Madrid, Spain — Real Madrid don dey face serious pressure as dem prepare to clash with Arsenal for first leg of UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on April 8, 2025. Dem seek request to shift their match against Deportivo Alaves to Saturday, April 12, to give dem extra time, but La Liga no agree to the change.
The club drop email to La Liga, explaining say, ‘This match dey between two crucial games we go play against Arsenal. Moving am to Saturday go allow us better prepare for both matches.’ Dem mention say Alaves no get wahala to shift the match, but La Liga still deny the request, insisting say changing schedule dey too late.
Real Madrid, who dey just four points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, dey struggle after dem lose to Valencia recently. Dis loss make dem second guess their defensive and team cohesion as dem record just one win in di last five matches. Carlo Ancelotti, di coach, dey face hot seat as pressure dey mount for him leadership.
For Arsenal, dem dey on top form, with only one loss in their last nine matches. Mikel Arteta’s team don prove demself with strong wins, including a recent victory over Chelsea and draw with Everton. Arsenal dey look to maintain dem momentum against Real Madrid.
Ancelotti go need to make tactical shifts to tighten di defense. Reports dey suggest say Federico Valverde fit start as right-back, while David Alaba fit also be left-back, but dis decision fit get challenges. Discipline go be key for Real Madrid as six players go fit miss di second leg if dem collect yellow card on Tuesday.
On di attack side, Real Madrid don get Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr., who don combine to score 51 goals dis season. Dem need to deliver big for di club to get good result against Arsenal. Absence of players like Dani Ceballos and Aurelien Tchouameni due to injury and suspension lax di situation for Ancelotti. Arsenal dey welcome Bukayo Saka back, he don recover from injury and go add firepower to di Gunners attack.
As di match dey come close, both coaches don share how much importance di game get. Arteta talk say, ‘Dis na di biggest night of my career. Di excitement around di club de important.’ Ancelotti praises Arteta’s job, saying, ‘He don build a complete team in Europe.’ Di match dey promise to deliver high drama and intensity as fans all over di world dey anticipate di encounter.
