in the same boat after being cautioned twice already – one of each of their yellows came in their demolition of PSV. Timber’s card against PSV felt particularly unnecessary, as he was booked for time-wasting with Arsenal already four goals ahead.
Raheem Sterling, despite only starting three games in the competition this season, has already racked up three bookings and will miss the game.
Arsenal star’s risking suspension
- Declan Rice
- Gabriel Martinelli
- Jurrien Timber
Six Real Madrid stars at risk of missing second leg – including Vini Jr
Real Madrid are in an even more dangerous position. They have received 33 yellow cards in the competition this season, more than any other side, and that poor disciplinary record could come back to haunt them with six players now at risk of suspension.
Aurélien Tchouameni, like Sterling, will miss out on the first leg after being booked in Real’s tie with Atlético. He can return at the Bernabeu but midfield colleagues Luka Modrić and Eduardo Camavinga are one booking from a one-match ban.
Lucas Vázquez, Endrick, and Antonio Rüdiger are also at risk of suspension. Crucially, so is Vinicius Jr – Real’s top goalscorer in the Champions League this season.
Real Madrid star’s risking suspension
- Lucas Vázquez
- Endrick
- Antonio Rüdiger
- Vinicius Jr
- Luke Modric
- Eduardo Camavinga
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