Harry Kane's return came just in time for Bayern Munich as they defeated Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie. Kane and Luis Diaz were able to find the back of the net, but it was also Manuel Neuer's return between the sticks that made the difference. The German keeper kept Kylian Mbappe at bay as long as he could, and while the Frenchman found the back of the net, it wasn't enough to win this game at home. With both teams being among the favorites to win the entire competition, they played like it in a closely contested affair.
After losses in the FA and League Cups, it looked like Arsenal's woes would continue until a goal in stoppage time from Kai Havertz gave them a 1-0 lead in the first leg away from Sporting Club Portugal. Martin Zubimendi had a goal ruled out due to being offside earlier in the match, but the Gunners were able to keep their cool and ensure that they will head home for the second leg with a lead to protect. This is what professional teams do.
While this wasn't a sparkling performance by any means, no one will mind when it avoids the alternative for Arsenal. They did a good job keeping Sporting from generating dangerous chances, but unlike the first leg of their round of 16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen, the Gunners were able to get the win, and it came via introductions that Mikel Arteta made from the bench. With a growing injury list making an impact with subs has been harder to do, Gabriel Martinelli did just that, assisting Kai Havertz on the eventual winning goal.
These are the kind of wins that go a long way, especially considering that the Gunners have seen their chance at a quadruple slip away in the last week. This will ensure that they don't go into the weekend needing a win, as there's also the Premier League title race to think about, and there's a lot to play for.
Nine saves from the 40-year-old keeper is quite a number, and he did everything he could to try for 10 when Mbappe had a chance of his own on goal. There's a reason why he won man of the match despite Bayern taking 20 shots and Harry Kane having a strong match, as Real Madrid arguably could've been level in the match with the chances that they had. Despite going back to Germany for the second leg, Bayern will need to be wary. Jude Bellingham and Eder Militao came off the bench in the second half and were difference makers, and as they shake off the rust of their own, starting the second leg will make a difference as Madrid looks to show that this isn't over.
Oh, the Gunners needed that one! Off the bench and into the back of the net for Kai Havertz, who was able to stop Arsenal from entering a run of going three matches without a win. This is a big one, not only in the tie but also for team morale.
Real Madrid get one back as the leading scorer in Champions League play, Kylian Mbappe gets a goal. Everyone is onside, and the ball just gets over the line, but they all count the same as there's a lifeline with 16 minutes to go.
Arsenal are being given everything that they can handle in this match, and they won't be happy that Martin Zubimendi's goal was disallowed due to being offside. The Gunners still only have one shot on target despite dominating posession and they'll need more, although it's important to remember that there are two legs to play here.
Mbappe was through on goal, and the German keeper got low to stop the chance before Bayern defended the corner that followed well.
Jude Bellingham makes his return to the Madrid XI following his recovery from a hamstring injury, and this will improve the Madrid XI as they push to get something from this match.
WHAT A START! Harry Kane is continuing his push for a Ballon d'Or as he has now scored his first-ever goal at the Bernabeu, and right from kickoff, Real Madrid now trail by two goals, and this is a deficit that could quickly grow.
Arsenal and Sporting haven't been able to get anything going in their match, while only one goal separates Bayern and Real Madrid at the half. This is when the going gets tough in Champions League play, and the parity between these sides is showing early on.
That's Diaz's 23rd goal in all competitions for Bayern Munich this season, and they have the lead on Real Madrid in the early going. It should come as no surprise that the Germans have scored first here, but this won't be the last goal today.
With that yellow card, Tchouameni will be ruled out of the second leg of this clash. Definitely, he's been critical for Real Madrid, so there's even more pressure for them to win this home match.
25 minutes into the clash it's Sporting who have had the better chances. Arsenal are controlling possession but Sporting have been able to put two shots on target with their exceptional counter attack. Arsenal will want to make a statement here, and if they're going to do that, a first half goal is critical.
Neuer stands tall, and this game is turning into end to end stuff as both teams have had chances only 16 minutes into the match. There will be a first half goal incoming but it's anyone's guess to see who will strike first.
After a chance from Kane, Upemacano had a chance at net but wasn't able to get his shot off the ground as Real Madrid survives. Real Madrid are under immense pressure to start this match.
Sporting CP 0, Arsenal 1 (2H)
Real Madrid 1, Bayern Munich 2 (2H)
We're almost ready for kickoff as teams will look to leave it all on the pitch today.
Arsenal are still the favorites to win the Premier League and the Champions League but it has been a rough few weeks for the Gunners, who lost the EFL Cup final to Manchester City before the international break and followed that up with a surprise defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup quarterfinals. The onus is now on them to return to winning ways at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday in the most mismatched of the quarterfinal matchups, with Viktor Gyokeres set to return to Estadio Jose Alvalade months after joining the north London side. Gyokeres will be a fascinating player to focus on in Lisbon since he has not been the out-and-out goalscorer the Gunners were in desperate need of last season – Gyokeres has scored 17 goals this season, only five of his 13 domestic goals coming against teams in the top half of the Premier League table while none have been against sides currently ranked higher than eighth. Arsenal have divided the goalscoring load so they have been able to survive Gyokeres' average form but the goals will need to come from somewhere if they are to revert back to winning ways.
Two of the Champions League's most successful sides will face off in the quarterfinals, though the pair will meet in Madrid under different circumstances. Bayern Munich have been the picture of consistency this season – they are fresh off scoring their 100th Bundesliga goal of the campaign and need just one more to break the league's single-season record, while they are the greatest challenger to oddsmakers' favorite Arsenal for the Champions League title. They reached the 100 goal mark on Saturday without Harry Kane after he sustained a minor injury with England last week, his status unclear ahead of the trip to Madrid. Even though Kane is far and away their greatest goalscorer, Bayern have the players to cope without him – Luis Diaz, Michael Olsie and Serge Gnabry have double digit goals across all competitions this season while teen phenom Lennart Karl has come good with nine of his own, including Bayern's last-gasp winner in a 3-2 game at Freiburg on Saturday that ensured Bayern would reach the century mark.
Real Madrid do not have a shortage of quality but nearly two years and three managers after the club signed Kylian Mbappe, it is clear that they have yet to become the new version of the Galacticos they believed they would be once the World Cup winner joined their ranks. Mbappe has been the star of the show with 39 goals across all competitions but there's a longstanding tactical imbalance in their squad, something that was on full display in their 2-1 loss at Mallorca on Saturday. They outshot Mallorca 15 to six but barely edged them out with 1.26 expected goals to the hosts' 1.19, their attack sputtering once again. One can never really count out Real Madrid – their 5-1 aggregate win over Manchester City in the round of 16 indicative of just that – but there is a clear favorite in this tie, and it is Bayern.
The Gunners will also see Noni Madeueke return to the XI in place of Bukayo Saka. Viktor Gyokeres also makes his return to Portugal after joining Arsenal.
Sporting CP starters: Silva, Araujo, Inacio, Diomande, Fresneda, Morita, Simoes, Goncalves, Trincao, Catamo, Suarez
Arsenal starts: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice, Trossard, Gyokeres, Madueke
To no one's surprise, Harry Kane starts for Bayern Munich, but there's another big return to the XI in Manuel Neuer is in the net for the Germans. Jude Bellingham also makes the bench for Real Madrid in what could be an interesting second-half game of chess here.
Real Madrid starters: Lunin, Carreras, Huijsen, Rudiger, Alexander-Arnold, Tchouameni, Pitarch, Valverde, Guler, Vinicius Junior, Mbappe
Bayern Munich starters: Neuer, Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer, Pavlovic, Kimmich, Diaz, Gnabry, Olise, Kane
Bayern Munich -- Real Madrid are not to be underestimated, but if there is one team that looks like the finished product, it is Bayern Munich. Vincent Kompany has built a team that's well-organized in defense and wastes no time in attack, so much so that they are one goal shy of the Bundesliga's single-season goalscoring record after notching their 100th tally of the season on Saturday. The best part for Kompany is that they can manage without Harry Kane if need be. The England international traveled to Madrid, but his availability is still a question, though Michael Olise and Lennart Karl are in the midst of breakout seasons, and Luis Diaz has slotted in nicely after his summertime move. Those are the makings of a Champions League contender, without a doubt. -- Pardeep Cattry
Bayern Munich -- I consider the German giants as one of the best teams, if not the best, this season, and they are my leading candidate to win the final. Even if their road to the final is definitely challenging, as they will meet Real Madrid in the quarterfinals and then the winner of the tie between PSG and Liverpool, they have the potential and the talent to win it all. -- Francesco Porzio
Bayern Munich -- If Thiabut Courtois was healthy, this may be a different story, but it's hard to bet against this version of Bayern Munich. It's still a toss-up between the squads, but Andriy Lunin is such a downgrade in an already porous Real Madrid defense that Bayern will make them pay if this is a game is close late. All signs point to Bayern winning the entire competition, and even if they'll need to go through Real Madrid to do it, Vincent Kompany has a plan. -- Chuck Booth
Not yet -- Arsenal may have had a rough few weeks, but the Champions League quarterfinals offer a perfect opportunity to return to winning ways. Their tie against Sporting is the greatest mismatch of the round, the Gunners boasting full ability to outdo their opponents and book a straightforward passageway to the semifinals. The onus is on the north London side to deliver, and there is no reason to doubt they will. If they don't, though, it is well and truly time to panic. -- Pardeep Cattry
Yes -- The side coached by Mikel Arteta still holds an advantage in the Premier League and has reached the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League, but for the first time this season, signs of vulnerability are beginning to emerge. Arsenal remain favorites against Sporting CP and are widely expected to progress, yet this tie could prove pivotal, not only for their European campaign but also for maintaining momentum in their domestic title ambitions. -- Francesco Porzio
Technically -- Not yet is the correct answer here because I don't think that this Arsenal team struggles much in this round facing Sporting CP, but given their performances against top sides as of late, it's tough to see how they'd get past a team like Bayern Munich. When winning the Champions League is the goal, you need a top gear, and the Gunners haven't been able to find theirs in weeks now, seeing chances at two trophies slip away in the process. -- Chuck Booth
We have a meaty helping of Champions League soccer to kick off the quarter finals. The staff are split between what will happen with Real Madrid hosting Bayern Munich, but we're unanimous in Arsenal being able to turn things around in an away trip to face Sporting CP.
