By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – English Premier League side Arsenal is poised for one of their most significant matches in the Champions League as they face Spain’s Real Madrid tonight.
This encounter marks the second leg of the quarter-finals, with the English side leading 3-0 following their emphatic victory in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last week. The winner of this tie will advance to face Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, The Union of European Football Association (UEFA) granted Real Madrid permission to close the Santiago Bernabeu roof for the clash against Arsenal on Wednesday night. Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe who was handed a one-match ban after a red card over the weekend will be available for this clash as the suspension will apply in LaLiga.
In another quarter-final match tonight, Italy’s Inter Milan will host Germany’s giants, Bayern Munich. Inter Milan enters this clash with a slender 2-1 advantage after their surprising triumph in the first leg.
Real Madrid, the 15-time European Cup winners, remain optimistic about a comeback and have pledged to challenge Arsenal relentlessly until the final whistle in tonight’s second leg.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund were unfortunate to be eliminated from the tournament despite winning their respective second leg matches.
Their victories were insufficient, as Barcelona and PSG advanced to the quarter-finals following substantial wins in the first leg. Aston Villa triumphed 3-2 on Tuesday evening, but it was not enough, as PSG progressed with a 5-4 aggregate score. Barcelona also reached the semi-finals after a thrilling 5-3 aggregate victory over Borussia Dortmund. Barcelona will face the winner of the Inter Milan versus Bayern Munich match in the semi-finals.
The first leg of the semi-finals is scheduled for the end of April, with the return leg taking place the following week. The final is set to be held in Munich, Germany on May 31, 2025.
